ANZEF supports equity- and access-focused eye health outcomes through an annual Grant Round and Scholarships program, with a focus on Global Eye Health, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pacific Eye Health and Growing the First Nations Ophthalmology Workforce.
ANZEF’s programs are designed to extend the reach of individual ophthalmologists beyond one patient at a time and into improving the eye health and lives of whole communities.
Working with local partners, ANZEF helps to address eye health needs in developing nations across the Asia-Pacific by providing education to deliver vision care to disadvantaged communities that would otherwise be unable to access specialist care.
Local ophthalmologists and health professionals are supported through professional development, mentoring and training provided by specialists – increasing local capacity for diagnosis, treatment, and care.
ANZEF works to increase recognition and awareness of First Nations eye health issues, improve access to eye care for these communities, build local ophthalmic capacity and better the understanding of culturally appropriate health care through education and advocacy.
ANZEF facilitates change by helping address some of the cultural, social, and financial barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori and Pacific health through supporting aspiring Indigenous ophthalmologists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
There’s currently only one Indigenous ophthalmologist in Australia and a handful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ophthalmology trainees. One of ANZEF’s key aims is to increase the number of First Nations medical graduates who train in ophthalmology and we’re currently building a fund to support Indigenous ophthalmology scholarships for medical doctors and university pathways to specialisation for Indigenous medical students.
ANZEF provides substantial scholarships to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees enrolled in the RANZCO Ophthalmology training program (note: training fees for Māori and Pacific trainees are subsidised by the New Zealand Government), and reimburses the training selection application fee for all First Nations applicants. Through these and other professional development scholarships, the Foundation is actively engaged with a growing pipeline of First Nations medical students and doctors who are interested in pursuing ophthalmology.
ANZEF is the philanthropic arm of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO).
RANZCO is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charities Services in New Zealand (registration no: CC53935).
Charity donations to ANZEF of $2 or more in Australia and $5 or more in New Zealand are tax-deductible.
ANZEF acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters throughout the world, and to their Elders and ancestors, past and present.
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