From Vision in Australia, this is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Colley.

From Vision in Australia, this is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Colley.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision. We don't

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision. We don't

recommend anything. It's just an information resource. We don't say this is better than that one because everyone has different needs in the world. And so you can't recommend one over another because there's so many different needs and expectations of what people want their device to do.

recommend anything. It's just an information resource. We don't say this is better than that one because everyone has different needs in the world. And so you can't recommend one over another because there's so many different needs and expectations of what people want their device to do.

Welcome to the program. That was Wayne Hawkins from the accessible telecoms project. You just heard from there talking about how as a priority, they sought to create a resource for users with disabilities that is independent and informative to help people get the most out of their devices. Wine is blind himself, and among other things, he talks about his lived experience as a phone and tablet user who is blind and the ways in which a resource like accessible telecoms can help users who are not only blind or have low vision, but also those with disability in general. My interview with Wayne encompasses the majority of the show this week. So without further ado, I hope you enjoyed this week's episode of Talking Vision. Our next guest as part of the accessible telecoms project, which looks to combat issues in accessibility for not only people who are blind or have low vision, but those with a disability more broadly. His name's Wayne Hawkins, and he's the diversity and inclusion manager at the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, otherwise known as a Con Wayne. Thank you very much for being here today. Welcome to talking vision.

Welcome to the program. That was Wayne Hawkins from the accessible telecoms project. You just heard from there talking about how as a priority, they sought to create a resource for users with disabilities that is independent and informative to help people get the most out of their devices. Wine is blind himself, and among other things, he talks about his lived experience as a phone and tablet user who is blind and the ways in which a resource like accessible telecoms can help users who are not only blind or have low vision, but also those with disability in general. My interview with Wayne encompasses the majority of the show this week. So without further ado, I hope you enjoyed this week's episode of Talking Vision. Our next guest as part of the accessible telecoms project, which looks to combat issues in accessibility for not only people who are blind or have low vision, but those with a disability more broadly. His name's Wayne Hawkins, and he's the diversity and inclusion manager at the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, otherwise known as a Con Wayne. Thank you very much for being here today. Welcome to talking vision.

Thanks, sir. It's great to be with you.

Thanks, sir. It's great to be with you.

No problem. Now are firstly, Wayne, could you tell us a bit about a and the accessible telecoms project? How did accessible telecoms come about?

No problem. Now are firstly, Wayne, could you tell us a bit about a and the accessible telecoms project? How did accessible telecoms come about?

Sure. So it can is the peak consumer representative body in the telco sector. So we work to ensure that all Australians have access to affordable, accessible and available telecommunications products and services. And when I say consumers, I mean residential consumers and small business, and we're a member based organisation and probably about close to 30 per cent of members member organisations represent the interests of people with disability. So we've got a significant interest in making sure that telecommunications are accessible and usable by people across the whole range of disability and the accessible telecoms services growing out of that, trying to make sure that everybody has access. When I started it again in 2010. One of the first things I've heard from our member organisations was that there's it's very difficult for people to find the information that they need about the accessibility features of products and services in the sector. And that hasn't really changed over the years that the technology has changed immensely in 10 or 11 years. And as a lot of people know, there's quite a quite a large amount of accessibility features that are built into the more mainstream products, sort the iPhone and androids and some of the more more accessible products that are on the market. But it's difficult for people to know which product is the one that suits them best with regard to their specific access needs. So that's what the accessible telecom service does it say. Essentially, it's an information resource and it's completely independent. We pride ourselves on being an independent service, providing up-to-date and relevant information about all of the sort of communications, products and services that are available in the Australian marketplace and the access features that all of those products that are suitable for people with a range of user needs.

