Vision Australia continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and will continue to follow directions from all levels of government to support efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
All Vision Australia offices remain open, but in-line with the national shutdown of nonessential services and more stringent social distancing guidelines, Vision Australia will only deliver services via face-to-face appointments where there is a critical need. This includes Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs.
Where possible, we will be providing Vision Australia services via our telehealth service. Telehealth involves the use of technology such as phone, videoconferencing and email and will allow us to connect with and deliver services to our clients remotely.
Vision Australia deems services as critical when a client needs urgent support for reasons such as, but not limited to;
- Being able to remain in their own home
- Maintaining employment
- Being able to fulfil their role as a carer.
The delivery of critical services will be subject to a strict COVID-19 risk assessment for both staff and clients.
We understand this decision will have a serious impact on many of our clients and Vision Australia is committed to supporting our clients through this period.
If you have face-to-face appointments impacted by our decision, we will be in touch in the near future to discuss your options. You can also contact us by phone on 1300 84 74 66 or via email at [email protected].
We understand the importance of our Vision Store service and want to ensure you can still access the equipment you need.
We have introduced some additional measures, including strengthening our sanitation guidelines, regularly disinfecting products and surfaces, and limiting access to ensure people are visiting clean and safe locations.
You are welcome to shop in-store at any of our locations, but we encourage you to call ahead to check opening hours and product availability. You can also shop online at www.shop.visionaustralia.org or call our customer service team on 1300 84 74 66 between 9am and 7pm Monday to Friday.
There’s a number of other ways you can stay connected with Vision Australia, including:
- Vision Australia website
- Vision Australia Library
- Vision Australia Radio
- Quality Living Groups
- Telelink
Call us today on 130084 74 66 to for more information on staying in touch. Our teams will also be calling you to check in on your welfare and support.
We are currently facing a situation not seen in Australia in living memory and there is likely to be further impact on Vision Australia services in coming weeks.
We will continue to update you about any changes, as we are doing our utmost to support the blind and low vision community during this period. Please reach out to us at any time for additional information and support.
Yours sincerely,
Ron Hooton,
CEO, Vision Australia.