BLVNZ is pulling out of the Southern Vision Bus project

Blind Low Vision NZ (BLVNZ) has pulled the plug on its joint venture with Rotary to fund and operate a Southern Vision Bus.

While a mobile unit is a great idea, BLVNZ is not the right organisation to run it, said BLVNZ CEO Andrea Midgen. “Vision screening and providing glasses is not our job. Our job is to support people who have vision loss and adapt their daily living environment to their needs. The decision to cancel this project was also about funding and our other priorities, but ultimately, I think we need to be very careful that we stick to our knitting and focus on service delivery to get the best outcomes for our clients.”

However, Midgen said she still thinks there’s a role for BLVNZ to play in the preventative space. “BLVNZ is a part of Eye Health Aotearoa and working through them and with consumer organisations, we can help lobby for eye health initiatives, share ideas, support school programmes and raise awareness.”

BLVNZ CEO Andrea Midgen

Low-vision optometrist and Rotary member John Veale, who had been pushing for a Southern mobile unit for a long time, declined to comment. The $14,000 Rotary raised to support BLVNZ in the South Island was re-allocated to the local ‘Paws for Purpose’ initiative late last year.

Filling gaps

Following a period of internal turmoil and transformational work, Midgen acknowledged support-staff levels have been challenging the over last few years, with the South Island being hardest hit. However, pending one visa application approval, all the client-support vacancies – North region (three) Central region (two) and Southern region (10) – have now been filled, she said. These roles are primarily rehab instructors, followed by adaptive technology specialists and other client-support staff. They have been very difficult to recruit, especially rehab instructors, given that there is no comprehensive training in New Zealand, said Midgen. To improve future availability of trained staff, BLVNZ is scoping out an apprenticeship programme for rehab instructors, complementing the Massey University Rehabilitation Studies course, she said.