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Hands-on school holiday fun

Eight young people learned new skills and forged new friendships with a school holiday event at Vision Australia. 

Your support helps Sekinda make a difference

Sekinda is often one of the first healthcare professionals a person will meet with at Vision Australia, but she couldn't do it alone.

Thanks to you, children like Gemma can dream big!

Gemma's story captured the hearts of many, thanks to supporters like you who showed their support through generous donations.

This week on Talking Vision: Julie makes blind cricket history

Talking Vision is Vision Australia Radio’s flagship program, discussing the latest news and issues from a blindness and low vision perspective. The International Blind Sports Federation Games are coming up in late August, and in the first of a small series of interviews with athletes heading to the Games, Sam had the great pleasure of catching up with captain of the women’s blind cricket team, Julie Neumann.

This week on Talking Vision: Andy Hampson inspires a healthier yo...

Talking Vision is Vision Australia Radio’s flagship program, discussing the latest news and issues from a blindness and low vision perspective. On the program this week Sam is joined by health and wellness coach Andy Hampson. Andy is the founder of the Inspire Network, a community-based organisation focused on helping participants improve their health and wellness.

Vision Australia Radio and MWF partnership goes from strength to ...

Vision Australia Radio

The partnership between Vision Australia Radio and the Melbourne Writers Festival continued this year with the broadcasting of high-profile author interviews, social media interactions and the ongoing accessible program formatting.

Vision Store NZ launch

Vision Australia and Blind Low Vision NZ have partnered to launch a ground-breaking e-commerce platform.

