When organisations that have traditionally worked in isolation come together with a shared mission, extraordinary things can happen. As World Sight Day approaches, highlighting the global commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness, one collaborative effort stands out for its tangible impact on eye health outcomes across Australia and New Zealand. The Extension of Care Collective is proving that the whole really can be greater than the sum of its parts.

WRITER Melanie Kell

The impact of the Extension of Care Collective has been immediate and measurable. In New Zealand, a program born from cross-organisational learning is already delivering results that validate the collaborative approach. After Glaucoma New Zealand launched its version of the SightWise education and support program last month – directly adapted from Glaucoma Australia’s successful model – both patients and eye care professionals responded with enthusiasm.

The Australian SightWise program’s track record is impressive. A survey of Australian patients in 2023 revealed that 91% of SightWise patients attended their glaucoma appointments, 84% adhered to their treatment regimen, and 84% had told their relatives to get tested. A successful six-month trial in New Zealand, which involved Specsavers, eye care professionals, and patients, looks to be tracking along the same path.

“We’re confident the program is going to improve patient outcomes; we’re encouraging all eye health professionals to refer their glaucoma patients to the SightWise program,” said Pippa Martin, CEO of Glaucoma New Zealand.

In Australia, two members of the Extension of Care Collective, Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) and Diabetes Australia, have embarked on a co-designed initiative to improve support for people living with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema.

The aim is to expand the reach of KeepSight into ophthalmology, while ensuring that people undergoing treatment are not only reminded to have regular eye checks but are also supported throughout their care journey.

By connecting KeepSight with MDFA’s Eye Connect program, the initiative will deliver tailored health information, practical assistance, and emotional support.

Diabetes Australia expects a pilot referral program will be live before the end of the year, with a small set of clinics and their patients experiencing the integrated pathway.

Expected outcomes include increased awareness and early detection, improved referral pathways, greater patient empowerment, and a more integrated model of care – ultimately reducing preventable vision loss and improving the quality of life for people with diabetes.

This kind of cross-pollination – where organisations learn from each other’s successes and challenges, and participate in collaborative programs – exemplifies what the Extension of Care Collective has achieved in just two years. It’s not just about working together; it’s about growing together and multiplying impact.

The story began in 2023 when opportunistic timing and a key connector brought together the major eye health patient support organisations from across Australia and New Zealand. Representatives from Glaucoma Australia, Glaucoma New Zealand, Vision Australia, Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Diabetes Australia, and Specsavers attended a pivotal meeting, leading to the formation of the Extension of Care Collective.

MDFA CEO Dr Kathy Chapman puts the rationale simply: “Patient support groups share a common goal to offer complementary care to people affected by a range of conditions. It therefore makes good sense for us to join forces with other organisations working in the eye health space to learn from each other and look for opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of those we serve.”

The group agreed to work together to tackle shared challenges in the eye health system through partnership and shared purpose. For Adam Check, CEO of Glaucoma Australia, this approach was essential rather than optional. “In our industry, collaboration is essential, and no single organisation can address all aspects of patient care and support alone. By joining forces and having a united voice, we can close gaps, improve adherence, and deliver more holistic outcomes.”

Supporting patients with complex eye health conditions requires more than clinical expertise. It demands a coordinated, compassionate, and informed approach. No single organisation can meet every need, and that’s precisely why collaboration is not just beneficial – it’s essential.

The organisations involved in the Extension of Care Collective identified several key advantages of working together: reducing duplication of chronic eye condition education efforts, improving referral rates from eye health professionals to patient support bodies, and enhancing public awareness of available support networks. These outcomes are not just operational wins; they directly impact the lives of patients navigating chronic eye conditions.

In New Zealand, for example, Ms Martin said the organisation’s international perspective has been invaluable. “Glaucoma NZ joined the Collective as a small organisation from a small country and being able to work closely with my neighbours across the Tasman has unlocked new ideas and opportunities to bring back to Glaucoma NZ. I’ve also been able to share with the Australians what works well in New Zealand and give them ideas that have been adopted over there.”

“On top of that, both Specsavers and I keep many of my New Zealand colleagues from smaller eye health organisations updated on initiatives and ideas so that even though many of them don’t have the capacity to attend the meetings or be a part of the Collective, they are still benefiting from it.”

The most recent member to join the group, Julia Hall, CEO of Retina Australia, said the Collective provided a welcome opportunity to “share, learn, and collaborate with fellow patient organisations united by a commitment to advancing eye health and vision care”.

“By combining our experiences and knowledge, the Collective provides a powerful platform for identifying the most effective solutions and accelerating progress towards improved patient outcomes,” she observed.

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful collaboration. To foster this, over the past two years, members of the Extension of Care Collective have taken their time to openly and vulnerably understand each other’s goals, strengths, and challenges, as well as get to know each other on a personal level. Dr Ben Ashby, Clinical Services Director at Specsavers, said this has fostered a culture of openness and mutual respect.