Sure. So it can is the peak consumer representative body in the telco sector. So we work to ensure that all Australians have access to affordable, accessible and available telecommunications products and services. And when I say consumers, I mean residential consumers and small business, and we're a member based organisation and probably about close to 30 per cent of members member organisations represent the interests of people with disability. So we've got a significant interest in making sure that telecommunications are accessible and usable by people across the whole range of disability and the accessible telecoms services growing out of that, trying to make sure that everybody has access. When I started it again in 2010. One of the first things I've heard from our member organisations was that there's it's very difficult for people to find the information that they need about the accessibility features of products and services in the sector. And that hasn't really changed over the years that the technology has changed immensely in 10 or 11 years. And as a lot of people know, there's quite a quite a large amount of accessibility features that are built into the more mainstream products, sort the iPhone and androids and some of the more more accessible products that are on the market. But it's difficult for people to know which product is the one that suits them best with regard to their specific access needs. So that's what the accessible telecom service does it say. Essentially, it's an information resource and it's completely independent. We pride ourselves on being an independent service, providing up-to-date and relevant information about all of the sort of communications, products and services that are available in the Australian marketplace and the access features that all of those products that are suitable for people with a range of user needs.

Mm-Hmm. Okay. And you know, people hearing this may

Mm-Hmm. Okay. And you know, people hearing this may

think that, you know, when they hear accessible telecoms, they might they might be geared primarily towards people who are deaf or hard of hearing, because that's sort of the traditional understanding of, you know, services in accessible services for telecoms. But what are some of the services you provide for users who are blind or have low vision?

think that, you know, when they hear accessible telecoms, they might they might be geared primarily towards people who are deaf or hard of hearing, because that's sort of the traditional understanding of, you know, services in accessible services for telecoms. But what are some of the services you provide for users who are blind or have low vision?

So that it went up with regards to the name? It was really hard to come up with something that we thought would sort of encapsulate what the service is trying to do, you know, says that people would think, okay, this may be a resource that could be useful for me. So understanding that people, you know, there's expectations about about how people think of different phases of accessible telecoms was the one that we sort of hoped would be the ones that sort of was less prescriptive with regards to who was actually addressing. So we have we have a range of different access features. So there's there's for people who are blind or of low vision, people who are deaf or they're impaired people with physical or dexterity impairments, people with cognitive impairments. And so there's a whole range of different external accessibility features. And when you go to the website, you would, you know, you've got the option of what works is your access needs someone with vision impairment. You would choose the category for vision. And then within that category, there's about 15 different accessibility features. And just, you know, the number of accessibility features across all products is greater than 50. Team for the ease of use, we know with the with the advice of our advisory committee, which expert experts in each of the different areas of disability. We narrowed it down to the 15 most useful access features in each category. So for vision impairments, things like does it have colour contrast? Can I change the font size? Does it have text to speech capability? And so there's a range of those different access features, and you can select one or multiple access features that would suit yourself for someone like myself who I'm blind, so I want something that has text to speech. I want to be able to tell if the battery what the battery level is. So there's a couple of things that I'm interested in. I wouldn't be so interested in, whether it has good color contrast or so I would select say, you know, the text to speech battery level, and then I would search on those and then the results that come up sorted in a way that all of the phones that have both of what both of the selections that I indicated would come up first and then it would come up with the ones if I only had one of those access features. And then on each of those results, you can click on that and it gives you all the information about that handset or that device, be at the handset or tablet and then you can see what other features that it has and if it's something that would be useful for you. There's also the opportunity to refine the results so you can refine them by price and by screen size, by weights. And so that can give people more of an indication of, you know, something that suits them better. So not everybody's going to be wanting, you know, a 16 inch iPhone. They might want something that has some of the similar functionality, but in a lower price point, so you can refine the results by price that suits your needs as well.

