How retinal screening is supporting the health of Aboriginal people
Posted on August 10, 2026
How Karadi’s eye health project is shining a light on the health of Aboriginal people
They say that eyes are the window to the soul.
But the Karadi Aboriginal Corporation sees the eyes as windows into people’s health.
The idea for Karadi’s eye health service was sparked after a team of Karadi staff attended an eye health conference in Melbourne, hearing about what had worked at other organisations, and experimenting with a retinal camera.
Then, thanks to the generosity of the Brian Holden Foundation, Karadi was able to secure its own retinal camera to undertake retinal screening at its health clinic at Goodwood in suburban Hobart.
Retinal screening is a quick, non-invasive imaging test that takes high-resolution pictures of the back of the eye, including the retina, optic nerve and blood vessels. It helps detect and monitor eye diseases and provides insight into overall eye health.
Emma Robertson, health team leader, says retinal screening might seem niche, but it helps paint a broader picture of someone’s overall health.
“Retinal screening can pick up diabetic retinopathy,” she says.
“You can see bleeds behind the eye, signs of hypertension behind the eye, and macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease that causes central vision loss.
“There’s a whole series of conditions, and while we don’t diagnose any of those, through the training we’ve undertaken, you can usually identify whether something looks normal or abnormal within an image.”
Karadi works closely with its visiting optometry service, Total Eyecare, which provides training and ongoing support.
“All images are sent to our visiting optometrist for grading. He reviews them and may say there are no signs of diabetic retinopathy, and the client should be screened again in 12 months,” Emma says.
“Or he might say that there are signs that require an appointment within three three months, or within another specific timeframe, and we can book that in.
“There’s a whole triage process. Some clients may need to go directly to the Royal Hobart Hospital ophthalmology clinic, and he will enact that referral straight through.”
Emma says Karadi supports clients throughout the referral process.
“If someone needs to go directly to the Royal, the optometrist handles that referral. We can then follow through that path and support that person through the hospital. We have a good relationship with ophthalmology.”
Emma says retinal screening has broader benefits beyond clinical use.
Ease of access is particularly important for people living with chronic conditions.
“It can remind people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, to get their regular eye checks. This is really important for people with diabetes.”
RJ Webb, key driver of the eye health program and the allied health trainee who conducts the retinal screening, agrees.
“The eye program feeds into our chronic disease model of care. If people are diabetic, it helps ensure they’re getting their annual diabetic eye checks,” RJ says.
“It also improves access by making the Karadi health clinic more of a one-stop shop for a range of screening and health services.
“The clinic is already a culturally safe and trusted space for Aboriginal people. This helps facilitate access for people who might not have otherwise accessed retinal screening.”
After establishing retinal screening and partnering with an optometry service, the service moved to include Karadi’s Low-Cost Spectacles Program.
“It’s about offering really low-cost glasses, which is phenomenal because glasses are expensive,” RJ says.
“The pilot started with 80 frames. Now my stand in the waiting room is full.
“We’re getting an influx of people booking optometry appointments here or elsewhere, bringing their script and saying, ‘I want to have a look at some glasses’.
“It’s great to see clients come in saying they need new glasses or an eye test. Sometimes it starts with a yarn and asking when they last had their eyes tested.”
RJ says Karadi can provide optometry appointments and order glasses on site.
“Cost isn’t a barrier. Glasses are low cost for everyone,” RJ says.
Emma says access to glasses can have broader health and safety benefits.
“For people taking medications, not being able to read labels can be a real issue,” she says.
“It’s also about knowing what they’re signing or understanding written information.
“It’s about providing the best wraparound services, especially for people who might be reluctant to get their eyes tested or who see it as low on their list of priorities.”
Emma recalls a patient in her mid-60s who had never had an eye test due to low literacy.
“She couldn’t read letters or numbers, so through advocacy and working with the optometrist, we changed how her eyes were tested using ‘tumbling E charts’ and hand signals,” she says.
The tumbling E chart is designed for people who cannot read, don’t write, or do not speak the language used on standard eye charts.
“It’s about reducing barriers and stigma,” Emma says.
Karadi takes a holistic approach to care, with programs supporting one another rather than operating in silos.
“When we know our clients and have strong relationships, we can check in and ask how they’re going,” Emma says.
“Sometimes that opens the door to deeper conversations, and we can connect them with counselling or other services.”
Karadi also hosts visiting clinical services and provides the Integrated Team Care (ITC) program, which is funded by the Australian Government through Primary Health Tasmania.
“If clients have chronic illness, they can be referred into ITC for wraparound support,” Emma says.
“All our programs feed into each other to support people as a whole.”
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This story features in Issue 22 of our Primary Health Matters magazine. Click here to read the rest of the issue.
