WA's blind and vision impaired set to benefit from $6million donation

28/5/04
Premier Geoff Gallop today announced a grant of up to $6million to the Association for the Blind of WA.
The money will be used for the construction of urgently needed new facilities at the association's main site in Victoria Park.
Funded by the State Government through Lotterywest, the grant is the single largest donation in Lotterywest's 71-year history.
Dr Gallop said the capital grant would improve the quality of life by providing increased services, resources and advances in technology for WA's growing population of people who were blind or vision impaired.
"The State Government is proud to support services that will improve the quality of life for all people in the community, especially those who are suffering from disabilities," he said.
The Premier said a Lotterywest grant for $2million would be made to the association in this financial year, with an in-principle commitment of an additional $2.5million for the 2004-05 financial year.
Lotterywest had also committed a further $1.5million on the condition that the association raised an equivalent amount through its fundraising campaign.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of people living with blindness or vision impairment in Western Australia is set to increase from 25,000 to more than 39,000 by 2016, with children and elders most at risk.
Specifically, the incidence of blindness among children will increase by 12 per cent, taking the total number of children receiving services directly from the association from 600 to nearly 700 annually.
The redevelopment of the association's Victoria Park site was identified as one of the strategic priorities of the organisation to provide for the increased demand of services.
Chief executive officer for the Association for the Blind of WA Dr Margaret Crowley said the grant would ensure that WA remained at the forefront in Australia in providing a better quality of life for people who were blind or vision impaired.
"The association has been very privileged to have the ongoing support of Lotterywest over the last 71 years and understands and embraces the importance of partnerships with Lotterywest and other agencies in the future to improve services for the WA community," Dr Crowley said.
"This donation will help us in providing the best facility of its kind in Australia and will ensure we meet the needs of the growing number of people who are blind or vision impaired.
"The new facilities will help provide rehabilitation and early intervention programs that will make a real difference to the health, fitness and well-being of people who are blind or severely vision impaired."
Dr Crowley said there was a growing change in community perceptions in providing services to people who were blind or vision impaired away from being seen as simply a 'charity' issue.
"It is now recognised as a significant social issue, causing major adverse health outcomes, with profound social and financial consequences for the whole community," she said.
The association applied to Lotterywest for a $6million grant to complete the works, which Lotterywest will match $1.5million dollar-for-dollar.
Dr Crowley said the additional $1.5million in donations was essential for the association to build all the elements of the new facility, particularly a new Centre for Children.
Current facilities at Victoria Park Association headquarters were established in 1923 and primarily consist of office space, limiting the opportunities to provide services.
Construction of the $14million redevelopment is planned to commence later this year and will be shared by other community-based groups.
The new facilities will provide State-wide services including a Technology, Training and Employment Centre; Braille and Talking Book Library; a Community Education and Training Centre; Guide Dog Discovery Centre; Confident Living Centre (including recreation hall and gymnasium); and a special Centre for Children.
The Association for the Blind of WA operates on fundraising, bequests and the generosity of the WA community with less than half its income from State and Commonwealth Government subsidies. To discuss donations or volunteering, please call (08) 9311 8202 or visit http://www.abwa.asn.au
Premier's office - 9222 9475