So that it went up with regards to the name? It was really hard to come up with something that we thought would sort of encapsulate what the service is trying to do, you know, says that people would think, okay, this may be a resource that could be useful for me. So understanding that people, you know, there's expectations about about how people think of different phases of accessible telecoms was the one that we sort of hoped would be the ones that sort of was less prescriptive with regards to who was actually addressing. So we have we have a range of different access features. So there's there's for people who are blind or of low vision, people who are deaf or they're impaired people with physical or dexterity impairments, people with cognitive impairments. And so there's a whole range of different external accessibility features. And when you go to the website, you would, you know, you've got the option of what works is your access needs someone with vision impairment. You would choose the category for vision. And then within that category, there's about 15 different accessibility features. And just, you know, the number of accessibility features across all products is greater than 50. Team for the ease of use, we know with the with the advice of our advisory committee, which expert experts in each of the different areas of disability. We narrowed it down to the 15 most useful access features in each category. So for vision impairments, things like does it have colour contrast? Can I change the font size? Does it have text to speech capability? And so there's a range of those different access features, and you can select one or multiple access features that would suit yourself for someone like myself who I'm blind, so I want something that has text to speech. I want to be able to tell if the battery what the battery level is. So there's a couple of things that I'm interested in. I wouldn't be so interested in, whether it has good color contrast or so I would select say, you know, the text to speech battery level, and then I would search on those and then the results that come up sorted in a way that all of the phones that have both of what both of the selections that I indicated would come up first and then it would come up with the ones if I only had one of those access features. And then on each of those results, you can click on that and it gives you all the information about that handset or that device, be at the handset or tablet and then you can see what other features that it has and if it's something that would be useful for you. There's also the opportunity to refine the results so you can refine them by price and by screen size, by weights. And so that can give people more of an indication of, you know, something that suits them better. So not everybody's going to be wanting, you know, a 16 inch iPhone. They might want something that has some of the similar functionality, but in a lower price point, so you can refine the results by price that suits your needs as well.

Oh, absolutely. And you touched on this a little bit briefly just then when you were mentioning, you know, tablets and other devices because, you know, when people hear telecom swine, they sort of sometimes they might think, Oh, that's just my phone. It doesn't really, you know, reach beyond that. But it covers so much more than that, doesn't it?

Oh, absolutely. And you touched on this a little bit briefly just then when you were mentioning, you know, tablets and other devices because, you know, when people hear telecom swine, they sort of sometimes they might think, Oh, that's just my phone. It doesn't really, you know, reach beyond that. But it covers so much more than that, doesn't it?

Yes. I mean, it does. It's, you know, it's it's one of those areas where it's almost endless the things that that use, you know, digital technologies for communications. So the categories that are in the accessible telecoms database, fixed phone handsets, mobile handsets, tablets, accessories and accessories, those are the things that people need in order to be able to use their phone. So, for example, people with physical impairments not able to hold the phone, you know, and they use a switch or two to operate the phone. So there's things like that. If they want to help them not to mounted on their wheelchair, just those kinds of accessories that people would need in order to be able to use the handset or the tablet. And then there's also a category for apps, which is something that we're growing. Obviously, there's huge amounts of apps. One of the difficulties is that, you know, we don't want to be putting things up there that may not, you know, the reliability and trustworthiness of apps to face across across what's available is that we have to be very careful. We have to be very careful about what steps we are putting on the website. And we're also we don't recommend anything. It's just an information resource. We don't say this is better than that one because everyone has different needs in the world. And so you can't recommend one over another because there's so many different needs and expectations of what people want their device to do so. And then there's also a category for training. So that was another thing that we realized was really important. Not everybody will be able to set up and understand how to use the device and the ongoing support that they need to confidently use it. So we put it in as well and all of those places where people can get training, and that includes group training online. Training, face to face training, one on one training, and that that is growing as more organizations start providing those kinds of services across the board so that when that training category is this something that's always expanding. And it's very useful for, you know, not everybody. You know, I struggle sometimes when I get a new piece of technology. But okay, this is great. I know it has the capacity to do what I want, but how do I set it up and get it going? And that can be quite overwhelming for people. So the training is really important. We think as as a second step, you know, it's not just getting the device, it's knowing how to use the device safely and competently and in a way that works for each individual.

