SWAMS opens optometry clinic in aim to improve Indigenous eye health

Better access to culturally safe eye care for the South West region has taken a step forward after South West Aboriginal Medical Service officially opened its optometry service in Bunbury on Wednesday November 27. While the service has been operating since May, the opening was a chance to showcase the newly arrived “cutting edge” ZEISS technology which allows a more in-depth eye scan to diagnose symptoms. The clinic — which operates twice a week at SWAMS’ Forrest Avenue centre — has so far seen 210 patients, giving Aboriginal people in the region access to culturally safe eye care. The service has been lauded by SWAMS chief executive officer Lesley Nelson, who said it would be a game changer for the region. “This facility is critical to the journey for eye health for our communities and Aboriginal communities in the South West and across Noongar country,” she said. “What it is for us is as we continue to innovate and expand our services, it’s really essential to recognise the vital role that digital technologies play in modern healthcare. “What we’re doing is transforming how we deliver care to our people, and this is equipment that can assist us in creating a workforce, bringing the expertise to SWAMS, bringing it into the South West here for the Aboriginal and the Noongar people.” The service has been created in collaboration between SWAMS, the University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University’s University Department of Rural Health South West. So far, 20 final-year optometry students have been trained at the facility. Ms Nelson encouraged more people to seek out the service. “This is a culturally safe pathway for our people to come in and access eye health care. Our eyes are so important for us,” she said. “We have many responsibilities and making sure we look after them (our eyes), especially when we have chronic illnesses that can deteriorate the quality of the care of our eyes. “Come in and just make sure we manage the space and monitor it and have experts take care of you here in a culturally safe environment amongst our Aboriginal staff that are working here as well.”