Victorian Eyecare Service (VES) provides subsidised eyecare at a nominal cost for eligible Victorians.
Metropolitan services are available from the Australian College of Optometry (ACO) in Carlton and their new Dandenong clinic, and at 5 sites in community health services in Melbourne.
Regional and rural services are available from private practice optometrists and ophthalmologists.
VES is not available in some rural areas. People living in these areas can access metropolitan services provided by the ACO.
Description
The Victorian Eyecare Service (VES) is a statewide eyecare and visual aid service for people experiencing disadvantage or other barriers to accessing eyecare services. VES is available to Victorians who meet the eligibility criteria as outlined below. VES is administered by the Australian College of Optometry (ACO). The ACO coordinates delivery across a range of locations and in partnership with private practice optometrists in rural regions.
Services in Melbourne are available from the college's Carlton site, their new Dandenong site and at some community health services around Melbourne. The ACO - Clinic locations webpage lists service locations in metropolitan Melbourne, and their contact information.
Regional and rural VES is provided by private practice optometrists and ophthalmologists. While VES is not available in all rural locations, all VES eligible Victorians can access metropolitan services provided by the ACO.
VES includes such services as:
the Victorian Aboriginal Subsidised Spectacles Scheme
outreach to supported residential services, public sector residential aged care facilities, Aboriginal health services, older people public housing, homelessness services, youth justice services, disability services and community health centres that provide refugee and asylum seeker care.
Services provided
Eye care services
Low-cost visual aids
Eligibility
VES is available for the following people who live in Victoria:
holder of a current Health Care Card, or are listed on the Health Care Card as a dependent
holder of a current Pensioner Concession Card
holder of a current Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Card
children with Child Protection involvement for their care, such as Out of Home Care
people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds (a further subsidy combines with the VES for the Victorian Aboriginal Spectacles Subsidy Scheme)
people from refugee backgrounds and/or people seeking asylum.
In addition, people experiencing other types of disadvantage and barriers to accessing eyecare services may be eligible for VES. Each case that does not fit the eligibility criteria is assessed on a case by case basis by the ACO or through contact with the rural VES office.
Within the target population, VES focusses on groups that may experience difficulty accessing eyecare services.
Concession card holders can access the VES at a reduced cost. Contact the clinic before you attend if you would like more information about cost.
Calls are charged at the cost of a local call.
Tip
To check your eligibility, you can call the VES office on (03) 9349 7400.
Melbourne metropolitan residents can access VES at the Australian College of Optometry's (ACO) Clinical Services Division located in Carlton, or at several other sites located in community health centres across metropolitan Melbourne. See locations closest to you.
Rural services are provided through private practice optometrists and ophthalmologists who are subsidised by the scheme. The ACO is responsible for the management of VES rural services. See locations closest to you.
