Institute honoured for support of Aboriginal Health College
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| Yvette Waddell, David Kennedy (Acting Chairman, AH&MRC), Prof. Holden, Sandra Bailey, Prof. Layland |
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Sydney, Australia, 22 February 2008: Two long-term supporters of Aboriginal eye health, Professors Brien Holden and Brian Layland, along with the organisation they helped found, the Institute for Eye Research, have been honoured at a special ceremony hosted by the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC).
Professor Holden, CEO of the Institute and Professor Layland, Institute Chair, were both recognised for their ‘outstanding efforts in support of the development of the Aboriginal Health College’ by the AH&MRC. The college is the realisation of a long-standing vision of the AH&MRC to enhance Aboriginal health by placing Aboriginal health education in Aboriginal hands.
Sandra Bailey, CEO of the AH&MRC, presented Professors Holden and Layland with Certificates of Appreciation on behalf of the Aboriginal Health College. Professor Layland, also Director of the NSW Aboriginal Eye Care Programme with the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), spoke about being honoured by the AH&MRC. He said, ‘The AH&MRC do a great job and have established a tremendous programme. We’ve been involved with them since 1999 and our relationship has always been a good one.’
At the college Aboriginal educators will conduct courses ranging from entry level qualifications to university degrees and diplomas for Aboriginal health workers, nurses and allied health professionals, on site and through distance education.
Yvette Waddell, Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for Eye Research, accepted a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Institute. She said, “It’s a great part of my job to be involved in such a worthwhile project and it allows our staff to be exposed to projects that have a lasting impact on the community.”
Professor Layland added, ‘The Board thanked us for our support. We in turn recognised that the Aboriginal eye care programme, that we jointly work on, has been a great success and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the AH&MRC.’
The Institute was instrumental in securing a grant of $1.5 million from the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, which allowed the project to go ahead. Construction of the Aboriginal Health College has recently commenced, with completion due in January, 2009.
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