Opinion pieces

Vision Australia will soon be bidding adieu to one of our most skilled, versatile and longest-serving narrators. Tony Porter - a familiar face around Audio Production and a familiar voice to many of our clients - will be moving to the Gippsland Lakes at the end of 2011 to enjoy a well-earned retirement.

Many of us take our independence for granted. The ability to go for a walk and grab some milk or to jump on a train to go to the footy is easy for the majority of us. For others, this is an experience that can be very difficult and at times impossible.

Vision Australia volunteers recognised at Volunteering ACT'c Volunteer of the Year Awards

The annual SEDA Meet and Greet Day was held on Sunday 16 October and more than 500 sponsors and supporters came from all over Qld and NSW to meet their very own sponsor pup.

If you love puppies, can provide a loving home, are willing to take a pup everywhere you go and teach it basic obedience, then we may have the job for you.Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA), a division of Vision Australia, is currently recruiting volunteer Puppy Carers in Perth and surrounding areas.

For the first time, thousands of Australians who are blind or have low vision will get increased enjoyment from watching television thanks to a trial of audio description on ABC Television.

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Vision Australia announced that more than $193,000 was raised for Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs following the Vision's successful campaign as the 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival Pin & Win charity partner.

How do you know what Vision Australia thinks about issues facing people who are blind or have low vision in the broader community? Issues like gaining access to published information, having equal access to education and employment, being able to vote independently in Australian elections, or the dangers of pedestrians having to share pathways with cyclists. As the largest provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia, we are often asked by government, business and the community for our view, and we need to have a rigorous, deliberate and consistent message as a prominent and growing leader in the community.

Thanks to support from Vision Australia's Advocacy team and Vision Australia client Geoff Skinner, the Queensland Parliament has introduced amendments to the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 that will ensure equal access to residential and holiday accommodation.

The taxpayer-funded set-top boxes that Australians who are blind or have low vision are receiving are useless because of the difficulties in operating the menu systems and viewing the electronic program guide.