Yes. I mean, it does. It's, you know, it's it's one of those areas where it's almost endless the things that that use, you know, digital technologies for communications. So the categories that are in the accessible telecoms database, fixed phone handsets, mobile handsets, tablets, accessories and accessories, those are the things that people need in order to be able to use their phone. So, for example, people with physical impairments not able to hold the phone, you know, and they use a switch or two to operate the phone. So there's things like that. If they want to help them not to mounted on their wheelchair, just those kinds of accessories that people would need in order to be able to use the handset or the tablet. And then there's also a category for apps, which is something that we're growing. Obviously, there's huge amounts of apps. One of the difficulties is that, you know, we don't want to be putting things up there that may not, you know, the reliability and trustworthiness of apps to face across across what's available is that we have to be very careful. We have to be very careful about what steps we are putting on the website. And we're also we don't recommend anything. It's just an information resource. We don't say this is better than that one because everyone has different needs in the world. And so you can't recommend one over another because there's so many different needs and expectations of what people want their device to do so. And then there's also a category for training. So that was another thing that we realized was really important. Not everybody will be able to set up and understand how to use the device and the ongoing support that they need to confidently use it. So we put it in as well and all of those places where people can get training, and that includes group training online. Training, face to face training, one on one training, and that that is growing as more organizations start providing those kinds of services across the board so that when that training category is this something that's always expanding. And it's very useful for, you know, not everybody. You know, I struggle sometimes when I get a new piece of technology. But okay, this is great. I know it has the capacity to do what I want, but how do I set it up and get it going? And that can be quite overwhelming for people. So the training is really important. We think as as a second step, you know, it's not just getting the device, it's knowing how to use the device safely and competently and in a way that works for each individual.

And that concludes the first half of my interview this week with Wayne Hawkins from accessible telecoms. I'm Sam Kelly and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia radio associated stations of age and the community radio network. If you'd like to find out more about the program, like where to find your local radio frequency or listen to past programs, you can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just stop talking vision into your search engine, or you can find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now please enjoy the second half of my chat with one.

And that concludes the first half of my interview this week with Wayne Hawkins from accessible telecoms. I'm Sam Kelly and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia radio associated stations of age and the community radio network. If you'd like to find out more about the program, like where to find your local radio frequency or listen to past programs, you can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just stop talking vision into your search engine, or you can find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now please enjoy the second half of my chat with one.

You know, we're talking about this before, earlier and in the conversation. How, you know, technology often gets easier for people who, you know, don't live with a disability. But have you observed whether it is getting more challenging to navigate for people who do? Because as of December last year, Vision Australia actually did some research with Curtin University in Perth, you know, and they releasing findings that you know, about four out of five people in Australia say it was like 79 percent. And you know, this is an eight month old number now, so the number might even be higher. But people who are blind or have lower vision are they own a smart phone. But many of them continue to battle with making their devices accessible. The apps that are designed to increase accessibility that they aren't themselves accessible are the ones you're talking about, that you have to kind of establish whether to put them on the website, you know, things like that. So what what's your what's been your observation from from that standpoint?

You know, we're talking about this before, earlier and in the conversation. How, you know, technology often gets easier for people who, you know, don't live with a disability. But have you observed whether it is getting more challenging to navigate for people who do? Because as of December last year, Vision Australia actually did some research with Curtin University in Perth, you know, and they releasing findings that you know, about four out of five people in Australia say it was like 79 percent. And you know, this is an eight month old number now, so the number might even be higher. But people who are blind or have lower vision are they own a smart phone. But many of them continue to battle with making their devices accessible. The apps that are designed to increase accessibility that they aren't themselves accessible are the ones you're talking about, that you have to kind of establish whether to put them on the website, you know, things like that. So what what's your what's been your observation from from that standpoint?

The Vision Australia research was really useful, and that gave us a really clear idea of who's using what. And I think, you know, the most recent research was really interesting and that it showed that there had been a significant increase in the number of people who were using people who were blind aggression and therefore were using smartphones. So that, I think, speaks to that. There's been more adoption and more adoption, hopefully says that people are feeling more confident in being able to use the technology and the devices that they're getting. But I think you're right. I mean, there's still significant drawbacks. And the interoperability of different devices and apps, and, you know, they're not only developed equally. And one of the things that we would love to see is, you know, sort of like an accessibility category so that, you know, like if you are someone on an Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, you know, if you're somebody who has a visual impairment, there would be a category of apps that were specific to help of you. And then you know that if there was some sort of standardized level of accessibility, that was that they had to me to be included and that this would be really, really useful. One of the other things that I can more broadly is aware of is that a lot of apps, those you know, you pay for services that are embedded in the app, and a lot of times people get caught out by that, not realizing that they're down by the not to use its full functionality. It's actually going to cost them considerably more than they had anticipated.

