Victorian children have received 10,000 free pairs of glasses, giving them the best chance to succeed at school.
The Glasses for Kids program provides free vision screening and, if needed, further testing and free glasses to participating Prep to Year 3 students.
Families can save up to $600 depending on the vision issue.
By supporting students with undiagnosed vision impairments, Glasses for Kids is helping students achieve their best at school and beyond.
It has transformed learning for students like Toby, a Year 7 student at the Victorian College of the Deaf, who couldn’t access an optometry clinic without an Auslan interpreter.
This program, run by State Schools’ Relief, brought the eye test to his school, revealing short-sightedness, dramatically improving his ability to see and communicate.
“Vision shouldn’t be a barrier to learning,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll said.
“Too many kids fall behind in school because of undiagnosed and treatable vision problems, and 10,000 students now have the glasses they need to stay focused and succeed.”
The State Government-funded program is now available to 770 eligible schools and 74,000 more Prep to Year 3 students through to 2027.
During the 2024 school year, Glasses for Kids visited 110 schools, screened more than 6700 students, and dispensed more than 1800 free pairs of glasses.
