About the Program

The Indigenous Program has a commitment to listening to and working with our partners and communities to understand and address Indigenous Health issues in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales. Our priority program areas are determined in consultation with partners and communities, and within a broader context of our understanding of the social determinants of health in Indigenous Australia.

Fred’s special relationship with Indigenous Australia

Professor Fred Hollows was passionate about improving health and life expectancy for Australia's Indigenous people.

When Fred first visited rural Indigenous communities in the 1960s he was shocked by the deplorable living conditions. He was disturbed by the great number of children and adults suffering from blinding trachoma, a disease that had been largely eradicated in the rest of Australia.

Fred quickly took action and pioneered the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program.

The program traveled through rural Australia offering eye care and treatment for locals who would otherwise be out of reach of the public health system.

In 1992, Fred and his wife Gabi launched The Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia, to expand and continue his passionate work. In 2000, The Indigenous Health Program was formalised.

Over the past 15 years, The Foundation in Australia has taken a comprehensive approach to improving the health and life opportunities of Indigenous people.

Today, the Indigenous Program is largely focused on the Northern Territory where nearly one-third of the population is Indigenous and most live in remote communities. Projects are undertaken in the Indigenous communities of Barunga, Beswick (Wugularr), Eva Valley and Bulman (Gulin Gulin), which lie to the east of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

More recently we have expanded to include remote areas of western New South Wales and are negotiating program development in other states.

These communities are far from health and education services, have fewer employment opportunities and because the cost of living can be so high it is impossible for people on low incomes to afford a nutritious diet.

The Indigenous Program works only through partnerships with Indigenous organizations. Using a partnership approach we aim to empower the communities to realise their own successes. We see ourselves as a resource for partners, so they have the tools to do the work they have identified as priorities. Currently we are working in partnership with the Jawoyn Association, Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Katherine West Health Board, Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council and the Indigenous communities to the east of Katherine.

A Partnership Approach

In the late 1990s, The Foundation in Australia expanded its approach to Indigenous Health.

The Jawoyn Association (traditional landowners of the Jawoyn region east of Katherine, Northern Territory) approached The Foundation to assist them in improving nutrition and health for their people.

This invitation allowed The Foundation to fulfil more of Fred's dream and tackle the broader health issues affecting Indigenous people in an appropriate and meaningful way.

In 2000, a formal agreement was made with the Jawoyn Association, Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation and other local Indigenous organisations. We have worked in cooperative and successful partnership ever since.

This agreement was renewed in 2006. The Indigenous Program has greatly expanded since that time and Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation has become another major partner. In 2006 Katherine West Health Board and Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre joined The Foundation as partners.

Key Achievements in 2006

The key activities in 2006 focussed on the areas of eye health services, nutrition and community stores, literacy, child and maternal health, women’s centres, cultural events, advocacy and community capacity building.

Significant achievements in 2006 included:

  • Establishing the Outreach Optometry Project in the Northern Territory to assist visually impaired Indigenous Australians receive expert and speedy service.
  • Commencing a new partnership with the Katherine West Health Board aimed at improving child and maternal health.
  • Being part of a community push to get the school at Wugularr (Katherine East region) relocated from a flood plain to higher land, and securing funds for a new Community Resource Centre for that community.
  • Beginning work in Western New South Wales, with an initial focus on literacy and community stores.
  • Providing governance training and support to Aboriginal community committees.