I believe that there is and has been significant gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples health in Australia. One major area which has been avoided for a long time in Indigenous people’s health is Ocular Health, with having less than 15 Indigenous Optometrist within Australia it makes it hard for Indigenous people to find a culturally safe space to go to for regular eye assessments.

Eye health is a very underestimated area where there is a lack of education not only within the wider Indigenous communities but throughout Australia. According to the AIHW (Australian Institute of Health Welfare), over 13 million Australians (55% of the total population) have one or more long-term eye conditions, based on self-reported data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

7.2 million with hyperopia (long-sightedness)
6.3 million with myopia (short-sightedness)
1.4 million with astigmatism (blurred vision)
687,200 with presbyopia (farsightedness)
548,600 with colour blindness
410,800 with cataract
236,600 with macular degeneration
131,500 with blindness (complete and partial).

With looking into the statistics, it has come to show that the older Indigenous Australians are almost 3x as likely to suffer from vision impairment or blindness as older non-Indigenous Australians. More than 1 in 10 Indigenous Australian age 40 and over suffer from vision loss. It is also stated in the AIHW that in 2012–13, one-third (33%) or 213,000 Indigenous Australians reported that they had an eye or sight problem.

After adjusting for age, the proportion of Indigenous Australians with an eye or sight problem was 8% lower than that of non-Indigenous Australians.

When I first stepped into the world of optometry, I thought I was simply learning how to measure vision and prescribe glasses. But the deeper I went, the more I realised this profession is not just about eyesight, it’s about seeing people.

Over the years, I’ve met patients who carried their culture, history, and hopes in the way they spoke about their vision. I’ve seen joy in a child’s face when they could see the board clearly for the first time, and I’ve sat with patients as we navigated diagnoses that changed the way they looked at the world, literally and figuratively.

In Darwin, school screenings were one of the absolute highlights of my time there. There was always so much going on a buzz in the air from the moment we set foot on the school grounds. Kids would be curious and chatty or sometimes shy at first but quickly warming up once they realised, we were there to help. We worked through classrooms full of bright smiles, translating our little vision checks into games that kept the engagement going.

Through Deadly Vision Centre, we were able to make these days about connecting with the community. Each child’s screening was a chance to make sure they could see the board clearly, read their books without strain, and fully take part in learning.

Our screenings included:

• Distance visual acuity(fun symbol or tumbling E charts for the younger ones)
• Near visual acuity
• Cover test at distance and near
• Ocular motility checks
• Stereoacuity for depth perception
• Colour vision testing
• Confrontation visual fields
• Retinoscopy for objective refraction
• Near point of convergence
• External eye health check with a torchlight
• Intraocular pressure(for older students if needed)

My journey has been shaped by moments of challenge and growth. Long days of study, countless hours in clinics, and the responsibility of making precise, life-impacting decisions have tested my resilience. But they’ve also strengthened my purpose: to bridge the gap between quality eye care and those who need it most.

Optometry has taught me the importance of patience, empathy, and cultural sensitivity. It has shown me the value of listening as much as examining, and that caring for vision often means caring for the whole person.

I know this journey is still unfolding. The more I learn, the more I see how much there is left to explore from advanced treatments to community outreach. My goal remains clear: to use my skills not only to correct vision, but to create opportunities, restore confidence, and open doors for those who’ve been left on the margins.

I carry forward a deep gratitude for my mentors, my patients, my colleagues, and every experience that has sharpened both my clinical skill and my human understanding. This journey has not only shaped me as an optometrist, but as a person. And the vision I hold for the future is brighter than ever.