Australian charity Essilor Vision Foundation is a recipient in the third round of sponsorships, as part of the Nexus Together community-giving program.
Nexus is the company constructing the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) and the Foundation is providing vision screening to schools located along the TSRC project corridor. It is the second round of funding the foundation has received and this will enable screenings to even more local schools. Under its first grant the Foundation worked with fourth and final year students at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) School of Optometry and Vision Science. In addition local optometrists have screened school children at Helidon, Harlaxton, Murphys Creek, Highfields, Withcott and Flagstone Creek state schools. So far 514 students have been screened and 191, which is 37 per cent, have been referred onto local optometrists for bulk-billed assessment. Prescription spectacles are provided by the Foundation at no cost to children, who required them.
Foundation Chief Executive Greg Johnson says Nexus Together has shown leadership that serves as an example to other corporations in Australia. “What a wonderful legacy for the company to leave after its project is completed with many children seeing better at school and achieving improved academic results,” Greg says. “The important message to all family members is to have regular eye examinations.”
Nexus Chief Executive John Hagan says Nexus representatives had attended several school screenings and they were impressed with the professionalism of both QUT optometry students and volunteer optometrists. “We are delighted to continue our involvement with the foundation in round three of the Nexus Together community giving program as they work to screen even more school children along the TSRC project corridor,” John says.
As well as revisiting a number of large schools for further screening, this round will also focus on additional schools in the Gatton, Grantham, Gowrie Junction, Wellcamp and Bunkers Hill areas. Greg is urging principals of other schools with an interest in the program to contact him on mobile 0498 015 230 or by email.
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