Local partners

The Foundation's Indigenous Program operates as a series of interrelated projects that address the underlying causes of health inequity. Each program aims to reflect the needs and priorities identified by the local communities.

The Foundation has formed strong partnerships with local Aboriginal health services and the Australian and Northern Territory Governments to find affordable and sustainable ways to provide eye health services which can be accessed equitably throughout remote areas of the Northern Territory and Central Australia.  

The Foundation began its partnership with the Jawoyn Association in 2000. We were there to help establish Sunrise Health Service in 2003 and to support its growth to a fully-fledged Aboriginal controlled health service. The service covers 112,000 square kilometres and provides 82,000 health consultations each year.

In 2006 Katherine West Health Board and Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre joined The Foundation as partners, along with Indigenous communities to the east of Katherine.

The Central Australian Eye Health Program was launched in 2007. It is coordinated by The Foundation in collaboration with the Australian and Northern Territory Governements, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation and The Eye Foundation.

In 2008/09 a partnership agreement was signed with Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation, based in Broken Hill, NSW. The partnership is aimed at skills development and community engagement.

Jawoyn Association; Sunrise Health Service; Katherine West Health Board; Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation;  Alice Springs Hospital; Diplomacy Training Program UNSW; Katherine Region Aboriginal Health and Related Services; Roper Gulf Shire Council; Indigenous Literacy Project Committee - Australian Booksellers Association and Australian Publishers Association; NT Writers Centre;

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University: Guide Dogs SA NT; Vision 2020 Australia; Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and the RANZCO Eye Foundation; Katherine Region Group Schools; Jimmy Little Foundation; Australian Government; Northern Territory Government; Central Australian Aboriginal Congress; Anyinginyi Aboriginal Health Board; Australian Indigenous Doctors Association; Centre for Eye Research Australia.