L'OCCITANE Improving Equity in Eye Care

Improving equity in eye care

In 2019, L'OCCITANE Philippines and the L’OCCITANE Foundation started to support The Fred Hollows Foundation’s work in the Philippines through the ‘Caring for Sight’ grant. Since then, we have worked together to provide eye care services for youth from Indigenous communities in four regions of the country. Over this time, L’OCCITANE Foundation has helped reach over 72,000 beneficiaries in the Philippines.  

In 2021, we are proud to announce the expansion of this partnership to Australia, with L’OCCITANE Australia committing to improve access to eye care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.  

Central Australia is home to over 40,000 residents living across an area the size of Spain, with up to 50% of residents identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Health services are stretched as they service many small and remote communities. Like many Indigenous Peoples around the world, Indigenous Australians are more likely to be blind than other Australians.

In 2021-2022, L'OCCITANE Australia and the Foundation have partnered with The Fred Hollows Foundation to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Central Australia have access to high quality, affordable, and culturally-appropriate eye care. 

With L’OCCITANE Australia’s support, The Fred Hollows Foundation is funding two Aboriginal workforce positions in Central Australia: 

• an Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Alice Springs Hospital, who contributes to the provision of culturally-appropriate health services to Aboriginal patients and their families,
• an Optometrist at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, who is responsible for screening and referring patients at the Alice Springs clinic, as well as populations across five remote communities. 

The Fred Hollows Foundation is pleased to be the recipient of the L’OCCITANE Caring for Sight grant in 2021-2022. Together, we will have a significant impact on the sight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.  

You can read more about the life transforming difference this partnership will make here.  

Thank you L’OCCITANE!   

PHOTO CREDIT: Mary Tran