The Vision Australia research was really useful, and that gave us a really clear idea of who's using what. And I think, you know, the most recent research was really interesting and that it showed that there had been a significant increase in the number of people who were using people who were blind aggression and therefore were using smartphones. So that, I think, speaks to that. There's been more adoption and more adoption, hopefully says that people are feeling more confident in being able to use the technology and the devices that they're getting. But I think you're right. I mean, there's still significant drawbacks. And the interoperability of different devices and apps, and, you know, they're not only developed equally. And one of the things that we would love to see is, you know, sort of like an accessibility category so that, you know, like if you are someone on an Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, you know, if you're somebody who has a visual impairment, there would be a category of apps that were specific to help of you. And then you know that if there was some sort of standardized level of accessibility, that was that they had to me to be included and that this would be really, really useful. One of the other things that I can more broadly is aware of is that a lot of apps, those you know, you pay for services that are embedded in the app, and a lot of times people get caught out by that, not realizing that they're down by the not to use its full functionality. It's actually going to cost them considerably more than they had anticipated.

The premium features and stuff. Yeah.

The premium features and stuff. Yeah.

Yes. And it could quite often, you know, rack up quite a bill without really understanding like, done that.

Yes. And it could quite often, you know, rack up quite a bill without really understanding like, done that.

Oh yeah,

Oh yeah,

very. So there's a there's a whole range of area without that makes them quite complex. And you know, how do people get what they need and have the capacity to use that safely and confidently? So that's something that I can more broadly look stuff. And we're always interested in trying to push that so that people consumers aren't taken advantage of or end up with bills that they can't afford or didn't expect.

very. So there's a there's a whole range of area without that makes them quite complex. And you know, how do people get what they need and have the capacity to use that safely and confidently? So that's something that I can more broadly look stuff. And we're always interested in trying to push that so that people consumers aren't taken advantage of or end up with bills that they can't afford or didn't expect.

Hmm. Yeah, that is extremely important because, you know, as sure as you're well aware, the the functionality of the same kind of app does differ quite quite greatly between the different, different phones, different brands, different kind of interfaces with, you know, the Apple and the Android and that sort of thing. One has a screenwriter that works a certain way. And then you go to, you know, you might buyer, you might have gone from an Apple to an Android phone. And then, you know, the the way that the app functions is completely different and you have to sort of, you know, start from square one. So it's a very, very important resource to have all that, that info in one place.

Hmm. Yeah, that is extremely important because, you know, as sure as you're well aware, the the functionality of the same kind of app does differ quite quite greatly between the different, different phones, different brands, different kind of interfaces with, you know, the Apple and the Android and that sort of thing. One has a screenwriter that works a certain way. And then you go to, you know, you might buyer, you might have gone from an Apple to an Android phone. And then, you know, the the way that the app functions is completely different and you have to sort of, you know, start from square one. So it's a very, very important resource to have all that, that info in one place.

So speaking of that, where can

So speaking of that, where can

people go to find out more about accessible telecoms and access all the all the resources that are at their fingertips? And also maybe find out a bit more about I can more more broadly if they'd like to.

people go to find out more about accessible telecoms and access all the all the resources that are at their fingertips? And also maybe find out a bit more about I can more more broadly if they'd like to.

