Why the importance of early intervention Outreach services has never been so clear

The importance of an Outreach optometry clinic run by Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) in a local primary school and preschool couldn’t be clearer!

WACHS and the provider, Brien Holden Foundation, are being praised for offering such a proactive, early intervention strategy and service which could otherwise lead to children “slipping through the cracks”.

The optometry school clinic is made possible thanks to the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS), which is administered in NSW and the ACT by Rural Doctors Network (RDN) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. VOS supports optometrists to deliver Outreach optometric services to remote and very remote locations, and other communities with an identified need for optometric services.  A portion of VOS funding is earmarked specifically to provide increased optometry services to First Nations people.

Acting Team Leader for Healthy 4 Life & New Directions at WACHS, Kieran Stewart described the Brien Holden Foundation Outreach clinic as an “amazing service” and said there are many benefits to the clinic, some of which can be lifelong.

“Early intervention is so important and one of my passions is 0-18 early intervention strategies before chronic disease develops,” Kieran said.

“As an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), we look at it holistically and understand how hearing, sight and other factors can contribute to behaviour and learning.

“I believe if we expose the children to clinics earlier, we help close the barrier.

“We help address the fear in community that all doctors are scary. We set them up for the future which can promote self-encouragement to attend GP Practices and have the ability to make informed decisions on their health when they become of age” Kieran said.

Senior Project Officer for RDN’s Health Access Services, Jessica Rae, said utilising the VOS Program and engaging in the Western NSW Eye Health Partnership, Wellington ACHS can successfully deliver eye checks in schools.

“They're pushing towards a tangible improvement in long term eye health outcomes for their community,” Jessica said.

“Removing barriers to specialist and allied health access is paramount when addressing health inequality in our region,” she said.

“What a privilege it is to see first-hand the positive impact these school checks have on those children and the rest of their lives,” Jessica said.

Whilst Kieran said the feedback regarding the clinics has been overwhelmingly positive, he said another aspect of the clinic has also received glowing feedback.

“We are receiving great feedback about the glasses students (who need them) receive, specifically, that funding through the NSW Spectacle Scheme allows for two pairs of glasses to be purchased so they can keep one pair at home and one at school,” Kieran said.

“The glasses are covered under warranty and they have a wide range of options which is important – but two pairs are helpful as students don’t forget to bring them to school.”

A clinic has also been run with the local high school with appointments made available at the school and in the clinic, which Keiran described as “amazing” and WACHS hopes to do more in the future.

To learn more visit www.wachs.net.au

---

Did you know? First established in 1975, the Visiting Optometrist Scheme (VOS) supports optometrists to deliver Outreach optometric services to locations which would not otherwise have ready access to primary eye care and is believed to be the longest running department scheme because of its significant impact and success!

Images: The Outreach optometry clinic held recently by Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACS) at the Nanima Mission and their Aboriginal community-owned Nanima Preschool.