World Sight Day

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (11:58): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises that 10 October 2024 is World Sight Day;

(b) acknowledges the opportunity World Sight Day provides in raising awareness of blindness and vision impairment for many South Australians; and

(c) recognises the advocacy and contribution of Vision 2020 and the See Differently with Royal Society for the Blind in South Australia through assisting people living with blindness or vision impairment.

Today I want to move a motion regarding World Sight Day. It was on 10 October this year but, of course, World Sight Day and the impact of it is something that should be ongoing. The importance of eye care in young people and inspiring children everywhere to love their eyes with a vision of creating a world where every child has eye health care that is accessible, available and affordable was a focus for this year.

To achieve this, the aim is to create a generation of children who have all the information they need to protect their eyes and take the steps needed to look after their vision, from reducing screen time and placing importance on being outside through to seeking help for any ailments and discomforts. This includes addressing social stigma associated with wearing glasses and other corrective treatments, recognising that early intervention and regular eye health is critical to unlocking education opportunities and future economic potential.

Around the world, every day young people miss out on learning and social opportunities because of a vision issue that could be treated, corrected or even cured. There are 450 million children with a sight condition that requires treatment, with many unable to access affordable available eye care, and millions of people are forced to leave the workforce early with billions of dollars lost on productivity each year.

Healthy vision and the prevention of blindness is crucial for independence, learning, working and for overall wellbeing. Around 90 per cent of all blindness and vision impairment in Australia is preventable or treatable if detected early, so regular eye examinations are crucial. Simple measures, like wearing sunglasses, maintaining a healthy diet rich in nutrients like vitamin A, managing chronic conditions like diabetes and avoiding smoking can also protect eye health.

The work of various stakeholders in the prevention of blindness and the promotion of eye health is invaluable. Organisations like See Differently with the RSB, and Guide Dogs SA, provide essential services enhancing the mobility and independence of individuals with vision impairment. Optometrists, of course, play a critical role in early detection and management of eye conditions, offering preventative care and treatments that safeguard long-term vision.

Researchers continually advance our understanding of eye diseases, contributing to breakthroughs in treatment and prevention strategies. Their collective efforts are crucial in improving the quality of life for those at risk of or living with vision impairment. See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind have offices and training facilities for their puppies, and provide employment for members of our community who have vision impairment. They are situated in Gilles Plains in my electorate of Torrens.

The work of Damian Papps and the See Differently team are game changers for members of the community with low vision or who are blind through the services that they deliver. These include the breeding, care and education of guide and assistance dogs, and I want to acknowledge here the amazing work of many locals who care for these dogs and assist in providing the training for them. They all do this on a voluntary basis. I can often see them in Oakden where they perform part of their training in the park.

In addition, See Differently offer assistance and technology, occupational therapy, counselling, orientation, mobility, optometry and employment support, along with Braille instruction. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend the very first Braille competition called the Braille Challenge. It is something that occurs on an annual basis in the US, and I know See Differently with the RSB is hoping to take that across to the US, and making it a national challenge in the next 12 months before they embark upon that path. Primary and secondary children can be involved in this. The work of Damian and the RSB team is absolutely fantastic.

I want to also acknowledge that, while in the federal parliament, I had the honour of co-chairing the Parliamentary Friends for Eye Health and Vision Care, and I acknowledge the wonderful work of Vision 2020 towards eliminating avoidable blindness. In South Australia the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2025 highlights the importance of early prevention and intervention, particularly in community settings to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and manage chronic conditions, including eye diseases.

The strategy aims to enhance community services, integrate technology and ensure the growing population receives equitable health care supporting those with visual impairments. The plan highlights our government's commitment to addressing eye health issues and promoting inclusivity for individuals with vision impairment through accessible services and long-term health system improvements. I commend the motion.

Ms PRATT (Frome) (12:05): I rise to support the motion that has been brought by the member for Torrens, and I thank her for doing so. The motion recognises that 10 October, just past, was World Sight Day; acknowledges the opportunity World Sight Day provides in raising awareness of blindness and vision impairment for many South Australians; and recognises the advocacy and contribution of Vision 2020 and See Differently in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Blind in South Australia, through assisting people living with blindness or vision impairment.

I repeat that I rise to support and thank the member for Torrens for bringing this motion in recognition of the importance of raising awareness of blindness and vision impairment. World Sight Day is 10 October and is a day to promote eye and vision care, to raise awareness of vision impairment, and to ensure accessible, affordable services for all children. The World Health Organization emphasises that it is important for accessibility, affordability and quality of product in terms of spectacles, glasses, for children.

At the national level, we saw the former Coalition government invest $3 million in awareness, support and management of macular disease. It commissioned a national strategic action plan for macular disease focusing on prevention, early detection, treatment, support and improved data collection. The funding assisted early detection and management of the condition which affects one in seven Australians over the age of 50. I note that macular degeneration is often recognised as aged macular because it tends to be diagnosed in the older cohort of those aged 60 and above.

The package that I mentioned included $1.5 million over four years to increase awareness of macular disease risk factors, with $1 million going directly to the Macular Disease Foundation Australia. I have been reflecting on the member's motion about a lovely lady I worked with, a school librarian, who had been diagnosed with macular degeneration. I reflected on how many times—I think for some it is monthly, but the treatment that she had to undergo for macular was, in fact, to undergo injections into the eye. The idea that treatment of this particular disease includes injections of angiogenesis inhibitors into the eye fills me with dread. I think it signifies the bravery of sufferers who are living with macular degeneration that they are prepared to undergo that treatment to preserve their sight, which is such an essential sense that we have.

The World Health Organization SPECS 2030 initiative envisions a world where everyone who needs refractive error intervention has access to quality and affordable people-centred error services. It also aims to reduce the social stigma that some perhaps still associate with wearing spectacles, glasses or corrective interventions for eyes and vision, although I think that that is well past us. I am someone who also requires glasses for seeing the fabulous face in detail of the member for Torrens, which would be a blur otherwise. We are so lucky in Australia to have access to fantastic optometrists, ophthalmologists and allied health professionals who guide us with our poor sight.

I note that earlier this year the member for Schubert invited in and hosted Vision 2020 to make themselves available to parliamentarians so that we could not only have our eyes tested but understand the services that they provide more broadly to the community, whether that was through See Differently or the Royal Society for the Blind.

These are brief comments today, but I commend the member for staying close to these social health issues. It is important for us to debate them and, certainly as the shadow minister for preventive health, I pay close attention to those messages that we need to echo back into our communities. With those brief comments, I commend the motion.

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (12:10): Thank you to the member for Frome. To elaborate slightly on what you were talking about with the person that you knew, I have some words that I would like to read that many Australians—in fact, many around the world—would be in a position to say they understand. These words were provided to me in 2007 when I was co-chair of that federal parliamentary committee. It was by a constituent here in South Australia, and she said:

When the sky is overcast my world turns dark. To be legally blind is to feel isolation, a loss of independence and grief. I wake in fear, fear of falling, of being sent on to a nursing home.

Dramatic words they might be. It is so important that people get assistance and support early on. At the time, it was estimated that two out of three Australians who live until 90 will lose their sight before they die. These statistics really are alarming. However, it is estimated that 75 per cent of vision loss can be avoided or treated if diagnosed early. I think that is the message that we need to take with us today. On that note, I thank the member for Frome for her contribution and I commend the motion.

Motion carried.