Fadden by-election guide

Your official guide to the 2023 Fadden by-election The Fadden by-election will be held on Saturday 15 July 2023. Polling places open at 8am and close at 6pm sharp. If you are blind or have low vision, you may be able to vote by telephone. Why is there a by-election? You will be voting for a representative for the federal electoral division of Fadden in the House of Representatives. This by-election is being held following the resignation of the Member for Fadden. Who has to vote? If you are enrolled in the federal electoral division of Fadden, you are required to vote in the by-election. If you are not sure whether you are enrolled in the division of Fadden, you should check your enrolment information at www.aec.gov.au/check or call 13 23 26 if you need help. What if I can’t make it on by-election day? If you can’t make it to a polling place on by-election day, you may be entitled to vote early. To check if you are eligible to vote early at either an early voting centre or by post visit www.aec.gov.au/fadden Voting early by post If you are entitled to vote early, you can apply for a postal vote online at www.aec.gov.au/fadden/pva.htm Please call 13 23 26 if you don’t have online access and want to apply for a postal vote. The AEC must receive your application as soon as possible and no later than 6pm local time Wednesday 12 July 2023.   Telephone voting option If you are blind or have low vision, in addition to postal voting or voting at a polling place, you have the option to cast your vote by telephone. Voters who are blind or have low vision can cast a vote by telephone from any location by calling 1800 913 993. Telephone voting is a simple two-step process and AEC voting assistants are available to assist you through the process. Step 1: Call to register If you wish to vote by telephone, you must first register by calling 1800 913 993. Registration is available on weekdays between 8.30am and 5.30pm AET from Monday 3 July until Friday 14 July 2023. It is also available on by-election day Saturday 15 July 2023, from 8am to 12 midday AET. You will be asked questions to check your details on the electoral roll and will be asked to choose a PIN number. You will then receive a telephone voting registration number by your choice of an email, SMS, or phone call. Step 2: Call to vote Once you have received your registration number and chosen your PIN, you will need to call again to cast your vote. Telephone voting will commence from Monday 3 July 2023. Voting will be available on weekdays between 8.30am and 5.30pm AET. It will also be available from 8am to 6pm AET on by-election Saturday 15 July 2023. To cast your vote, call 1800 913 993. When you call, do not give your name or any information that could identify you (for example your address). Please have your telephone voting registration number and chosen PIN number ready. With these numbers you can vote anonymously without giving your name, and these will be used to mark you off the electoral roll. An AEC voting assistant will record your vote. A second voting assistant will ensure your vote is recorded as you intended. Your vote remains secret because the AEC voting assistant will not know your name or address. Once your vote is complete, the voting assistant will place the ballot paper into a secure ballot box. Remember, you have until 12 midday AET on by-election Saturday 15 July 2023 to register, and until 6pm AET to cast your vote. Voting early in person If you are entitled to vote early, you can vote at an early voting centre (below) from Monday 3 July 2023 to Friday 14 July 2023. Visit www.aec.gov.au/fadden to see the final list of early voting centres and to check opening dates and hours. Beenleigh Beenleigh Showgrounds Gold Coast North Pimpama Community Centre Helensvale Helensvale Senior Citizens Club Labrador 370 Marine Parade Runaway Bay Runaway Bay Community Centre Southport Southport Community Centre For further information about early voting options and eligibility visit www.aec.gov.au/fadden or call 13 23 26. Plan ahead before you vote Do your research on candidates and preferences before you go to vote. A list of the candidates is available at www.aec.gov.au/fadden You can take measures to keep yourself and others safe while voting. Visit www.aec.gov.au/fadden for the latest updates and advice. What happens at the polling place? Hand sanitiser will be available, and you are encouraged to bring and wear your face mask and maintain physical distance. You can use a clean AEC pencil, or you can bring your own pencil or pen. When you reach the ballot paper issuing point, a polling official will ask for your full name and address, and if you have voted before in the 2023 Fadden by-election. Your name will be marked off the electoral roll. You will be given your green ballot paper for the House of Representatives. Read the instructions on your ballot paper carefully. Complete your ballot paper. You must number every box to make your vote count. Once you have completed your ballot paper, fold it and place it in the ballot box provided. Deposit your AEC pencil in the box on the way out. There will be hand sanitiser available near the exit. Remember, if you need help, you can ask a polling official. The AEC takes the safety of our voters and election workers seriously with appropriate COVID-19 measures. The AEC continues to monitor the COVID-19 environment and follows advice from relevant health authorities. Information in this guide reflects circumstances at the time of printing. This may result in changes to the measures put in place.   Where can I vote on by-election day? You can vote at any polling place in the federal electoral division of Fadden on by-election day. Please note that polling place locations may have changed since you last voted. At the time of printing this publication, the locations of some polling places were yet to be confirmed. Final locations are available at www.aec.gov.au/fadden The final list of polling places, along with a list of candidates, will be published in the Brisbane Courier Mail and Gold Coast Bulletin on Friday 14 July. For accessible voting options and information, visit www.aec.gov.au/fadden or call 13 23 26. ALBERTON St Peter’s Lutheran Church Hall ARUNDEL Arundel Presbyterian Church Arundel State School BIGGERA WATERS Biggera Waters State School COOMBABAH Coombabah State High School Coombabah State School Marj Shipman Community Centre COOMERA Coomera Rivers State School Picnic Creek State School HELENSVALE Helensvale State High School Helensvale State School HOPE ISLAND Banksia Park Hall Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort JACOBS WELL Jacobs Well Community Centre LABRADOR Labrador Senior Citizens Centre Labrador State School ORMEAU Ormeau Woods State High School OXENFORD Gaven State School Oxenford State School PACIFIC PINES Pacific Pines State High School Pacific Pines State School PARADISE POINT Paradise Point Community Centre PIMPAMA Gainsborough State School Ormeau State School Pimpama Community Centre Pimpama State Primary College RUNAWAY BAY Runaway Bay Community Centre SOUTHPORT Southport State High School WOONGOOLBA Woongoolba Hall You can check the accessibility rating and details of polling places at www.aec.gov.au/fadden. For blind and low vision voting options call 13 23 26.

Vision Australia pops-up at the NGV

The interactive events share real people’s every-day stories and their honing of alternative senses, and the way they learn to use assistive technology and life hacks to facilitate a new-found independence.