The Fred Hollows Foundation announced as the major sponsor of IAHA 2015 National Conference
IAHA is very pleased to welcome The Fred Hollows Foundation as the IAHA 2015 National Conference major sponsor and key partner as we work together to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Being the major sponsor for the conference, The Fred Hollows Foundation will reach a broad range of health professionals, students, policy makers, managers and others passionate about achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality.
In line with its vision to “see a world in which no person is needlessly blind and Indigenous Australians exercise their right to good health”, The Fred Hollows Foundation recognises it cannot end avoidable blindness alone and for this reason The Foundation works with partners such as IAHA and its members to promote the establishment of sustainable comprehensive eye care systems. The Fred Hollows Foundation acknowledges the vital role that a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and allied health professionals more broadly play in improving eye health in Indigenous communities.
Professor Fred Hollows worked tirelessly to tackle the crippling health conditions and inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians. Fred’s determination is what lies behind The Foundation’s extensive Indigenous Program, which goes beyond primary eye health care and works towards resolving the underlying issues that contribute to poor eye health and health in general. Manager of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program, Jaki Adams-Barton says the IAHA Conference will be a great opportunity to discuss eye health in the broader sphere of Indigenous health.
“We are taking a holistic approach to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It is all about linking with other service providers to ensure eyes are on the agenda when health services are being delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We need to be working with others within the space and collaborating to fill the gaps on the patient journey to good health. That’s the reason The IAHA Conference is so important,” said Ms Adams-Barton.
The IAHA 2015 National Conference theme ‘allied health – stepping into action’ is all about taking strengths-based action oriented approaches to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Poor eye health impacts on all facets of a person’s life and all health professionals, regardless of their discipline, need to know when and how to take action to improve eye health. The Conference will feature a professional development workshop that will enable participants to understand more about the impact of poor eye health and their role in the identification, prevention and management of various eye conditions.
To find out more about the fantastic work that the Fred Hollows Foundation does, please click here.
