Bamaga Enterprises Ltd (BEL) supported five optometrists from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to visit the NPA and provide free eyes tests for children earlier this year, with $10,000 in accommodation, transport and meals at Cape York Peninsula Lodge provided.

“The aim was to provide a service to the kids to do comprehensive vision testing and to understand the extent of any uncorrected vision problems that may be in the community,” explained optometrist, Dr Scott Read, Associate Professor at QUT’s School of Optometry and Vision Science. 

The optometrists conducted over 250 tests on children aged 5 to 15, using 200 kg of eye-testing equipment, with a summary of the overall results set to be released to the community.

“We are still analysing the data in terms of results, but we will provide a report back to the community with the overall prevalence results from the study,” said Dr Read.

“All the individual reports are done, and the results were given to the parents and carers of the children. Referrals were also provided for children with significant eye conditions needing follow-up.

“Any of the kids found to be needing glasses will be provided with two free pairs: one pair for home and one separate pair for school. All of the participating children were also given a free pair of sunglasses.”

Members of the QUT team will travel up to Bamaga this week to deliver glasses to the children who were identified as needing them as part of the vision screening project.

Chris Foord, General Manager of BEL, said the community-owned Indigenous organisation was proud to support such an important project.

“Education is vital for our local children and being able to see as well as possible is important for a positive schooling experience,” Mr Foord said.

From the 250 students that received the test, Dr Read said there was a good response from the Bamaga region.

“The community was welcoming and very positive,” Dr Read said, whose team stayed in Bamaga for two weeks.

“There was a pretty high demand for the service once we began testing eyes, and it felt like people were quite appreciative.”

Dr Read was also pleased with how the testing was conducted and is hoping that it will be a stepping stone to providing more consistent testing in communities such as Bamaga and the Northern Peninsula Area.

“We are hopeful that we could potentially return to the community at some point to conduct eye testing again. The aim is to have an ongoing and sustainable, long-term community-based program.”