Latest News

Vietnam: Binh Dinh Eye Hospital program a model of success
Thanks to funding by The Foundation, some of the poorest people in Binh Dinh province, Vietnam, now have access to specialist eye care and sight-restoring surgery. Find out more

Foundation project to reduce avoidable childhood blindness in China
The Gaoan Childhood Blindness Project is a three year project aimed at reducing avoidable childhood blindness in Gaoan County in Jiangxi Province, PR China. Find out more

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Wednesday 10 December marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Fred Hollows was known as a champion for social justice and equality, and believed everyone had the right to sight. Find out more

Beyond Sandy Blight: Five Aboriginal Experiences
As a new report shows that trachoma remains endemic in many remote Aboriginal communities, the first insiders’ account of the 1970s National Trachoma Eye Health Program led by Fred Hollows, has been launched in Canberra. Find out more

Fred Hollows announced as a favourite Australian
Fred is the nation’s sixth favourite Australian according to results of a public vote. The results were released to coincide with the opening of an exhibition entitled 'My Favourite Australian' at the new National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Find out more

International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The 3rd December is International Day of Persons with Disabilities! The theme of this day is ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us’. Download The Foundation’s Information Sheet on Disability and Development for facts about Disability and Development and examples relating to The Foundation's work in the developing world. If you are interested in celebrating or learning more about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, visit the United Nations website.
 

People with disability a priority for Australia's aid program
The Australian Government has for the first time made people with disability a priority for Australia's international development program. Find out more

Students screened in Afghanistan
The Foundation recently increased efforts to tackle childhood blindness and refractive error in Afghanistan by conducting eye screening for school students. Find out more

New study shows trachoma still endemic in Indigenous communities
A new study has shown that the prevalence of trachoma is still endemic in the Indigenous population, more than 30 years after Fred Hollows and the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program team first identified the deplorable standards of eye health in Aboriginal communities. Find out more 

Cambodia awards top medal to The Foundation
The Cambodian Government has awarded The Fred Hollows Foundation with a rare medal of honour, acknowledging the organisation’s contribution to preventing unnecessary blindness in the country. Find out more

Foundation launches Fellowship in Eye Health
The Foundation is continuing to support the training of local eye specialists through the creation of The Fred Hollows Foundation Fellowship Program. Find out more

Record number of Indigenous patients treated
The latest week of intensive eye surgery in Alice Springs has resulted in a record equalling 57 patients being treated. This brings the total number of operations achieved by the Central Australian Integrated Eye Health Program to 315. Find out more

Sight restored in Central Australia
An intensive eye surgery program in Alice Springs has resulted in over 100 operations during August and October, helping to improve sight for many people from remote Indigenous communities. Find out more

2008 Walkley Awards finalist
A photo essay featuring the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation in Vietnam has been nominated as a finalist in the 2008 Walkley Awards for Journalism. Find out more

Gabi Hollows’ World Sight Day plea: protect your eyes
Gabi Hollows has added her voice to a World Sight Day (October 9) campaign calling on Australians to have their vision tested, stating that 75% of all blinding conditions can either be prevented or treated. Find out more

Survey results indicate lack of understanding
Australia’s peak eye health body, Vision 2020 Australia, have released results of a survey indicating a lack of understanding among Australians regarding caring for their vision. Find out more

Australians need to take better care of their sight
To coincide with World Sight Day 2008, the nation’s peak eye health body, Vision 2020 Australia, have issued a statement encouraging all Australians to take better care of their sight. Find out more

Fred Hollows Foundation and Maari Ma sign partnership
The Fred Hollows Foundation and Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation have announced a partnership that will help strengthen health and community services for Indigenous people living in far west New South Wales (NSW). Find out more

Eye surgeons receive advanced training in China
The Fred Hollows Foundation recently conducted a Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) training course in Jiangxi province, China. Find out more

Fred's dream spreads in Laos
The Foundation has taken a vital step towards helping the people of Lao PDR overcome avoidable blindness through improving access to high quality, sustainable and affordable eye care services. Find out more

Support Indigenous Literacy Day
Help us to improve literacy in remote Indigenous communities by showing your support. You can either make a donation or participate by attending an event or buying a book from selected stores today. Find out more.

Foundation invests in local star to lead research
The Foundation has announced a PhD scholarship which will enable a candidate from a developing country to study at the renowned London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, specialising in blindness prevention. Read more

Gabi Hollows guest at Therese Rein’s Indigenous Literacy Day function
Gabi Hollows has joined six Indigenous children from remote communities at a special function being hosted by Indigenous Literacy Day Patron, Therese Rein, in Canberra at The Lodge. Read more

Indigenous surgery program to fix eyesight of 50
An intensive surgery program taking place in Alice Springs this week aims to help restore or improve the sight of up to 50 patients, many from Central Australia’s remote Indigenous communities. Read more

Meeting UN Millennium Goals
The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Dr Andreas Mueller recently spent time in Northern Ethiopia to participate in a large scale program which aims to alleviate extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

Fred Hollows exhibition opens in Leichhardt, Sydney
Leichhardt Library will host a touring exhibition that celebrates the life and work of the late Professor Fred Hollows from Wednesday 6 August to Thursday 21 August, 2008. Read more

