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Visiting Optometrists Scheme

National Priority Locations

The national priority locations have been determined by the Department of Health and Ageing in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including Optometrists Association Australia, Vision 2020 and the relevant State and Northern Territory governments.

Please note that the National Priorities List has been updated as at 20 May 2011 and supersedes all earlier versions.
PDF printable version of the Visiting Optometrists Scheme List of Priority Locations (PDF 131 KB)

National Priority Locations for the Visiting Optometrists Scheme

Effective from 1 July 2011

Table of Contents
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Note to Applicants

Information regarding the selection of the VOS Element – Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (Reference: Section 5.3 of Program Guidelines)

From a historical perspective under the VOS, services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been funded under Core VOS since 1975. In 2009, with the introduction of the Improving Eye and Ear Health Services for Indigenous Australians for Better Education and Employment Outcomes measure, funding was provided to enable an expansion of the VOS, to provide new and increased numbers of optometrist visits to Indigenous Australians in remote and very remote Indigenous communities.

While the updated listing of national priority locations provides for VOS element specific locations, applicants should note that VOS services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may be funded from either the Core VOS element or the VOS Expansion for Indigenous Australians element.

Under the VOS Expansion element, it is not intended to take services for Indigenous Australians away from the Core VOS element, but provide for new and increased services. Services provided to areas with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people should continue to apply for Core VOS.

New South Wales

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA4 - Coolabah - High
RA3 - Moulamein - Medium
RA3 - Wentworth - Medium
RA2 - Deniliquin - Medium

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Goodooga - High
RA5 - Ivanhoe - High
RA5 - Wanaaring - High
RA4 - Coonamble - High
RA4 - Mungindi - High
RA4 - Nyngan - High
RA3 - Broken Hill - High
RA3 - Condobolin - High
RA3 - Coonabarabran - High
RA3 - Dunedoo - High
RA3 - Gilgandra - High
RA3 - Inverell - High
RA3 - Narrandera - High
RA3 - Tenterfield - High
RA3 - Tingah - High
RA3 - Toomelah - High
RA3 - Walhollow - High
RA3 - Warren - High
RA3 - Wellington - High
RA3 - Boggabilla - Medium
RA2 - Brungle - High Top of page
RA2 - Collarenabri - Medium

Northern Territory

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

Central Australian Region

RA5 - Mutitjulu / Yulara - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)

Darwin Region

RA4 - Adelaide River - High
RA4 - Batchelor - High
RA4 - Jabiru - High

High East Arnhem Region

RA5 - Alyangula - High

Katherine Region

RA5 - Alyangula - High

Katherine Region

RA5 - Mataranka - High
RA4 - Pine Creek - High

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

Central Australian Region

RA5 - Apatula (Finke) - High
RA5 - Alcoota - High
RA5 - Imanpa - High
RA5 - King’s Canyon/ Ukaka - High
RA5 - Mutitjulu / Yulara - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA5 - Neutral Junction/ Tara - High
RA5 - Nyrripi - High
RA5 - Titjikala - High
RA5 - Yuelamu - High
RA5 - Yuendumu - High

Darwin Region

RA5 - Minjilang - High
RA5 - Pirlangimpi - High
RA4 - Woolaning - Low

Katherine Region

RA5 - Bulman - High
RA5 - Minyeri - High
RA5 - Robinson River - High

Barkly Region

RA5 - Canteen Creek - High
RA5 - Epenarra - High

Queensland

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement. Top of page

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Hughenden - High
RA5 - Quilpie - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA5 - Richmond - High
RA4 - Wallumbilla - High
RA3 - Mossman Gorge - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA3 - Charters Towers - Medium (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Aurukun - High
RA5 - Badu Island - High
RA5 - Bamaga - High
RA5 - Bedourie - High
RA5 - Bedourie - High
RA5 - Birdsville - High
RA5 - Bollon - High
RA5 - Boulia - High
RA5 - Burketown - High
RA5 - Camooweal - High
RA5 - Coconut Island - High
RA5 - Coen - High
RA5 - Croydon - High
RA5 - Dajarra - High
RA5 (offshore) - Darnley Island - High
RA5 - Doomadgee - High
RA5 - Georgetown - High
RA5 - Hebel - High
RA5 - Horn Island - High
RA5 - Injinoo - High
RA5 - Julia Creek - High
RA5 - Karumba - High
RA5 - Kowanyama - High
RA5 - Lockhart River - High
RA5 - Mabuiag Island - High
RA5 - Mapoon - High
RA5 - McKinlay - High
RA5 - Moa Island - High
RA5 - Mornington Island - High
RA5 - Murray Island - High
RA5 - Napranum - High
RA5 - New Mapoon - High
RA5 - Normanton - High
RA5 - Pormpuraaw - High
RA5 - Quilpie - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA5 - Saibai Island - High
RA5 - Thargomindah - High
RA5 - Thursday Island - High
RA5 - Umagico - High
RA5 (offshore) - Warraber Island (Formally Sue Island) - High
RA5 - Weipa - High
RA5 - Windorah - High
RA5 (offshore) - Yam Island - High
RA5 - Yorke Island - High
RA4 - Chillagoe - High
RA4 - Cloncurry - High
RA4 - Cooktown - High
RA4 - Hope Vale - High
RA4 - Laura - High
RA4 - Palm Island - High
RA4 - Seisea - High
RA4 - Thallon - High
RA4 - Woorabinda - High
RA4 - Wujal Wujal - High
RA4 - Dirranbandi - Medium
RA4 - Mt Isa - Low
RA3 - Mamu (Ravenshoe) - High
RA3 - Mossman Gorge - High (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA3 - Mulungu (Mareeba) - High
RA3 - Yarrabah - High
RA3 - Charters Towers - Medium (Can be considered for both Core VOS Element and VOS Indigenous Expansion Element)
RA2 - Cherbourg - High
RA2 - Bundaberg - Low
RA2 - Hervey Bay - Low Top of page
RA2 - Toowoomba - Low

South Australia

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Cleve - High
RA5 - Cowell - High
RA5 - Kimba - High
RA5 - Mintabie - High

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Ceduna - High
RA5 - Koonibba - High
RA5 - Nyapari - High
RA5 - Pipalyatjara - High
RA5 - Raukkan - High
RA5 - Wataruu - High

Tasmania

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA3 - Bruny Island - Low
RA3 - Maydena - Low
RA3 - Dover - Medium
RA3 - Ouse - Medium

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA3 - St Helens - Medium

Victoria

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA4 - Mallacoota - High
RA3 - Bright - High
RA3 - Mt Beauty - High
RA3 - Ouyen - Medium
RA3 - Timboon - Medium
RA2 - Cobden - Low

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA3 - Bairnsdale - Medium
RA3 - Halls Gap - Medium
RA3 - Heywood - Medium
RA3 - Horsham - Medium
RA3 - Kerang - Medium
RA2 - Sale - Medium
RA2 - Shepparton - High
RA2 - Wangoom - Medium
RA2 - Warrnambool - Medium
RA2 - Wodonga - Medium

Western Australia

Note to Applicants: These locations may be subject to further refinement.

Core VOS Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

No priority locations identified

VOS Indigenous Expansion Element

ASGC-RA # / Priority Location / Priority Level

RA5 - Coonana - High
RA4 - Kununurra - High
RA5 - Newman - Medium - High
RA5 - Onslow - High Top of page