By Aaron Cordy
THE Living Blind forum held at the Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre (MEAC) on Thursday, October 16, left the community seeing a genuine need for better services and advocacy for seniors suffering from low vision and blindness in the region.
The event, hosted by Dr Peter Eastaugh, with guest speaker, Optometrist and former board member of the Shepparton Blind Association, Graham Hill, allowed locals to share the challenges they faced every day while living with low vision and blindness.
Greater Shepparton had excellent local services for people with vision impairment, but the withdrawal of Vision Australia (VA) services from Shepparton has left a significant void.
People with NDIS support find it easier to navigate this space, but for seniors attending the forum, it was clear there is no regular access to occupational therapy, mobility training, transport assistance, or basic living support.
Locals trying to access support were met with bureaucratic roadblocks, leaving individuals feeling isolated and unsupported. There was a lack of awareness and training around assistive technologies that could help improve the quality of life.
“The need is there. And it’s a growing need as we’re an aging population. There are things available now to help, but nobody knows about them. Some of it is high-tech stuff, which is again a difficulty because of the aging population,” said Graham Hill.
“To think that people who are visually impaired could have a much better life, but they’re not given the access to it, is just a disgrace.
“Vision Australia, as it’s called, is not providing the service. It’s supposed to be. And people think they’re providing service, but it’s not.
Despite scaling back local operations, VA still has a presence in the region.
“While Vision Australia’s operating model in Shepparton has changed in recent years, we continue to provide specialist blindness and low vision services in the region. Vision Australia has an orientation and mobility specialist based permanently in Shepparton. Typically, a Vision Australia occupational therapist is also based permanently in Shepparton, however this role is currently on parental leave,” said VA Chief Client Officer Tania Hobson.
“Vision Australia has met with members of the blind and low vision community in Shepparton in the past to understand concerns they may have, and while we are proud of the work we do in the region, we are always open to feedback about how we can continue to meet the needs of our clients and their support networks.”
It is the shift in local services from VA that has left many local elderly people feeling vulnerable and unable to access the help they need. To continue advocating in this space, Dr Peter Eastaugh has formalised a petition signed by attendees, which was submitted to local, state, and federal government bodies. He has also asked for funding to hold regular meetings where people can find the help they need.
“I meet a lot of brick walls when I try to raise these issues. The bottom line is, as you can see, most of these people get very little support. I get the support because I buy it, a lot of these people can’t afford it,” said Dr Eastaugh.
