Vision Australia

Vision Australia Library were thrilled to bring our young clients on a private tour of Dinosaurs Unearthed at the Queensland Museum during Science Week. We went on an amazing adventure into the prehistoric world of dinosaurs.
Our budding palaentologists felt imprints of prehistoric fauna and flora, held replica dinosaur bones and touched real fossils. We listened to synthesised dinosaur sounds while immersing ourselves in a truly tactile and sensory exploration of prehistoric Queensland.

[ID1: A client touching some fossilised remains from a dinosaur]
[ID2: A young client being guided by a museum staff member as he touches a fossil]
[ID3: A client touching a dinosaur skull.]

Explore the difference contrasting colours can make in your everyday kitchen routine.

Don’t let vision loss slow you down. We’ve got hundreds of helpful products, tech and gadgets so you don’t miss a beat. Explore the range: shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/bigger-bolder-brighter.html

[ID1: A bright red spatula lying in a drawer full of silver cutlery with text next to it reading "Boldly see what's hidden in that drawer"]
[ID2: A bright blue and yellow pair of chopping boards under text reading "Contrast makes things POP"]

Vision Australia Library, in partnership with the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation, were thrilled to host Sally Rippin for a spectacular day of creativity, laughter and storytelling during Children’s Book Week.

Sally Rippin, author of the beloved children’s book series’ Billie B Brown, Hey Jack and School of Monsters, hosted a writing workshop at Vision Australia Library. Sally took our young clients on an amazing journey, guiding them through the creative writing process, illustrating their own monsters and providing an exclusive reading of her soon-to-be-released School of Monsters book. The children loved “Leggy Peggy”, the adventures of a Braille reading monster and her Seeing Eye Monster.

[ID1: A piece of tactile artwork created by one of the participants showing two monsters amongst some flowers.]
[ID2: Sally Rippin presenting to a group of children with two of them at the front with her.]
[ID3: Sally Rippin and one of our clients smiling to the camera while sat at at table]

Low light, small fonts and camouflaging colours can really stress out your eyes. When you notice a change in your vision or are feeling the strain, the answer could be as simple as getting a little ‘tech support’ for your eyes.

Read the “Tech support for your eyes” article here: https://www.visionaustralia.org/dont-miss-a-beat/tech-support-your-eyes

[ID: A book with a hand holding a magnifier over it, enlarging the text in the magnifier.]

Introducing our new Mindful Minutes Podcast!

Over seven engaging episodes, we delve into the emotional impacts of vision loss, share personal stories, and emphasise the importance of social wellbeing, mindfulness, staying active, and practicing self-care, all guided by experts.

Don’t miss out on these inspiring stories and press play on Mindful Minutes at the link below, or anywhere else you get your podcasts
https://omny.fm/shows/mindfulminutespod

[ID – A navy background with yellow and white text quoting Nemoy Malcolm, “Vision is something we don’t know we value until we begin to lose it.”]

The Tonies are coming to Vision Store!

We are excited to announce the arrival of the Tonies - an audio story-box toy system that brings characters to life with sound recordings! Tonie characters are hand-painted, magnetic figurines. When placed on a Toniebox, it activates customised music, stories and audio. It is an imagination-building, screen-free digital listening experience - an amazing assistive technology experience for everyone, young and old alike.

The Vision Store team attended the launch of the Tonies in Australia at a special event held at the MoPA – the Museum of Play and Art in Cheltenham, Victoria. Now available online at the Vision Store website, Tonies will be on the shelves soon at Vision Stores.

Click here to see the Tonies online: https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/tonies.html



[ID1: Several of the different Tonies figures including Simba and Elsa.]
[ID2: Emma Memma and members of Vision Australia staff at the launch party.]
[ID3: A display of the Tonies figures.]
[ID4: Sarah Savadurai - Vision Store Product Manager, and Michael Linke - General Manager, next to a stand of Tonies figures.]

