Since 2010, Blackwoods and The Fred Hollows Foundation have built a partnership with a clear vision to improve access to eye care and eyewear. Through the relationship, Blackwoods donates 10 per cent of profits from PROSAFE eyewear, face shields and related accessories sold through Blackwoods Australia to The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program.

In 2023, Blackwoods and The Fred Hollows Foundation jointly celebrated a significant milestone – $2.8 million (excl GST) in contributions since 2010 to work towards closing the gap in eye health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many customers are pleased to learn that, not only are they receiving quality safety equipment tested to comply with Australian standards, but a portion of their purchase is directly assisting The Foundation with its work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are three times more likely to go blind, but 90 per cent of vision loss is preventable or treatable. The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program supports increased investment in and access to culturally appropriate eye care services for remote and underserved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Indigenous Australia Program focuses on:

• delivering surgery and medical treatment for cataract, diabetic retinopathy and the elimination of trachoma
• increasing access to services for patients in remote communities
• coordinating and improving outreach medical services
• providing training and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health staff.

Blackwoods’ contribution helps support many of The Foundation’s program partners throughout Australia. One of these partners is Check-Up, an organisation that delivers outreach services to people living in regional, rural and remote Queensland who do not have access to primary eye care services.

Each year, this service aims to reduce the instances of avoidable blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations through screening, diabetic retinopathy treatments, cataract operations, provision of glasses and eye health education and support.

In 2022, program partners like Check-Up helped screen more than 10,300 people across Australia.

Blackwoods is proud of this milestone and its longstanding partnership with The Foundation to support Fred’s vision to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can always exercise their right to sight, good health and self-determination.