Indigenous Eye Health team

The Indigenous Eye Health team are the 2020 recipients of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Indigenous Health. All 15 team members who work across Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, were recognised for their contribution to Indigenous health through their vision of providing equity in eye health for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

Led by Hugh Taylor AC, Associate Professor Mitchell Anjou AM and Emma Stanford, the IEH is based in the Centre for Health Equity in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.

The team have an excellent record in extensive community engagement and taking a health service approach. The IEH launched the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision in 2012 working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and other stakeholders across the country.

With persistent advocacy to governments, there have been significant changes to the provision of eye care and improvement in eye health over the past decade. The award has been used to help the team promote thinking about reconciliation and privilege and cultural awareness and safety within the academy.

We often work quietly in our own bubble but the awards let others hear about the great work being done across the faculty, Indigenous Eye Health

The Faculty award led to the successful nomination for the university’s Excellence Award for Engagement in 2021.