OPTOMETRY CLINIC AT THE WESTCARE CENTRE
Sight For All, in partnership with Baptist Care SA and Flinders University, delivers a weekly optometry clinic at the WestCare Centre in Adelaide. The clinic supports people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness by providing accessible, high-quality eye care in a safe and welcoming environment.
A trusted community hub
Baptist Care SA’s WestCare Centre is a place where people from all walks of life are welcome. The Centre provides meals, shower and laundry facilities, support during extreme weather events, and connections to health and community services. Since launching in 2022, the optometry clinic has become an important part of this integrated support network, celebrating over a year of service in July 2023.
Strengthening access through partnership
Since 2024, support from the Suzanne Elliott Charitable Trust has significantly strengthened the clinic’s impact. Funding has enabled the introduction of a dedicated social worker who:
- Assists clients with barriers such as transport, mental health challenges and communication difficulties
- Connects clients to co-located services including medical, dental, nursing and counselling support
- Supports follow-up care and continuity of treatment
This integrated, wrap-around model improves health outcomes while fostering dignity, stability and trust.
The partnership also supports eye health education sessions for WestCare staff, increasing awareness of common causes of vision loss, referral pathways and urgent eye health concerns – further strengthening the safety net around clients.
Building future health professionals
The clinic also plays an important role in education. Optometry students gain valuable experience delivering compassionate, person-centred care to individuals with complex needs. This helps build a future workforce that understands the importance of equity, collaboration and holistic healthcare.
Our Supporters
Sight For All gratefully acknowledges the support of:
- iCare
- Specsavers
- Carl ZEISS Vision Care
- Alcon
- Bailey Nelson
- OneSight
- AM Eyewear
- The Wyatt Trust
- Suzanne Elliot Charitable Trust
Together, these partnerships are improving access to essential eye care for some of South Australia’s most vulnerable community members – helping ensure that vision loss does not become another barrier to health, independence and opportunity.