Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2025: interactive data

The number of spectacles dispensed to First Nations people under state subsidised spectacles programs, per 1,000 population: Measure 3.10

All jurisdictions have subsidised spectacle schemes but only 4 jurisdictions – New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia – could provide data on First Nations people for this measure. The eligibility criteria and entitlements provided by the state schemes vary across jurisdictions.

Latest data

In 2023–24, around 9,214 spectacles were provided to First Nations people under the New South Wales scheme (26 per 1,000), 3,742 under the Victorian scheme (46 per 1,000), 7,266 under the Queensland scheme (26 per 1,000) and 1,277 under the South Australian scheme (24 per 1,000) (Figure 51).

Victoria was closest to meeting the estimated number of glasses needed by First Nations people aged over 40 (3,742 dispensed compared with 5,032 needed). In the other jurisdictions, the estimated number needed was considerably greater than the number dispensed:

• 22,706 needed (9,214 dispensed) in New South Wales
• 18,511 needed (7,266 dispensed) in Queensland
• 3,466 needed (1,277 dispensed) in South Australia
• 2,240 needed (478 dispensed) in Tasmania

By age and sex

In New South Wales in 2023–24, higher rates of glasses were dispensed under the spectacle programs to First Nations females than males in all age groups. The highest rates were for First Nations males and females aged 65 and over (96 and 105 per 1,000, respectively) (Figure 52 – population groups). 

In Victoria in 2023–24, the Australian College of Optometry dispensed 1,762 glasses (mainly in metropolitan areas), the largest number being for First Nations people aged 61 and over (508 glasses). A network of rural providers dispensed 1,980 glasses. 

In Queensland in 2023–24, 7,266 glasses were dispensed to First Nations clients. The largest number was for First Nations people aged 50 to 64 (2,446, 69 per 1,000) while the highest rate was for those aged 65 and over (2,290, 138 per 1,000) Figure 52 – population groups).

In South Australia in 2023–24, the number of glasses dispensed to First Nations people was highest among people aged 45–64 (484), while the rates were highest among First Nations males and females aged 65 and over (57 per 1,000 and 73 per 1,000, respectively) (Figure 52 – population groups)

In Tasmania in 2023–24, the number of glasses dispensed to First Nations people was highest among people aged 45–64 (199), while the rates were highest among First Nations males and females aged 65 and over (56 per 1,000 and 90 per 1,000, respectively) (Figure 3.10f) (Figure 52 – population groups).

Time trend

The rate per 1,000 population of spectacles dispensed to First Nations people:

• fluctuated in New South Wales,Victoria and Queensland between 2016–17 and 2023–24, but overall increased 
• increased in South Australia from 1.7 in 2017–18 to 23.4 in 2023–24 (South Australia only had data available only from 2017–18).
• fell in Tasmania from 15.5 in 2019–20 to 13.6 in 2023–24 (Tasmania had data available only from 2019–20 and did not have data available in 2022–23) (Figure 52 – time trend).