CATARACT KIDS AUSTRALIA
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Resources and support

Microgrants for families
Get help with your family's cataract-related expenses through our Microgrants scheme. 
We bring together the supports, funding programmes and useful links relevant to families of children with cataracts.  If you know about a resource not listed here please let us know. 

Funding schemes

  • Medicare provides free care to public patients in public hospitals by ophthalmologists and orthoptists.  The cost of glasses and/or contact lenses is also subsidised. If you see these health professionals as a private patient there will be out of pocket costs for the appointments and you will need to cover the full cost of the glasses/contact lenses.
  • Services Australia: payments for carers
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)​​

Support for travel

If you have to travel to attend appointments you may be eligible for state-based schemes that reimburse travel and accommodation.
  • ACT Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
  • NSW Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme
  • NT Patient Assistance Travel Scheme
  • QLD Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme
  • SA Patient Assistance Transport Scheme
  • Tasmania Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
  • Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme
  • WA Patient Assisted Travel Scheme​

Related organisations

  • Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association (North America)
  • Childhood Cataract Network (UK)​

Events

See our Events page

Private health cover

  • Private extras insurance cover may help with the cost of spectacles and/or contact lenses.  It pays to shop around for good optical coverage.  
  • Private hospital insurance cover may help with costs if you choose to have your child's surgery done in a private hospital with your choice of doctor.  
See www.privatehealth.gov.au/

Services and equipment

Resources and support differ between states.  Please contact the organisation directly to find out about services in your location. 
  • ​Eye patches and other products available in Australia and online. 
  • Vision Australia provides blindness and low vision services in some Australian states - to find out if they work in your location click here.
  • In Victoria, Vision Matters is an orthoptic private practice offering assessment and innovative specialist low vision intervention.  
  • In NSW and ACT, a patient care coordination service is available for free at the Save Sight Institute.  Contact them for help in identifying which services are available for your child.  
  • SA families may be eligible to access glasses or lenses through GlassesSA - ask your healthcare provider. 
  • Lions Eye Institute - a WA-based eye care provider and research centre
  • Next Sense offers assessment, advice and early intervention programmes in NSW and some other locations. 
  • EVAC (The Educational Vision Assessment Clinic)  is a great resource in Victoria for school age children with visual impairment.
  • Guide Dogs Australia has links to Guide Dog organisations in each state; these offer a range of services including mobility and orientation support and training for vision impaired children and adolescents. 
  • Goggleman - prescription goggles and glasses for swimming and sport. 
  • Cancer Council - a wide range of sunglasses for babies and children.
  • Black and white books, mobiles and toys made in Australia

State-specific resources

  • A list of resources specific to children in South Australia is available here
  • Genetic Support Network of Victoria
Cataract Kids Australia Ltd 2022
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Events
    • Policies
  • Information
    • Diagnosis
    • Cataracts and their treatment
    • Tips and tricks
    • Glossary
  • Media
  • Our stories
  • Resources and support
    • Microgrants for families
  • Research
  • Health Professionals
  • Contact & Donate