FNEHA project
Seeing Our Way: Life and Legacy
A First Nations Eye Health Alliance storytelling series honouring the Elders, leaders and changemakers who have shaped Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye care, health and wellbeing across generations.
Carrying legacy forward
For many years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have worked tirelessly to improve eye health outcomes for our people. Their work has opened doors, challenged systems, strengthened communities and carried knowledge across generations.
Seeing Our Way: Life and Legacy was created to document and share these stories so they are not lost. Each video creates space for leaders to speak in their own words about the journeys they have walked, the lessons they have learned and the future they want to see for our children, young people and communities.
This project is about more than looking back. It is about carrying legacy forward.
Thank you to the Annamila First Nations Foundation for seeding this important work.
Why this project matters
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, leadership and lived experience are irreplaceable. Without deliberate effort to document and preserve these stories, they risk being lost to future generations of eye health workers, researchers, communities and advocates.
Seeing Our Way: Life and Legacy creates a permanent, community-controlled record of First Nations leadership in eye health — one that can inform education, inspire the next generation of workers, and strengthen the case for continued investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led eye care.
The series was screened at the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC26), where it was received with deep appreciation by delegates from across the country.
National relevance
Eye health is a national priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Avoidable vision loss remains significantly higher for First Nations people than for the broader population. The leaders featured in this series have dedicated their lives to changing that reality. Preserving their stories strengthens the national movement for equity in eye health — and ensures their contributions are recognised, honoured and built upon.
Episodes
Episode 1 — Aunty Janet Richardson
Aunty Janet Richardson
Baard and Yawuru Culture, Ooranyg / Ngala Jandu (Saltwater Woman) Heritage from Broome in the Dampier Peninsula of the West Kimberley Region
Aunty Janet's passion is working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in eye health to minimise unnecessary vision loss. In Episode 1, Aunty Janet shares her story of leadership, culture, Country and service across a lifetime dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.
Video coming soon — watch on the FNEHA YouTube channel
Support this work
Seeing Our Way: Life and Legacy is a growing series. Continued funding will enable FNEHA to document more stories, reach more communities and build a lasting national archive of First Nations eye health leadership. If you are a funder or partner with the capacity to support this work, we welcome your interest.
Nominate an Elder
If you would like to nominate an Elder in your community for consideration in the Seeing Our Way: Life and Legacy series, please contact us.
Partner with us
If you are a funder with the capacity to support the documentation of these stories, please contact us.