Who Are We?

The First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA) is Australia's national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation for eye health and vision care.

We are the principal voice and peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and work nationally to improve eye health, vision care and wellbeing outcomes through leadership, advocacy, service delivery, workforce development, health promotion, research, innovation and partnerships.

Guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and community control, we work alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, governments, health services, researchers, clinicians, universities and industry to eliminate avoidable vision loss and ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person has access to culturally safe, high-quality eye care.

Our work spans policy and systems reform, national programs, workforce development, health promotion, research translation, digital innovation and community-led initiatives that strengthen communities and improve health outcomes across Australia.

How we came to be

FNEHA was born out of key discussions at the 2022 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NASTIEHC) on Larrakia Country in Darwin, NT, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health professionals from across the country called for a dedicated body to lead the advancements needed to improve eye health and vision care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Please see the Vision 2030 Workshop report for more information. 

We are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation focused on building our vision our way. We lead from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deep knowledge and lived experience to influence and engage our collective obligations across the health community. Working nationally, we partner with the sector to drive equitable change in eye health and vision care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The First Nations Eye Health Alliance proudly support in full the Uluru Statement from the Heart: Voice, Treaty and Truth. As an alliance built by First Nations people, for First Nations people, we endorse strengthening structures of self-determination that allow the voices of our communities to drive improvements in our health and wellbeing. We continue to call for health equity, justice and to uphold the rights and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that our communities are healthy and thriving.

 For more information on the Uluru Statement, go to: https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/view-the-statement/