The opportunity arose when optometrist and Flinders lecturer, Jose Estevez Bordon, invited students on placement with the Visiting Optometrists Scheme, an outreach program delivering primary eye care to First Nations people in remote communities. Jose has participated in the initiative for seven years, regularly providing eye care in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands, approximately 500km southwest of Alice Springs.

“There are existing inequities in eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Jose explains. “The communities only receive two visits per year, and further backlogs exist due to COVID-19 restrictions.” The program seeks to fill the void of detecting and treating the common causes of blindness, including refractive error, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy.  

An inspiring experience

While Flinders Optometry students gain practical experience delivering patient consultations in Flinders Health2Go, the clinic also provides optometry equipment, systems, and administrative support for student placement in the Visiting Optometrists Scheme.

“A core part of Health2Go’s focus is service growth to allow for more student placement experiences,” says Health2Go Clinic Manager David Jacobs. “We are also working to provide accessible health services that address the needs of the community. Health2Go are excited to support this amazing, community driven program … it’s a great placement opportunity for our students.”

When Aliza heard about the opportunity, she was immediately interested. 

“Coming from a country town, I’ve always been surrounded by First Nations cultures, but I’ve never been to a community where traditional practices and language had been preserved like in the APY lands. Aside from the optometric experience that would be gained, the invitation to a remote First Nations community was a rare and special opportunity.” 

Travelling to the communities of Fregon, Mimili and Indulkana, the team provided thirty comprehensive eye tests per day. “We are usually able to provide glasses (at no cost) to about fifty people per trip,” Jose explains. “But we make referrals to ophthalmology and detect sight-threatening diseases. We also feed back information to the local primary care physician for ongoing care.”

Aliza believes a consistent patient experience is crucial to gain the locals’ trust and respect, which means they will encourage family and community members to get their eyes tested. “It’s so rewarding when you provide a patient with their spectacle prescription, as this might be the first time they’ve been able to see clearly,” Aliza says. “Being able to provide them with a pair of glasses is a simple act for an optometrist but creates a huge impact on their quality of life.” 

Sparking career passion

Aliza feels the placement gave her clarity on what she wants her optometric career to look like. “It was such a gratifying experience and one of the best I’ve had in my years of study,” Aliza reflects. “The placement confirmed the need for optometric settings in remote First Nations communities and how easily this can be provided. The volume of patients I saw was incredible … and allowed me to improve on my skills outside a clinical setting.”

Aliza notes that one of the most enjoyable parts was speaking to people and taking the time to listen to them, feeling extremely lucky when they would share stories of their childhood, their mob, and what it meant to be on their land. “This trip sparked passion I have always had to work in First Nations communities, as well as my aspirations to improve ocular health. It was an inspiring experience … it showed the impact just one optometrist can have on a community.”  

Aliza Benchmo, fifth year Optomery student, was inspired by a work placement experience in the APY lands.