Mm hmm. So accessible telecoms. This is since under a canvas work, but it's it's not on the A. website. It's a standalone website, and to access it on the web is to go to W W W Dot Accessible Telecoms and that's one word dot dot AEW. And that will take you to the website. We worked really hard to try to ensure that the accessibility of the website meets everybody's dates when we first launched the website and the end of 2018. Well, one of the people on the. Advisory Committee. You know, there was talk about like, let's how do we promote that and we were very there was issues around the accessibility from the fishing and fence standpoint that we start with. The developer struggled to overcome, so we didn't promote it within the Asian community because of those difficulties. But now, for the most part, we believe that it's it's fully accessible. Of course, if anybody finds that there are issues with that, we are more than happy to hear that. So if you're on the website accessible telecoms total today, you can see that there's something that could be improved. Please do let us know and you can email us. Email us at accessible telecoms at can talk dot AEW or you can call the phone number. And if you're not somebody who has access to the internet or not confident to go on and have a look at the site, you can call our call center, which is one 800 or Fortune 300. So that's a free call one 800 four four two three hundred and one of the team members to access the telecoms team members will be happy to answer your questions and walk you through them or investigate what is is that you're trying to find. They can go through the website while you're on the phone and work up and discuss it with you, so we're happy to do that as well for people who are not confident to go to the website directly. And you can also, if you have questions, you can estimates the service and the estimates. Numbers zero four three eight. Four, five, four. Four, one, three. So that's two less serious questions about the service. And as I said, it's a one 800 number. Everything in the service is free. We don't charge for anything. So, you know, people shouldn't think, Oh, they're going to have to pay to use the service. That's not the case. Everything's all access to the service is free. The information on the service is independent. We don't promote or recommend one product for another. We just get the information about each of the products so people can use that information to make choices for themselves. The information about where you can access the devices and equipment is also included in the resource, so we provide the three most common places where you can access the device. Sometimes that's a telco, sometimes it's a retail store, you know, but we do the top three and then not involved in any preferential order that just goes to the top three places where people can find the device. So those, that's the best way to get in touch and. Yeah, any questions they can, you know, as I said, is, is the peak consumer representative body in the telecommunications sector. So if you have questions or if you're interested in looking about what other work can does, the website is W W W Dot A.. That's a c c a n dot dot a you.

Mm hmm. So accessible telecoms. This is since under a canvas work, but it's it's not on the A. website. It's a standalone website, and to access it on the web is to go to W W W Dot Accessible Telecoms and that's one word dot dot AEW. And that will take you to the website. We worked really hard to try to ensure that the accessibility of the website meets everybody's dates when we first launched the website and the end of 2018. Well, one of the people on the. Advisory Committee. You know, there was talk about like, let's how do we promote that and we were very there was issues around the accessibility from the fishing and fence standpoint that we start with. The developer struggled to overcome, so we didn't promote it within the Asian community because of those difficulties. But now, for the most part, we believe that it's it's fully accessible. Of course, if anybody finds that there are issues with that, we are more than happy to hear that. So if you're on the website accessible telecoms total today, you can see that there's something that could be improved. Please do let us know and you can email us. Email us at accessible telecoms at can talk dot AEW or you can call the phone number. And if you're not somebody who has access to the internet or not confident to go on and have a look at the site, you can call our call center, which is one 800 or Fortune 300. So that's a free call one 800 four four two three hundred and one of the team members to access the telecoms team members will be happy to answer your questions and walk you through them or investigate what is is that you're trying to find. They can go through the website while you're on the phone and work up and discuss it with you, so we're happy to do that as well for people who are not confident to go to the website directly. And you can also, if you have questions, you can estimates the service and the estimates. Numbers zero four three eight. Four, five, four. Four, one, three. So that's two less serious questions about the service. And as I said, it's a one 800 number. Everything in the service is free. We don't charge for anything. So, you know, people shouldn't think, Oh, they're going to have to pay to use the service. That's not the case. Everything's all access to the service is free. The information on the service is independent. We don't promote or recommend one product for another. We just get the information about each of the products so people can use that information to make choices for themselves. The information about where you can access the devices and equipment is also included in the resource, so we provide the three most common places where you can access the device. Sometimes that's a telco, sometimes it's a retail store, you know, but we do the top three and then not involved in any preferential order that just goes to the top three places where people can find the device. So those, that's the best way to get in touch and. Yeah, any questions they can, you know, as I said, is, is the peak consumer representative body in the telecommunications sector. So if you have questions or if you're interested in looking about what other work can does, the website is W W W Dot A.. That's a c c a n dot dot a you.

OK, so that was why in the Hawkins there, the

OK, so that was why in the Hawkins there, the

diversity inclusion manager from I Can are telling us all about the accessible telecoms project and all the exciting accessibility features that are available for people who are blind or have low vision, as well as those with

diversity inclusion manager from I Can are telling us all about the accessible telecoms project and all the exciting accessibility features that are available for people who are blind or have low vision, as well as those with

disability more broadly. Wayne, thank you so much

disability more broadly. Wayne, thank you so much

for joining us on Talking Vision today. It's been a pleasure to have you on the show and thank you for being here and telling us all about accessible telecoms.

for joining us on Talking Vision today. It's been a pleasure to have you on the show and thank you for being here and telling us all about accessible telecoms.

