About WISE
About WISE
WISE — Workforce Innovation for Strong Eyes — exists to open doors in the eye health sector for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.
Our Mission
Eye health conditions — including preventable blindness — affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at disproportionately high rates. A major part of the solution is building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves.
WISE was created to make that happen. We connect Mob with clear, honest information about careers in optometry, ophthalmology, optical dispensing, orthoptics, ophthalmic nursing, eye health coordination, and vision research.
We believe that when First Nations people can see themselves in these roles — and have the support to get there — the whole community benefits.
Who we are
About the WISE Project
The W.I.S.E website was developed and is managed by The First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA) — Australia's first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye care peak body.
FNEHA is a registered charity that uses traditional and contemporary knowledge to develop equitable health approaches that prevent preventable vision loss among First Nations people. FNEHA provides a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in eye care to connect, learn, and be supported.
Learn more about FNEHAThis project was made possible through the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The need is urgent and the opportunity is real.
Why Eye Health?
more likely to experience vision loss
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely to experience vision loss than non-Indigenous Australians.
of blindness is preventable or treatable
The vast majority of vision loss in Indigenous communities is preventable or treatable with the right workforce and services in place.
representation in the eye health workforce
First Nations people remain significantly underrepresented across all eye health professions, from optometry to ophthalmology.
What We Stand For
Community First
Everything we do is grounded in the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We listen before we build.
Honest Information
We give you the real picture — what each career involves, what it takes to get there, and what the work is actually like day to day.
Strength-Based
We start from what Mob already bring — deep community knowledge, cultural understanding, and lived experience — and build from there.
Long-Term Change
Closing the gap in eye health outcomes requires sustained workforce development. We're here for the long haul, not a quick fix.
WISE is made possible through the support of organisations committed to closing the gap in eye health outcomes.
Supported By
FNEHA is the peak body for eye health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, bringing together health services, government, and community organisations to drive systemic change.
The Fred Hollows Foundation works to end avoidable blindness and restore sight for people in Australia and around the world, with a strong focus on First Nations eye health.
Get in Touch
Are you Mob interested in a career in eye health? Have a question about the site, or want to get involved? We'd love to hear from you.