A Brief to the Welfare Committee, Federal Parliamentary Labour Party from the Australian Optometrical Association, October 1973

Historical Significance: This submission is one of a number made to the Labor Party following its election to office in 1973, which argued for the inclusion of optometric services into the Government health services.It is argued in this submission that the Government should: - introduce a 'vision conservation programme implemented through an Occupational Vision Section established within the Australian Department of Health;- vision screening programs be introduces in schools and pre-schools;- domiciliary optometric vision care be supported by the Australian Government;- optometric care be provided in community health centres; and- optometric care be provided in hospitals.The submission , along with others, was a central plank in the Australian Optometrical Association's campaign for Government subsidised optometric care. The campaign eventually resulted in the inclusion of optometric benefits in Medibank (now Medicare) and other government programs.