Check in and Chat | Vision Australia. Blindness and low vision services

Overview

The Check in and Chat program consists of 6, up to 45-minute telehealth appointments with one of Vision Australia’s highly qualified team to discuss topics including:

The emotional impact of vision loss,
Learning new ways to adjust,
Building support and maintaining social connection,
How to talk to others about vision loss,
Getting back to your meaningful activities.

These appointments can be 1:1 or conducted with a carer to provide support. We also offer the option to tailor one or more of the sessions to be dedicated to your carer.

Did you know?

Up to 45% of people who are blind or have low vision experience feelings of isolation and depression*. The emotional impact of a vision loss diagnosis is something most people experience, but often overlook.

*Focus on Low Vision Research Paper, Center for Eye Research Australia 2007 - 2008.

What can you expect from these sessions?

Speaking with those who understand what you are going through when adjusting to vision loss can be incredibly valuable.

Check in and Chat enables you to talk through your questions, fear and concerns so you can explore different ways to adjust to life with vision loss.

The conversations themselves are self-guided, private and completely tailored to your unique needs and experience.

A Vision Australia client sits as his dining table, wearing a headset as he is in his telehealth appointment.

Getting back to meaningful activities

We’ll discuss and help you to develop strategies so you can continue to do the things you love, just differently. Whether that be reading, painting or playing sport.

A woman with vision loss smiles as she enjoys knitting.

Building support and connection

We'll find ways to connect you, and those around you, to individuals and the broader Vision Australia Community so you can learn from those who have walked in your shoes.

A Vision Australia client uses a digital magnifier as she reads a book.

Explore the emotional impact

Together we'll develop strategies to help you understand and manage your emotional reactions to vision loss and the impact it has on your life.

How much does it cost?

The cost of Vision Australia’s ‘Check in and Chat’ service can be covered by My Aged Care funding, including CHSP. This funding scheme enables you to tailor the support and services needed to achieve desired goals.

If you can't access funding or would like to be involved in activities your funding package does not cover, you can chat to us about other options. This could be as simple as paying a fee for service or helping you find other available funding options.

Learn more about funding

"I didn’t feel embarrassed, but I didn’t think I needed support yet... but we all need it as soon as possible. Don’t wait. I wish I’d have done this 10 years ago, and eased myself into the world that I am in now – which is really, really hard."

— Vision Australia client, 1 year.

The time to start is now

We speak with many new and long term clients who wish they had talked through how they were feeling earlier.

Speak to us about how Check in and Chat can support you to adapt to life with vision loss. Call us on 1300 84 74 66 or enquire online today.

Enquire about Check in and Chat

On this page