The aim of better start is to provide funding for children with disabilities who require ongoing care and intervention. The expert reference group was established to advise the professions involved, and includes all the relevant professional stakeholders in this area.
Ms. Nearchou, together with Guiliana Baggoley, from the Optometry Association of Australia’s National office, lobbied for over a year to have an optometrist representative on the panel.
“This is really great for our profession, as it places us with the other professions on a level playing field when working in this area. It is not often optometry is seen as an important profession involved in the care of special needs children, so being on this panel and having a presence and voice is certainly a positive step forward,” said Professor Algis Vingrys.
“We are very excited for optometry and for those optometrists who will be working with children and receive additional funding for their work!”