ASRC outreach eye clinic
Asylum seeker and refugee communities experience significant barriers in accessing eye health services due to cost, Medicare ineligibility, low health literacy, language barriers and limited knowledge of Australian health service systems. Providing care in ‘standard’ setting is unlikely to reach those most in need or produce the best results.
In 2022, ACO Eye Health, in partnership with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), set up an outreach eye care clinic at ASRC’s Health Centre in Footscray to deliver culturally appropriate eye care services to asylum seekers and refugees. Supported through the Perpetual IMPACT Philanthropy Program, the clinic has been established based on ACO Eye Health’s expertise and knowledge from running an embedded clinic at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service for the past 25 years.
Kon Karapanagiotidis, CEO ASRC, said, “The partnership between ASRC and ACO has made eye care more accessible for people seeking asylum. Providing free glasses and tailored care in a trusted setting has not only removed barriers for our clients, it has enhanced people’s overall experience of health care. The work with ACO providing optometry services is a living example of a truly productive partnership.”
The ASRC is Australia’s largest human rights organisation providing support to people seeking asylum. Their Health Centre provides a range of services and prioritises people without access to Medicare. Over 1400 people receive healthcare services from ASRC each year; for many of the migrant communities,this model of culturally informed healthcare broadens access and increases impact compared to care provided at other unfamiliar locations.
ACO Eye Health and ASRC have been long-term collaborators ensuring access to equitable eye care for people seeking asylum and refugees, irrespective of their visa status. For several years, ASRC clients have been referred to ACO clinics or have received care through our outreach programs. The setup of the integrated clinic has further increased uptake in eye care services - the convenience and the culturally responsive environment of the ASRC means that people who may hesitate to access services feel secure to do so in a familiar setting.
