Funding has been awarded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), which will enable Brien Holden Vision Institute to run its Australia Awards Fellowship.
The Fellowship program, now in its second year, has a public health focus and aims to increase the capacity of eye care education in developing countries. While the emphasis is on optometric educators, the Fellowship Program also caters for ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmologists.
Last year, candidates were brought together in Sydney for three weeks from China, Ethiopia, India, Vietnam and Pakistan. The candidates have since gone on to enhance optometric education in their own countries and to play a leadership role in other nations, proving the success of the Fellowship.
Attending guest lecturer Professor Kovin Naidoo, Institute Global Programs Director said, at the close of last year’s program, he expressed the hope that by further developing the skills and knowledge of the Fellows, the benefits would be passed on to education institutions, which would ultimately benefit the whole community.
The Fellowship program, now in its second year, has a public health focus and aims to increase the capacity of eye care education in developing countries…
“This is exactly what has happened – which is a great achievement for both the optometry profession and also for the global communities who are in most need of eye care.
“This program is an example of the Institute’s commitment to empower others to take the lead in serving their people,” said Professor Naidoo.
This year, 18 candidates from the Western Pacific and South Asian regions – including Fiji, India, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Vietnam – will visit Sydney to participate in the Fellowship program.
