1:30min
As part of Optometry Australia’s “Eyes on Medicare” campaign, passionate optometrists continue to take their concerns directly to policymakers. Recently, Jack Gooden and Teagan Lehmann met with Luke Gosling, Federal Member for Solomon, to highlight the importance of reinstating two-yearly Medicare-subsidised eye examinations and ensuring equitable access to primary eye care in the Northern Territory.
Their meeting was another vital step in pushing for policy change to prevent vision loss and improve healthcare access for communities across Australia—particularly in regions like the NT, where cost and accessibility remain major barriers.
Why we took action
For Jack and Teagan, advocating for stronger eye health policies is not just about their profession – it’s about ensuring all Australians have access to essential care, regardless of where they live or their financial situation.
One of the most concerning statistics they presented to Luke Gosling was the significant drop-off in comprehensive eye exams since 2017.
‘Luke was genuinely surprised to learn that fewer people are getting their eyes tested now than in previous years’, commented Jack.
‘The data is alarming – per capita, we’ve seen an 18.1% decline in initial comprehensive eye examinations for Australians under 65 since 2017, despite a growing population. If this happened in any other area of preventative health, there would be a public outcry.’
Meeting with Luke Gosling: Breaking down barriers to eye care
Jack and Teagan’s meeting took place inside their practice, allowing them to demonstrate firsthand the essential role optometrists play in primary healthcare.
‘Luke was open to hearing us out and agreed that anything that helps reduce barriers to healthcare, including eye care, is a positive step. We explained how reinstating two-yearly Medicare-subsidised eye exams could have a major impact on increasing accessibility – especially for people in the NT.’
One key moment in the discussion was Luke’s reaction to the economic case for two-yearly exams.
‘While Luke didn’t make any hard promises, but he did commit to taking our concerns to Health Minister Mark Butler – a positive sign,’ said Jack.
A call to action: Join the advocacy movement
Jack and Teagan want to encourage more optometrists to get involved and take action in their own electorates.
‘Advocacy is easier than you think and we can’t afford to sit back. Politicians need to hear from the people on the ground. If you’re passionate about eye health, get out there, meet your MP, and help push for change.’
Get involved
Optometry Australia continues to call for urgent action to reverse the 2014 Budget decision to reduce Medicare subsidised initial comprehensive eye examinations for under 65s from once every two years to once every three years.
Without strong political commitment, Australians will continue to face barriers to accessing timely eye care. We need every optometrist to get involved today.
- Visit the Optometry Australia 2025 Federal Election page for campaign updates.
- Use our simple advocacy tool to email your federal representatives today. Every action strengthens our collective voice.
- Once you’ve used the tool, schedule a reminder for yourself to follow up in two weeks – you can even ask for a meeting to discuss this issue further! The Optometry Australia team is here to help you prepare. Contact us today, at policy@optometry.org.au.
- Help spread the word about the campaign! Use our ready-to-go social media assets, including captions, graphics and practice posters, to engage your network and encourage colleagues to join in. We love seeing our members take part – snap a photo of your poster in action and share it with us at community@optometry.org.au.
We aren’t backing down – and we need your voice. Together, we can ensure eye care is a priority in this election and beyond.
Looking for more information? Contact the Optometry Advancement team at policy@optometry.org.au.
Tagged as: Advocacy & government