In that sense, they are a great opportunity.

In that sense, they are a great opportunity.

And now, before we finish up, there's just enough time for a bit of news and information. So here's a media release from the West made Institute for Medical Research. This came out on Wednesday, the 18th of August 2021, and titled W I Am Oz Centre for Vision Research and Partners was announced to conduct the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey. The 2016 National Eye Health Survey was the first nationwide survey to determine the prevalence and major causes of vision impairment and blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians in city, regional and remote areas. In view of increased prevalence of diabetes since the 2016 survey and the critical eye complications that may follow, the Australian Government Department of Health has sponsored the call to conduct a second national e-health survey. The Centre for Vision Research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, the W I Am R and partners including the University of New South Wales, the George Institute for Global Health, the Brian Holden Foundation and Macquarie University are proud to announce the award of the tender to conduct the survey with an added ear health component as part of the nationwide survey. This survey, called the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey, will examine close to 5000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians over a period of two years. Macquarie University has provided support to ensure assessment of eHealth occurs in parallel to the collection of data on AI and general health measures in the survey. The eHealth component of this survey will be led by Professor Bimini Gopinath, Cochlear Chair in Hearing and Health at Macquarie University. Hearing According to Australian statistics, more than 450000 people who are blind or vision impaired are currently living in Australia. Hearing loss has been reported in even more people, with over three million Australians 14 per cent affected. The presence of long term hearing loss also increases, with age affecting 49 per cent of Australians aged 75 years and older. Vision and hearing loss remain key health issues, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey will begin in the coming months, starting in New South Wales and is expected to run for two years. Local door knockers will invite residents living in the eligible communities to participate in the survey. And if you'd like to find out more, you can visit the I Am website at Westmead Institute dot org dot ague. That's Westmead Institute or one word dot org dot AEW. And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Toking Vision at Vision Australia dot org that's talking vision or one word at Vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

And now, before we finish up, there's just enough time for a bit of news and information. So here's a media release from the West made Institute for Medical Research. This came out on Wednesday, the 18th of August 2021, and titled W I Am Oz Centre for Vision Research and Partners was announced to conduct the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey. The 2016 National Eye Health Survey was the first nationwide survey to determine the prevalence and major causes of vision impairment and blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians in city, regional and remote areas. In view of increased prevalence of diabetes since the 2016 survey and the critical eye complications that may follow, the Australian Government Department of Health has sponsored the call to conduct a second national e-health survey. The Centre for Vision Research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, the W I Am R and partners including the University of New South Wales, the George Institute for Global Health, the Brian Holden Foundation and Macquarie University are proud to announce the award of the tender to conduct the survey with an added ear health component as part of the nationwide survey. This survey, called the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey, will examine close to 5000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians over a period of two years. Macquarie University has provided support to ensure assessment of eHealth occurs in parallel to the collection of data on AI and general health measures in the survey. The eHealth component of this survey will be led by Professor Bimini Gopinath, Cochlear Chair in Hearing and Health at Macquarie University. Hearing According to Australian statistics, more than 450000 people who are blind or vision impaired are currently living in Australia. Hearing loss has been reported in even more people, with over three million Australians 14 per cent affected. The presence of long term hearing loss also increases, with age affecting 49 per cent of Australians aged 75 years and older. Vision and hearing loss remain key health issues, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey will begin in the coming months, starting in New South Wales and is expected to run for two years. Local door knockers will invite residents living in the eligible communities to participate in the survey. And if you'd like to find out more, you can visit the I Am website at Westmead Institute dot org dot ague. That's Westmead Institute or one word dot org dot AEW. And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Toking Vision at Vision Australia dot org that's talking vision or one word at Vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on 103000 eight four seven four six. That's one three eight four seven four double six or by visiting Vision Australia dot org. That's Vision Australia dot all.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on 103000 eight four seven four six. That's one three eight four seven four double six or by visiting Vision Australia dot org. That's Vision Australia dot all.