We are excited to announce that the Vision Australia 2025 large print Calendars and Diary, and our Seeing Eye Dogs Calendars, are now available for preorder! Get in early to prepare for 2025 with these beautifully printed, high-quality calendars! With each having a limited print run, make sure you don't miss out! Click on the link to learn more: https://www.visionaustralia.org/2025-calendars-on-sale

#2025

[ID1: A painting depicting a rural farmscape with trees coloured in blue and purple against a stark yellow sky. Under this are three variants of the calendars on sale.]
[ID2: Two Seeing Eye Dogs, one a pup and the other more grown, sit on a park pathway with autumn leaves falling around them.]

We are excited to announce that the Vision Australia 2025 large print Calendars and Diary are now available for preorder! Get in early to prepare for 2025 with these beautifully printed, high-quality calendars! With each having a limited print run, make sure you don't miss out! Click on the link to learn more: https://www.visionaustralia.org/2025-calendars-on-sale

#2025

[ID: A painting depicting a rural farmscape with trees coloured in blue and purple against a stark yellow sky. Under this are three variants of the calendars on sale.]

The new ARx AI Headset is a wearable AI-enabled talking camera, designed to help access information on the go. The headset connects to a smartphone (Android or iOS) to allow hands free use of accessibility apps, which translates visual information into audio descriptions. And it will be available from Vision Stores soon!

If you would like to learn more about this amazing new assistive technology, you are invited to join an online webinar hosted by the product experts of the Vision Store. It will be held on Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST

The webinar will be hosted by Vision Store Product Manager Tony Wu and Damien McMorrow, Vision Australia National Access Technology Manager.

Click on the link below to register for this informative online presentation of a device that promises to make a significant impact on many lives!

090889fb-1189-4839-a6e0-e1b8464b7e6b@bee26016-394e-4263-b64c-4fa506ab132a" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/090889fb-1189-4839-a6e0-e1b8464b7e6b@bee26016-394e-4263-b64c-4fa506ab132a

The Vision Store team are also hosting in-person launch events for the ARx AI Headset at selected Vision Store locations. Learn more about them by visiting this link: https://www.visionaustralia.org/arx-ai-headset-event

[ID: A person wearing the ARx AI Headset, using a finger on their right hand to control the device.]

With The Blind Sea - Film currently in cinemas, and this week being Children's Book Week, why not combine the two and read about how became a world champion Paralympian before you watch him tackle the monster waves of Nazaré?

Buy the book: https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/matt-formston-surfing-in-the-dark.html
See the film: https://www.theblindsea.com.au/



[ID: An illustration by Philip Bunting showing the Surfing in the Dark book on a beach with a crab walking in front of it.]

Don’t miss a bounce. You didn’t go to the footy to watch the tv. Find out how to get a clearer view at the big game ...maybe we should tell the umpires?

Explore the Bigger Bolder Brighter range at the Vision Store: shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/bigger-bolder-brighter.html



[ID1: Three people wearing football scarves and hats watching a game, one of the people is using a pair of binoculars, they are all cheering.]
[ID2: A white pair of Eschebach binoculars]

This weekend you can watch nationwide with some showings even featuring a Q&A with Matt Formston and the films director Daniel Fenech.

The documentary follows four-times World Champion blind surfer Matt Formston as he conquers Nazaré's monster waves with only 3% vision.

Get your tickets at https://ow.ly/NkvO50SY9f5

[ID: Matt Fomrston surfing towards the camera, a huge wave is forming behind him.]

The Blind Sea - Film Bonsai Films

This weekend you can watch nationwide with some showings even featuring a Q&A with Matt Formston and the films director Daniel Fenech.

The documentary follows four-times World Champion blind surfer Matt Formston as he conquers Nazaré's monster waves with only 3% vision.

Get your tickets via the link in our bio!

[ID: Matt Fomrston surfing towards the camera, a huge wave is forming behind him.]

You don’t need to be a client of Vision Australia to benefit from the expertise of the Vision Store team. If you’re considering any kind of technology to support your vision at home or in the office, we’re ready to help.

Read the “Choice without the anxiety” article: https://www.visionaustralia.org/dont-miss-a-beat/choice-without-anxiety/.


