Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker
