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

The number of occasions of service for First Nations people, per 1,000 population, under the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS): Measure 4.4.1

Outreach programs are designed to address the uneven distribution of the health workforce and to improve access to eye health services across Australia. (Figure 59 and Figure 60).

Latest data and time trend

In 2023–24, there were 31,534 occasions of service for First Nations patients and 21,147 for other patients under the VOS.  In 2014–15, there were around 18,890 occasions of service for First Nations patients under the VOS. This increased to 31,534 in 2023–24 (Figure 4.4.1d). In 2023–24, First Nations people had 10,387 more occasions of service under the VOS than other Australian patients. VOS occasions of service have been higher for First Nations people than non‑Indigenous Australians since 2016–17.

By remoteness

The rate of First Nations occasions of service under the VOS in 2023–24 was highest in Remote and very remote areas (combined) (113.5 per 1,000 population) followed by Inner and outer regional areas (combined) (23.2 per 1,000) (Figure 60 – remoteness). 

By jurisdiction

In 2023–24, the rate of First Nations occasions of service under the VOS differed by jurisdiction. Rates were highest in the Northern Territory (55.9 per 1,000 population) and Western Australia (40.2 per 1,000 population) (Figure 60 – jurisdiction). The number of First Nations occasions of service was highest in Queensland (10,371), followed by New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (combined) 8,407 (Figure 60 – jurisdiction).

By Primary Health Network

In 2023–24, the number of occasions of service for First Nations patients under the VOS ranged from 0 in Perth North, Adelaide, Brisbane South, Brisbane North and Nepean Blue Mountains, to 4,908 in Country WA. The rate of occasions of service ranged from 0 per 1,000 in Perth North, Adelaide, Brisbane South, Brisbane North and Nepean Blue Mountains to 155 per 1,000 in Western Queensland (Figure 60 – geography).