Become a Friend of ACO Eye Health

Your organisation can help provide eye care to those most in need.

For many communities in Victoria, eye care is out of reach due to cost, or cultural, physical or social barriers. Your support can help change this.

Friends of ACO Eye Health is a community of optometry practices, optical businesses and industry partners helping make quality eye care accessible to all communities, no matter their background or circumstances. Organisations that sign up as Friends of ACO Eye Health receive recognition and are invited to share their support with customers.

Your support helps our outreach optometry services reach underserved communities, including people experiencing homelessness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, refugees and seekers of asylum, and others facing disadvantage in our communities.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Make an impact

Share with your customers

Tax deductible

Become a Friend of ACO Eye Health

Choose your annual support

$300

Can support the cost of 30 pairs of single-vision glasses to people experiencing homelessness.

$600

Can support a family of four with an asylum seeker background access eye exams and single-vision glasses.

$1,500

Can support a three day outreach trip to people living in remote Victorian communities.

$3,000

Can support a full-day clinic for people experiencing homelessness, living with disability or refugees and asylum seekers.

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Your Details

Individual Organisation

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Last Name *

Email Address *

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UnitStreet Number

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State

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$0.00

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Why Outreach services need the support

Outreach services have grown to 300+ site per year, helping over 3,800 people annually

Cost of delivering care has more than doubled from $108 per patient in 2018 to $233 in 2025

Each week, we receive requests for outreach care that we cannot fulfil due to limited funding.

Honouring our Friends

As a token of appreciation, your organisation will receive recognition based on your selected tier.

ALLY

✔️Certificate of Support

✔️Recognition on ACO website

✔️Tax deductable receipt

✔️Bi-annual updates

ADVOCATE

✔️Certificate of Support

✔️Recognition on ACO website

✔️Tax deductable receipt
✔️Bi-annual updates

✔️Shopfront decal

✔️Digital badge for website

LEADER

✔️Certificate of Support

✔️Recognition on ACO website

✔️Tax deductable receipt
✔️Quarterly updates

✔️Shopfront decal

✔️Digital badge for website
✔️Digital badge for email signatures & social media

✔️Recognition in ACO Member news

CHAMPION

✔️Certificate of Support

✔️Recognition on ACO website

✔️Tax deductable receipt
✔️Quarterly updates

✔️Shopfront decal

✔️Digital badge for website
✔️Digital badge for email signatures & social media

✔️Recognition in ACO Member news

✔️Plaque of Support

✔️Practice staff discount for ACO CPD

✔️Invite to attend outreach clinic

How your support helps

Our Outreach Programs work to reach those who need us most. Without outreach optometry care, thousands of individuals would not receive the eye care they require to see and live well.

Reaching people living in Supported Residential Services

Our outreach program proudly serves two out of three Supported Residential Services (SRS) sites across Victoria, delivering eye care to residents who face health or mental health challenges and are unable to access mainstream care.

Yan, Manager at Achmore Lodge in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, is passionate about providing supportive, compassionate care to residents.

“At this time, we're looking after 21 people ranging in age from 24 to 86, including residents with complex health concerns, mental health issues, alcoholism, homelessness and schizophrenia. It is quite challenging, but I believe with the right people around we can support them and provide the right care.

I do notice [when they are struggling with vision]; they will fall and it’s difficult to see that. [With their glasses,] I can see them drawing, I can see them watching TV, but they're not squinting like they were before. They can play bingo now because they can see numbers!

Please don't stop coming, because it’s very important.”

Learn more

Caring for people experiencing homelessness

Wendy is currently unhoused and regularly attends the Salvation Army’s Project 614 site for meals and support. Living with diabetes, she understands the importance of regular eye checks, but she is unable to access mainstream services due to cost.

“[Without glasses] I get headaches, I get migraines; I’d probably end up in hospital.

If I can't see two feet in front of me, it's going to be a very difficult lifestyle and that's not the type of life I want to live. It's hard enough being homeless to be honest."

With your support, we can continue to care for people like Wendy, who would otherwise go without eye care.

Learn more

You are helping deliver

Comprehesive eye tests

Equitable choice in quality glasses

Eye health education

Ocular disease management & care

Complex prescription solutions

Compassionate dignified care

Our Partners

FAQs

Is our donation tax-deductible?

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The Australian College of Optmetrry Ltd has Deductible Gift Receipient (DGR) status, so any donations over $2 is tax deductible in Australia.

How will the donation be used?

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Your donation will directly support the cost of delivering vital outreach eye care services to underserved communities, including people experiencing homelessness, First Nations Australians, refugees, and others facing disadvantage.

For more information you can read ACO's Fundraising and Donations Policy here

Is Friend of ACO Eye Health an automatic recurring donation?

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No, it will not automatically renew for the following year.

The Friend of ACO Eye Health program is an annual renewable subscription. You can decide not to continue by not renewing when the annual period ends.

Where can we find the donation receipt?

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A receipt will automatically be sent to the registered email as you make a donation. If you have not received it please contact our team on fundraising@aco.org.au

Other ways to support

Industry Partnerships

Donate

Become an ACO Member

Leave a gift in your will

Contact Us

+61 3 9349 7578 | fundraising@aco.org.au