FAQs

What is The Fred Hollows Foundation?

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a non-government organisation which seeks to eradicate avoidable blindness in developing countries and to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians. We use a sustainable development approach to achieve our objectives.

What is the significance of The Fred Hollows Foundation logo?

The Fred Hollows Foundation logo represents both the iris of the eye and the intraocular lens (IOL). A pair of cupped hands in the logo symbolise the caring work of The Foundation, and the colours of the logo represents the sunburnt landscape and eucalypts of the Australian environment.

What is The Fred Hollows Foundation's Mission? 

The Fred Hollows Foundation works for a world where no one is needlessly blind and Indigenous Australians enjoy the same health and life expectancy as other Australians.

Is Gabi Hollows still involved with The Foundation?

Gabi Hollows is actively involved in the work of The Foundation. As a Founding Director, Patron of The Fred Hollows Foundation Miracle Club and the public face of The Foundation at regular events and speaking engagements, Gabi helps ensure the legacy of Fred is kept alive within The Foundation.

Find out more about Gabi.

Where can I find out more about The Foundation?      

To find out more about The Foundation take a look around our website, send us an email or phone us on 1800 352 352.

Is The Foundation connected to any political or religious organisation?

The Foundation is a non political, secular organisation with support from across the community, including people from all denominations and faiths. 

What is The Foundation's Australian Business Number (ABN)?

The Foundation's ABN is 46 070 556 642.

How much does it cost to restore someone's sight?

It costs as little as $25, in some developing countries, to perform cataract surgery and restore sight to people living with unnecessary blindness. This cost fluctuates with exchange rates and the specific operating environments in the countries in which we work.

For example, in some countries, The Foundation distributes free intraocular lenses to poorer patients, or subsidises consumable costs, while in other countries patients are charged on a sliding scale, with wealthier patients subsidising the cost for poorer patients.

What does the $25 cost associated with cataract surgery pay for?

The $25 cost includes the vital components of modern cataract surgery, including the intraocular lens (IOL), sutures and other consumables (bandages and anaesthetic), and pre and post operative patient care.

How many countries does The Foundation work in?

Since 1992, The Foundation has worked with partners in more than 20 countries worldwide.

The Foundation currently supports capacity building initiatives in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Eritrea, India, Lao PDR, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tibet and Vietnam.

The Foundation NZ supports capacity building eye health initiatives in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Timor Leste and Vanuatu.

What is The Foundation's current eye health focus?

The Foundation's main role is as a catalyst and facilitator. Working with local partners, we support and implement programs, monitor their progress and evaluate their impact. Fundamental to our approach is a commitment to long term sustainability.

While the development of local capacity is important wherever and whenever possible, The Foundation makes this commitment at a rate and pace that people are comfortable with.

Our approach is flexible, responsive and systematic and differs substantially from government approaches. It also demonstrates that creative partnerships with local communities, NGOs (non-government organisations), governments, corporate and philanthropic groups are possible.

How can surgery be performed for so little money in developing countries?

One of the biggest cost components of modern cataract surgery is the intraocular lens - Fred Hollows used to refer to them as "the most expensive pieces of plastic in the world". The Foundation supported the establishment of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Nepal and Eritrea in 1994, which enable the production of IOLs at minimum cost. Both of these laboratories are now locally managed and independent.

By manufacturing high quality, low cost IOLs and finding other ways to minimise the cost of consumables and surgical equipment, The Foundation has helped to make cataract surgery affordable to the most disadvantaged communities in developing countries.

Does The Foundation facilitate eye health programs in Australia?

The Foundation brings its international experience in effective development work and capacity building to its programs working with Indigenous Australians. Whilst blindness prevention remains a core focus of The Foundation's work, there has been a much broader health care approach to programs carried out with Indigenous communities in Australia since 1999.

Health care programs focused on community stores management, nutrition, primary health care, financial literacy and education, seek to empower Indigenous Australians and improve their health outcomes.

Can I volunteer for The Foundation in its Australian offices? 

The Foundation welcomes enquiries from people interested in volunteering in our Australian offices. These opportunities generally involve administrative support to our staff. Please contact us for further information about rewarding volunteering positions within our Australian offices by sending us an email or phoning us on 1800 352 352.

Can I volunteer to work overseas for The Foundation?

The Foundation does not generally place volunteers in our international programs. This is because we aim to develop the skills and capacity of local people in the disadvantaged communities where we work.

The only time The Foundation utilises volunteers from other countries is when we require highly specialised skills that cannot be sourced from within the country. Our preference in these cases is to use people from within the region.

The Foundation may, at times, be able to facilitate placements for some ophthalmology graduates or higher level trainees in our programs. Please contact us for further information by sending us an email or phoning us on 1800 352 352.

Australian Volunteers International provides various volunteer opportunities for people from all walks of life, to work in developing countries for short and extended periods. The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) also provides links to further information about volunteering.

How can I become involved in The Foundation and 'see' its work?

One way to get involved in The Foundation is by participating in our annual ‘See the World' challenge!

Participants raise money for The Foundation and are rewarded with an adventure trip to Nepal, Vietnam and Cambodia or the Northern Territory, to see The Foundation's programs in action and have the experience of a lifetime!

For further information visit the 'See the World' website or contact The Foundation, by email or phone 1800 352 352.

Where does The Foundation receive its funding from? And how is it spent? The Fred Hollows Foundation receives most of its funding from the generosity of the general community. Through your support you are not only restoring the miracle of sight - you are also restoring dignity and independence. Thank you.
Is my donation tax deductible? Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible and are receipted.

How do I find out more about Funding?

 Download our Annual Report.

Can I donate other things to The Foundation?

The Foundation gratefully accepts donations of relevant ophthalmic equipment that are in good quality working condition and can be immediately directed to a country program. The Foundation believes in access to quality eye care for everyone and as such only uses quality equipment, consumables and facilities. Please contact The Foundation if you have appropriate equipment that you would like to donate. Send us an email or phone us on 1800 352 352.

Does The Foundation provide grants to other organisations?

The Foundation is not a grant making organisation and so cannot provide funds to other organisations. Our resources are fully expended in our own programs in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

Our goal is to build up the capacity of the countries or communities in which we work to a point where they have the resources they need to solve their own problems and set up their own systems that will benefit their communities well into the future. We do this through the transfer of skills, knowledge and technology.