Vision Australia

Vision Australia is a living partnership between people who are blind, sighted or have low vision. People who are blind or have low vision are offered the support they need to live fulfilling lives, fully integrated into the community. Vision Australia is the leading provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia, enabling tens of thousands of children and adults to live the lives they choose.

Volunteer opportunities for young people

Office work, raising awareness and educating the public on the services and opportunities for blind and low-vision individuals; volunteers can opt to be part of the Myer-Vision Australia gift wrapping initiative, Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight®, Braille services or helping with meals and transport.

Volunteering opportunities may vary from centre to centre and across the States but may include:

• Supporting clients at home and in Vision Australia centres
• Assisting with administrative tasks
• Working as part of the talking newspaper network
• Helping to run Vision Australia Radio
• Speaking at schools and in the community
• Audio description
• Narrating talking books and newspapers
• Offering library support
• Helping with special interest and recreational programs
• Assisting with fund raising and special events e.g. Christmas Gift Wrap, Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight®, Black and White Ball, Sandsculpting, Assisting in Opportunity Shops

Benefits of involving young people as volunteers in Vision Australia

Communication and organisational skills, office skills and networking skills, exposure to training in low vision and vision impaired adaptive technology, mentoring and support for future employment prospects, the opportunity "to be surrounded by driven and ambitious people, who want to go places", as Vision Australia's star recruit Renee Williamson puts it.

SCIP Speakers for Vision Australia

Nicholas Gleeson

Vision Australia, Community Development Officer

In 2000, Nick competed in the gruelling 90km Comrades UltraMarathon in South Africa. Soon after, he became the first Australian who is blind to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro − the highest peak in Africa.

Born in Melbourne in 1962, Nick was seven when an accident resulted in permanent blindness. A true adventurer, Nick has tandem skydived, bungee jumped and scuba dived. He has run many marathons, including the New York Marathon, and represented Australia in athletics, goalball and cricket. In the 1984 New York Paralympic Games, Nick placed 14th in the world in the 100 metre sprint. He has also represented Australia in goalball and cricket. Nick's story is one of courage, resilience and sheer determination.

After competing in the New York marathon for the second time, and climbing Mount Kilamanjaro in 2006, Nick met with Sir Edmund Hillary. Nick's next goal is to climb Aconcagua in Argentina, second in elevation to Mount Everest. He conducts staff training programs on behalf of Vision Australia.

Ettore Cipollone

Ettore was born in Italy. His family moved to Australia when Ettore was still an infant. He resides in Sydney with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children. His involvement with Vision Australia began after he lost his vision through injury at the age of 20.

Vision Australia counselled Ettore and his family and gave appropriate support to enable him to direct his own future. He received vital rehabilitation services and was taught living and vocation skills. These skills enabled him to enjoy an active professional and social life.

Ettore worked full-time in public relations, raising awareness of Vision Australia's important work in the community. He has experience in speaking to various community groups and demonstrating life-enhancement technology available to vision impaired people. He is still promoting Vision Australia's work.

Heather Gleeson

Heather grew up in Sydney. She attended Sydney's North Rock's School for Blind Children and went on to business college. Heather has been involved with Vision Australia Speakers' Network since 2002.

Heather has enjoyed a varied professional and sporting life. Her past roles have included a 10-year career as an audio typist with the NSW Police Department. She holds qualifications in customer service and computer skills. In 1988, Heather took part in the Seoul Paralympic Games as a member of the Australian goalball team.

After temporarily relocating to Melbourne for work, she is now back in Sydney, relishing her new role as a full-time mother. In addition to being a volunteer speaker, Heather helps train staff at Vision Australia.

Lindy Hou, OAM

Lindy and her family migrated from China in 1974. She lives in Sydney with Harper, her loyal and trusted companion. Lindy has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition causing slow and progressive vision impairment. She volunteers for Vision Australia's Speakers' Network.

Lindy has 15 years' experience as an IT consultant for various private corporations. Although legally blind, she has had a highly successful career as an athlete and cyclist. The 2004 Athens Paralympic Games saw her win four medals, including one gold medal. Lindy is the first Australian female to win gold at the Paralympics.

In addition to working with Vision Australia, Lindy is a popular motivational speaker. She recently attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She set her mind on once again representing, and winning, on behalf of her adoptive home, Australia.

David Fisher Dobbin

David is the Coordinator of Vision's Australia's Volunteer Services. He is also a preacher and motivational public speaker. He lives with his wife Debbie, their daughters Sonia and Sarah and his guide dog, Wilson.

David's blindness was the result of severe trauma inflicted on his eyes and head in 2006. He has not let his disability hinder his life's work. His past work as a preacher took him to regional and country churches in the United States where he provided relief services. David has earned degrees in various disciplines, including religious studies, philosophy, marketing and business management. He has also held executive and managerial positions.

David is a sought-after motivational speaker, and continues to indulge his passion for preaching in addition to working for Vision Australia.

Dawson Ko, Volunteer Presenter

"I simply live my life and have a smile, and if this impacts on others positively or creates growing blindness awareness in the circles I'm in, this whole existence is all worthwhile."

As an athletic 15–year–old, Dawson Ko was diagnosed with Behcet's disease, an auto–immune disorder. "As a medical professor outlined the side effects of the medication I had to take in the prospect of becoming blind, I couldn't believe it was happening to me:" he says. Over the next few years he struggled to adapt to a life without sight. But, with the support of his family and Vision Australia, Dawson put his life back on track.

In recent years Dawson devoted much of his spare time to uniting young people who are blind of have low vision online which met with great support. He followed up this success with an online fashion publication, Fashionable Eye for the blind guy… and gal. In March 2007, he became the first Australian who is blind to obtain a black belt in Karate. That same year he was named Pride of Australia Young Aussie and after starred in a television commercial to promote the national Disability Awards.

"At Vision Australia I realised life could be lived without sight" he says, "mobility training began and I started to learn Braille. A vast amount of other lessons were learnt, which all helped me regain self–confidence and self–worth. I knew I could make it after all."

Matt Levy

Matt has had "many mountains to climb" in his life. Born prematurely with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, his determined spirit has enabled him to reach his goals.

Swimming has helped Matt to improve his health. It's also given him the opportunity to travel the world and represent his country at an elite level. He swam for Australia at the Athens 2000 Paralympic Games and more recently at the World Championships in South Africa.

Matt holds the 200m Freestyle World Short Course and 50m Australian breaststroke records.

In January 2005 Matt lost his sight and he is now legally blind.

"This has only made me more determined to succeed... at the Beijing Paralympics," Matt says.

Nona Wakefield

Nona was born without any central vision. During her first days at school she was listed as intellectually disabled, however her blindness was not diagnosed until the age of 10. Unable to read print, Nona understandably struggled at school.

At age 47, she became aware of the services provided by Royal Blind Society, now Vision Australia. From this point Nona's life turned around.

She volunteered in the organisation's braille for six years. Nona then worked on staff as a guest speaker until her retirement in 1996.

Having joined women's blind bowling team in 1976, Nona represented Australia in the Far East and South Pacific Games just three years later. She also took part in both State and National Championships every year from 1979 to 1994, winning 14 gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals in the process. Nona was also president of the Blind Women's Bowling Club for 15 years.

Nona now donates her time to Vision Australia's Speakers' Network, sharing her experiences with school students, businesses and community groups.