Indigenous health blueprint presented to Government and Opposition
The Close the Gap coalition has presented the Federal Government and Opposition with a set of National Indigenous Health Equality Targets to address the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Read more

Touring exhibition a success with Fred's local community
Fred Hollows’ daughter, Emma Hollows, and Randwick City Mayor, Clr Bruce Notley-Smith kicked off a successful four week display of the ‘In Fred’s Footsteps’ touring exhibition in Randwick, Sydney, chatting with locals at a special morning tea held at Bowen Library last month. Read more

Australia ratifies UN Disabilities Convention
The Fred Hollows Foundation welcomes the announcement that Australia has ratified the UN Disability Convention, demonstrating its commitment to upholding and safeguarding the rights of people with disability. Read more

Foundation congratulates long term friend Tim Fischer
Former Board member and long term Fred Hollows Foundation supporter, the Honourable Tim Fischer, has been appointed as Australia’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See. Read more

Ray Martin to host official World Youth Day 2008
Ray Martin, long time friend of The Fred Hollows Foundation, to host World Youth Day 2008. Ray's connection to The Foundation's work dates back to when he was covering Fred Hollows' work in remote Indigenous communities. Read more

Help raise $16,000 by joining Nepal trek in November
Join the Sue Fear Memorial Trek around the Manaslu Circuit to commemorate Sue Fear and continue her work of fundraising for the Fred Hollows Foundation, with $1,000 of the participation fee going directly to The Foundation. Read more

'In Fred’s Footsteps' touring exhibition opens in Randwick
The Fred Hollows Foundation pictorial and informational touring exhibition celebrates the life of Professor Fred Hollows and the work of his Foundation. The exhibition will tour 36 NSW metropolitan and regional libraries. Read more

Life and work of Professor Fred Hollows – free photography exhibition
A free exhibition of photography will be held at Melbourne’s Gallery 15 from 16th June – 7th July to celebrate the life and work of ophthalmologist Professor Fred Hollows, who passed away 15 years ago. Read more

Leading African ophthalmologist visits Australia
If there was ever a person that represents the true vision of the late Professor Fred Hollows, then Dr Wanjiku Mathenge would be that person. Dr Mathenge visited Australia recently to speak at The Fred Hollows Foundation's AGM. Read more

Jet help Fred Hollows to Shine On
One of Australia’s biggest bands, Jet, has joined forces with The Fred Hollows Foundation to produce "Shine On for Fred Hollows", a video tribute about the life and work of the renowned eye surgeon. Read more

New beginnings in Laos
The Fred Hollows Foundation is excited to announce that The Foundation’s Sustainable Comprehensive Eye Care Project has been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos. Read More

Renewed commitment to Millennium Development Goals
Congratulations to the Australian Government on its renewed commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. Read more

Fred’s Foundation named as top Australian charity
The Fred Hollows Foundation has been named as ‘Best Practice not-for-profit’ at the Givewell Good Giving Australian Charity Awards, held in Melbourne recently. Read more

Latest Results: Foundation helps save or restore sight of over 140,000 people in 2007
Results released in March show The Fred Hollows Foundation almost doubled the amount of people it helped last year, saving or restoring the sight of 143,759 people in 2007, up from 73,838 in 2006. Read more or see full statistics

Pledge Marks Historic Next Step for Indigenous Health
The Fred Hollows Foundation congratulates Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on signing the statement of intent to “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the Government’s commitment of further funds towards achieving this important task. Read more

"Foundation Support a win for Indigenous health"
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said that a $3 million dollar specialist eye care centre in Alice Springs to be funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation would make a significant difference to the lives of Indigenous people. Read more

Foundation commits to clinic in Fred's name
The Fred Hollows Foundation marked the 15^th anniversary of the death of the renowned ophthalmologist today with a commitment of up to $3 million to the construction of an eye health centre of excellence in Central Australia. Read more

Photography Exhibition - Life and work of Fred Hollows
A free exhibition of photography will be held at Sydney's Chifley Tower in February to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the death of ophthalmologist Professor Fred Hollows, who passed away on 10 February 1993. View details

Fred Hollows (1929-1993) - 15 years on
On Sunday 10 February, it will be 15 years since the death of Professor Fred Hollows. Read more

A sad farewell to a good friend - Sir Edmund Hillary
The Fred Hollows Foundation wishes to pay respect to Sir Edmund Hillary following the sad news of his passing, aged 88. Read more

Win win win!
Attention students - do you dream about being an intrepid journalist seeking out stories from remote parts of the world? Then this could be the opportunity for you. Read more

Lawyers raise the bar for Indigenous literacy
Twenty-three newly appointed senior counsels for the State of NSW today announced a major donation to the Indigenous Literacy Project to help address the crisis in literacy in remote Indigenous communities. Read more

Dr Alice Chang receives prestigious post-graduate prize
The Fred Hollows Foundation wishes to congratulate our Youth Ambassador Dr Alice Chang for her success in winning one of eight The General Sir John Monash Awards for 2008. Read more

A happy day for Kamala
Kamala Devekota was only 19 years old and pregnant when cataract robbed her of sight in her right eye. Read more