“Building trusted relationships has been central to the success of the Extension of Care Collective, and it’s a process that’s been approached with care and intention. From the outset, the group prioritised authenticity and inclusivity, recognising that meaningful collaboration takes time.

“We’ve done all we can to set everyone up for success, from organising team-building activities and engaging external facilitators to creating space for each organisation to openly share their goals and challenges,” he explained.

A mix of online and in-person meetings has helped maintain momentum while fostering genuine connection.

Linda Karlsson, External Relations Lead at Diabetes Australia, said these initiatives have created a valuable platform for learning and alignment. “It offers a space for Diabetes Australia to learn from other like-minded organisations and find new ways we can align our efforts and shared goals to benefit people at risk of vision loss,” she said.

Members of the Extension of Care Collective at the first meeting in 2023.

Echoing the sentiment, Mr Check said Glaucoma Australia was “proud to be part of an initiative that aligns closely with our mission to eliminate glaucoma blindness through early detection, treatment adherence, and ongoing patient support”.

“The group unites Australia’s leading patient support and low vision organisations, forming a strong alliance of expertise. Each member brings unique insights and capabilities, working together to deliver more coordinated and patient-centred care.”

And this spirit of collaboration, built on trust, shared purpose, and mutual respect, is now shaping the Collective’s work and its growing impact across the eye health sector.

Since its inception, the Extension of Care Collective has shaped member alliances in new and meaningful ways.

Ian Finlayson, General Manager, Marketing at Vision Australia, said the strong connections made are helping members of the Collective better understand each other’s motivations and referral strategies. “In coming together as patient support bodies, we have been able to understand each other’s primary motivation in engaging eye health professionals and gained valuable insight into each other’s methods for obtaining referrals from these professional groups.”

For Dr Chapman, the collaboration has opened doors to new opportunities, enabling MDFA to participate in several projects, such as the KeepSight/Eye Connect program mentioned above, that may not have happened otherwise. “It’s been rewarding to work with similar organisations, and we continue to find ways we can collaborate within and outside our formal workshops,” she said.

This kind of cross-pollination – where organisations learn from each other’s successes and challenges – is at the heart of the Collective’s mission.

Looking ahead, the Extension of Care Collective is focussed on refining its collaborative model and expanding its impact, turning long-discussed ideas into meaningful, long-term initiatives.

One of the most promising outcomes is the potential to streamline patient journeys. Ms Karlsson envisions a future where eye care professionals serve as central touchpoints, seamlessly guiding patients towards timely interventions and comprehensive support services.

“Ideally, we can help improve access to the full range of support services patients may need at different stages of their health journey, all through a single, trusted point of contact in the eye health professional,” she said.

Mr Check agrees that the future will involve working with eye care professionals to develop care pathways that extend beyond diagnosis. “Looking ahead, we believe the Extension of Care Collective has the potential to drive systemic improvements in how eye care is delivered. By strengthening connections between providers and empowering patients with information and support, we can significantly reduce preventable vision loss and improve quality of life across the community.”

The Extension of Care Collective is more than a set of common ambitions; it’s a blueprint for how healthcare organisations can work together to achieve systemic change. By prioritising patient outcomes over organisational silos, the group is demonstrating what’s possible when collaboration is driven by purpose.

“We set up the Extension of Care Collective because Specsavers was working individually with several organisations who had similar experiences, similar challenges and similar ambitions,” explained Dr Ashby. “We were finding that some organisations were tackling common problems well and there was an opportunity for other organisations to learn from their successes. At the same time, we all wanted to do all we could to improve the health outcomes of Australians and New Zealanders for the long term, and we thought we’d be able to increase our impact by creating a holistic strategy that involved everyone,” he said.

“Through a sustained commitment to being present, building trust, being vulnerable and having an unwavering focus on enhancing health outcomes for patients, it is great to see how the group has come together to achieve so much already, with many longer-term plans still in the works.”

He said the initiatives emerging from this collaboration have the potential to bridge gaps in post-treatment support, improve access to specialist services, and ensure patients receive consistent, tailored follow-up care as their needs evolve.

“We’re incredibly fortunate that everyone in the Collective is so open in sharing their expertise, experiences, and perspectives – all in service of better outcomes for patients.

“At Specsavers our core mission is to change lives through better sight. Research shows that patients who receive support after leaving the testing room are more likely to follow treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments on time, feel less anxious about their condition, and share their experience with loved ones. That’s why we’re committed to fostering collaboration across the industry – because when we work together, we can achieve more. We believe every patient, whether they visit us or another optometrist in Australia or New Zealand, deserves access to the exceptional support that’s available.”

It seems the Extension of Care Collective is redefining what it means to support patients with chronic eye conditions. By breaking down barriers between organisations and building bridges of trust, the group is creating a more compassionate, coordinated, and effective system of care.

As the Collective continues to grow and evolve, one thing remains clear: collaboration isn’t just a strategy – it’s a necessity. And in the world of eye health, it’s proving to be a powerful force for change.