Bio

Tessa is a Research Fellow, Indigenous Eye Health, within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health (MSPGH) at the University of Melbourne, supporting implementation of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision. Prior to joining the Indigenous Eye Health team at MSPGH, Tessa spent 10 years supporting health system improvement in the Divisions of General Practice, Medicare Local and PHN network. Tessa has a PhD from the University of Tasmania and, more recently, completed an MPH at Monash University. She is passionate about equity and supporting system-level changes to improve health and wellbeing for all.

Session title


Working together to Close the Gap for Vision by 2020: improving health systems for Indigenous Australians

When

Saturday 1 September  |  View program for more details

Abstract

Although the gap in blindness rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians halved between 2008 and 2015, rates of both blindness and vision impairment remain three times higher for Indigenous adults.

This presentation will provide an update on progress to Close the Gap for Vision by 2020, including key learnings from regional implementation across Australia about how PHNs and primary health care providers can contribute to improving equity in eye health outcomes for Indigenous Australians, through a collaborative health-systems approach.

Information will be provided on resources and strategies available to support incorporation of eye health into comprehensive patient care.