[ID: A hand holding a large print keyboard above text reading "Choice without the anxiety"]

The Big Purple Phone is now available at the Vision Store! Bigger, bolder and easy-to-use – this Australian smartphone is thoughtfully designed with big buttons, simple functionality and better accessibility! Read more about this amazing smartphone online https://www.visionaustralia.org/why-get-big-purple-phone

You can now find the Big Purple Phone Silver Fox edition at any Vision Store location, or click the link below to shop online: https://shop.visionaustralia.org/big-purple-phone-silver-fox.html



[ID1: The front display of the Big Purple Phone showing the date and time, a large green phone button and a large red Google button]
[ID2: A hand holding the Big Purple Phone.]

Nominations for the 2024 Vision Australia Awards close in two days!

These awards were created as a means of identifying, celebrating and thanking those generous organisations and individuals who contribute their time and resources to support our work.

If you know a person or company who has made a significant or exceptional contribution to the blind and low vision community and who is deserving of recognition please nominate them today at the link below:
https://ow.ly/hjtw50SSyKk

[ID: A Vision Australia Award on a table. The award is made of glass and is fashioned in the shape of the Vision Australia logo: Three interlinking ovals forming a V and an A]

And that's a wrap on our Telelink Winter Webinar Series for 2024 ❄️

Couldn't join us live? No problem! All sessions are now available for you to watch online at anytime. Listen to the simply amazing stories of fearless adventurer Chris Venter, NASA employee Tracy Minish, blind adventure sailors Pam Habek and Scott Duncan, and former Paralympian Gerrard Gosens.

Visit us online today to explore the extraordinary https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaXvW0Oydgw93FkDJCPhmEcyPpjDsEZWx

[ID: A man wearing a grey beanie and orange puffer coat, sitting in the snow with an open laptop on his knees.]

When Clare was in her mid-20s, she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that causes her to experience tunnel vision, night blindness and light sensitivity. As Clare’s eyesight continued to deteriorate, she was matched with her Seeing Eye Dog, Mabel.

Clare wants to express her gratitude to the Petbarn Foundation, “I can’t believe how many people it takes to pump one dog out, there’s so many people involved in the whole situation that I'm in awe of it. Petbarn do so much for Vision Australia and the puppies and I'm just grateful to everyone involved,” she says.

Help make a difference in the lives of people just like Clare. Visit the link in our bio, or your local Petbarn store to donate today. The appeal ends this Monday.

View Clare’s full story here - sed.visionaustralia.org/about-us/news-and-stories/mabel-clare-take-world

“I think the more we can do to bring forward the really great capabilities of people who are blind or have low vision, to have them be first choice for jobs and live in an environment that suits them, it’s just a really important challenge for all Australians."

In this week's Talking Vision we say farewell to Vision Australia CEO, Ron Hooton, who will be moving on from Vision Australia after 11 and a half years as CEO to take a well-earned break after 27 years in a series of executive roles.

https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/2024-08-02/week-talking-vision-ron-says-farewell
[ID: Ron in the outdoors, arms crossed across his chest and smiling widely]

Nominations for the 2024 Vision Australia Awards close next week!

These awards were created as a means of identifying, celebrating and thanking those generous organisations and individuals who contribute their time and resources to support our work.

If you know a person or company who has made a significant or exceptional contribution to the blind and low vision community and who is deserving of recognition please nominate them today at the link below:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/2024-07-08/2024-vision-australia-awards

[ID: A hand placing a slip of paper into a ballot box.]

All the best in Paris, from all of us at Vision Australia!

Proud to have been selected to my sixth Australian Paralympic Team. 💛💚

Paris, here we come! 🔥

Get ready to ride the waves! 🌊 The Blind Sea hits theaters nationwide starting August 11th!

Follow 4x World Champion blind surfer Matt Formston as he conquers Nazaré's monster waves. After sold-out screenings at the Sydney Film Festival, this thrilling film is coming to a cinema near you.

Don't miss special Q&A sessions with Matt Formston himself! Plus, buy two adult tickets through good.film for a chance to WIN a Dylan Shapes surfboard!

Tickets are on sale now, with 50% of profits going to Vision Australia. Book yours today and be inspired! https://good.film/theblindsea

Audio description available at participating cinemas.


[ID: Matt Formston standing in the ocean with his back to us, water just up past his knees. On his wetsuit the words "Blind surfer" are prominently displayed]