News

Getting ‘Life Ready’ with our new Children and Young People Progr...

Introducing the Life Ready Program Over the past two years, Vision Australia has been updating and re-working its children and young people offerings in our partnerships with families. Our aim is to give them the skills they need to take advantage of choices they are faced with that could lead to a better future and the confidence they need to believe they can live the life they choose. At the heart of our program sits the ambition to improve our services and desire to help tackle the high unemployment and low participation rate of those young people with blindness or low vision in the workplace. Did you know that 58% of people who are blind or have low vision want to work, yet are still unemployed? Designing a program that starts building life skills early and consistently is critical to making a real, tangible change to aid children in reaching their goals. And so it is with great pleasure we are introducing Vision Australia’s new Life Ready Program! What is the Life Ready Program? Vision Australia’s Life Ready Program gives children who are blind or have low vision a ‘toolkit to tackle life’ so they are better equipped with the confidence, skills and desires they need to form strong foundations for life, engage in true meaningful participation and approach opportunities for lifelong employment. The program creates a safe, supportive environment to connect children and young people (aged 0-25), as well as their families with their peers so they can grow and learn together. Understanding that there is help and support out there with people who are living this journey too can in itself be a great support. All while a team of experts helps all involved to develop their skills across the nine critical life skills areas. Introducing the Nine Life Skill areas The Nine Life Skill areas that sit at the heart of this new program are based on decades of international research and experience. You may have heard of these described as the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). We think that’s a mouthful to say and believe and that at its heart, the ECC they are all simply life skills. Compensatory Access: Understanding strategies and equipment that can be used to compensate for not having full vision. Orientation and Mobility: A focus on the strategies and equipment to problem solve, navigate and move through the world, and problem solve in the moment to aid true independence. Explore Orientation and Mobility. Assistive Technology: Understanding how to use technology to empower those who are blind or have low vision to read, write and achieve the same life outcomes as those with full sight. Independent Living Skills: A focus upon the tasks people do frequently, even daily, to take care of themselves and others, and to meet the demands of everyday life. Explore Independing Living Skills. Sensory Efficiency: Developing a personal, individual understanding of how you utilise all your senses to interact well in everyday life, no matter the situation. Social Interaction: Understanding the skills needed to interact with others, to build and maintain relationships when you cannot rely on non-verbal visual communication. Explore Social Interaction. Career Education: Building knowledge and skills needed to take on all life roles and duties in the future such as being a friend, an employee or a parent. Explore Career Education. Self Determination: Instilling the skills, knowledge and necessary self-confidence to make good choices and inspire children who are blind or have low vision to believe they can live the life they choose. Explore Self Determination. Recreation and Leisure Skills: Encouraging enabled active participation in healthy physical activity, hobbies and creative pursuits to relax and enjoy free time by themselves or with others. We have developed our new program around these Nine Life Skill areas to ensure our program compliments the Australian School Curriculum, a purposeful cross-over that has many benefits, notable among them: Ensuring our program builds upon the skills being learnt in the classroom, To make it easier to engage and work closely with teachers, who are a key member of your broader support team, Align with the methods used by broader support services used to assist children with complex needs, and At its heart, we can all simply and easily work together to deliver the best benefits for your child. We are committed to building strong foundations for life. We remain committed to support families with both the big and simple steps in life, by finding ways to develop strong foundations for the future. Whatever stage your family is at, whatever is most important to you and your child, we are always here with specialised services to help. Download our new Life Ready Program brochure or visit our website to learn more.

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.