1:30min
Optometry Australia welcomes the announcement of the Healthy Kindy Kids program, established as part of the 2025 State Budget by Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the Honourable Tim Nicholls MP.
This landmark initiative will provide free health checks, including vision screening, for up to 60,000 kindy-aged children across Queensland, helping to ensure that potential health and developmental issues are identified early.
Following correspondence with the Minister and meetings with QLD Health, we are pleased to advise members that the program is progressing well, with a pilot set to commence in Townsville in October 2025.
The pilot will utilise vision screening protocols currently in place through the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program (PSNHRP), with learnings to inform a refined service model and guidelines ahead of a state-wide rollout from early to mid-2026.
School-aged QLD children will continue to also have access to vision screening through the PSNHRP.
Optometry Australia has strongly advocated to ensure the program appropriately refers into community optometry, highlighting the important role of optometrists in the ongoing management and care of children identified with potential vision issues.
The Minister’s recent correspondence confirms that referral pathways are being developed in collaboration with Children’s Health Queensland and will provide clear guidance for all providers.
We will continue to keep members informed as further details become available.
In the meantime, if you have questions, concerns, or insights to share regarding the program or referral pathways, please contact Queensland State Lead, Prajna Vidyasagar via policy@optometry.org.au.