Danielle Brooks, Karthigan Paramananthasivam, Oliver Munro, Geordie Shields, Anh-Dao Le, Rutendo Nhemachena, Amelia Yew, Karleena Osborne, Stephen Murray, Gabriel Lobo, Wayne Hogan.
OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has partnered with OPSM New Zealand’s leadership team to deliver essential vision care services to 703 residents of Gisborne on the east coast of New Zealand’s north Island.
The initiative, hosted by YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Aotearoa and Turanga Health, provided comprehensive eye care – including vision care, dental services, and flu immunisations – to a community where the median income sits at just NZ$35,800, making access to essential health services financially challenging for many families.
A diverse team of volunteers from across OPSM’s structure – including the Optical Country Director, regional managers, and optometrists – attended the week-long clinic, which had been coordinated as part of Turanga Health’s broader ‘Winter readiness week’ initiative.
Transforming Lives Through Vision Care
Over the course of the week, the OneSight team dispensed 645 pairs of glasses to local residents, and identified issues of concern within the community, including cases where residents had been unknowingly driving without proper vision correction.
Particularly poignant were the stories of parents who, after receiving their own vision corrections, gained new understanding of the challenges their children had been facing and realised the impact of untreated vision problems.
Strategic Partnerships Drive Success
The success of the Gisborne clinic demonstrated the strength of strategic partnerships in addressing healthcare gaps. By taking services directly to the community and partnering with trusted local organisations, the clinic was able to remove many traditional barriers to accessing health care.
YWAM Aotearoa, a Christian faith-based organisation dedicated to supporting isolated Pacific communities through healthcare and education, provided crucial local knowledge and community connections.
Turanga Health, the local Iwi health provider, played an equally vital role in the initiative’s success. As a Māori-led organisation focussed on improving the wellbeing of Māori families in the Gisborne region, Turanga Health’s involvement ensured the services were culturally appropriate and reached those most in need.
“The atmosphere throughout the week was one of compassion, collaboration, and purpose,” noted a OneSight team member. “It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when corporate support aligns with community need – and a true testament to the dedication and support OPSM provides the OneSight Foundation.”
Expanding Access Through Innovation
A spokesperson for OPSM said that as healthcare costs continue to rise and regional communities face ongoing challenges accessing specialist services, initiatives like OneSight’s Gisborne clinic demonstrate the vital role that corporate-community partnerships can play in ensuring equitable access to essential eye care services.
The initiative also showcases how workplace giving programmes can amplify corporate social responsibility efforts, the spokesperson said. OPSM’s iGive workplace giving programme provides a structured pathway for employees to contribute to OneSight’s community impact initiatives, creating a sustainable funding model for ongoing outreach work.
