More than 5,000 students across the state can now see more clearly and concentrate better at school, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government's free Glasses for Kids program.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced that free prescription glasses had now been provided to more than 5,000 Prep to Year 3 students across Victoria since the program began in 2015.
Broadmeadows Primary School in Melbourne's north is one of the latest schools to benefit, with 72 Prep to Year 3 students receiving free vision screening at the school in February and a further nine receiving free glasses in March.
The Victorian-first program, which is managed and delivered by State Schools' Relief, has so far provided free vision screening to almost 32,400 Prep to Year 3 students from 408 government primary and specialist schools across Victoria.
Since the beginning of Term 1 this year, 758 students at 17 schools have had their vision screened, with 130 receiving free prescription glasses.
The Labor Government has invested more than $2.4 million to deliver the Glasses for Kids program, which is removing vision impairment as a barrier to students engaging in their learning.
Children with undiagnosed vision problems often find it hard to concentrate at school, which can present challenges for learning and development. By supporting students with undiagnosed vision impairments, Glasses for Kids is helping students achieve their best at school and beyond.
Glasses for Kids helps alleviate these challenges by providing an on-site optometry service to children at their school, addressing vision impairments in children who otherwise may have gone undiagnosed.
As stated by Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
"Giving Victorian children the opportunity to thrive at school goes beyond providing great education programs - this is about ensuring nobody is left behind because of common and very treatable issues like vision impairment."
"Health and education go hand in hand - thanks to Glasses for Kids, more than 5,000 Victorian students are now seeing more clearly, giving them every opportunity to learn and succeed."
As stated by Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward
"Glasses for Kids is just one of the ways that we're ensuring local kids have access to the support and services they need to get the great education they deserve."
