Resources and support

NEW: Microgrants for families
In 2021 we are delighted to provide up to $100 per child through our pilot Microgrants programme. 

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)​​

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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)​

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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