The Fred Hollows Foundation and Specsavers have combined to assist with an intensive training program for Pacific Island students in their study toward their postgraduate diploma in eye care Nursing at the foundation’s Pacific Eye Institute. 

Ms Cluff said she’s looking forward to the trip which promises to be an eye-opening experience.

“I’m pretty pumped to go that’s for sure,” she said.

“The purpose of the trip is to teach some of the nurses in Fiji how to look at patients eyes and pick up problems and help them with glasses.

“Throughout university I heard about all the great things Fred Hollows did and to be able to be involved with the charity is a great opportunity.”

The Pacific Eye Institute is the Pacific region’s main training facility for eye health professionals. 

The postgraduate students are trained specifically to provide eye care in Fiji and surrounding Pacific Island nations. 

Ms Cluff will work with the student eye care nurses to carry out much needed sight tests and distribute glasses to hundreds of people in need.

She said she’s looking forward to passing on some of the knowledge she gained working in Orange to nurses in Fiji.

“Working as an optometrist at Specsavers Orange, I see first-hand how improving vision can change a person’s lifestyle and independence,” she said.

“It will be a really rewarding experience to be able to share my skills and knowledge with local graduate optometrists in Fiji - hopefully we can make a difference to the eye health of those in need. 

“It’s an achievement to save someone’s sight, but it’s a real accomplishment to train local professionals so that they can go on to help their entire community.”

bryson.ferreira@fairfaxmedia.com.au