Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit

The Indigenous Eye Health Unit (IEHU) was established by Melbourne Laureate Professor Hugh Taylor AC in 2008 with the specific and singular goal to achieve eye health and eye care equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (hereafter respectively referred to as Indigenous Australians). IEHU is a small translational research group that aims to close the gap for vision through world-leading research, policy formation, advocacy and implementation.

IEHU currently advances implementation of The Roadmap to Close the Gap (2012) recommendations through advocacy and technical and evidence-informed support to stakeholders working in eye health. IEHU also developed and supports health promotion in trachoma and diabetic eye disease.

The Roadmap comprises 42 recommendations (and 138 implementation steps) across nine domains of reform;
• Primary eye care as part of comprehensive primary health care
• Indigenous access to eye health services
• Coordination and case management
• Eye health workforce
• Elimination of trachoma
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Governance
• Health promotion and awareness
• Health financing

IEHU currently have 14 team members. The majority of IEHU staff are based in Melbourne, with some team members based in Alice Springs, Darwin and Adelaide.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which our Melbourne office is located and acknowledge the Arrernte people of Central Australia, the Kaurna people of Adelaide, Dharawal people of NSW and the Larrakia people of Darwin as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which our staff are located.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, particularly those who have made and continue to make contributions to the work to Close the Gap for Vision.