New Partnership for Guide Dogs Tasmania with Vision Australia

An historic agreement within the Australian disability sector will bring long reaching benefits for thousands of Tasmanians who are blind or have low vision. The nation’s largest blindness organisation, Vision Australia, and Guide Dogs Tasmania, have agreed to come together in a bid to address a growing need for services.

Vision Australia’s existing tailored programs will be introduced through the scheme. “Our Job Ready program, for example, is designed to improve the vocational, adaptive technology, workplace awareness and self-advocacy skills of working age people. We expect it will make a significant difference,” said Vision Australia CEO, Gerard Menses.

As part of the agreement, a brand new equipment display has been set-up in the Hobart office featuring everything from talking clocks to the latest cutting edge technology. The range will include the revolutionary ‘talking bar code scanner’ which reads bar code labels aloud to help identify everything from pantry items to bills and clothing.

Hobart resident Doug McGinn is blind and believes the partnership will bring great gains for the blindness community. “Linking the two organisations has huge benefits for people who are blind or have low vision. The greater range of equipment alone means we don’t have to travel to the mainland to access an increased range of technology first-hand,” Mr McGinn said.

Tasmania’s Deputy Premier and Health and Human Services Minister, Lara Giddings MP, welcomed the agreement saying, “One of the driving principles of our reforms in both health and disabilities is the need for partnerships and collaboration to improve services for the community.”

Official press release for Hobart

Official press release for Launceston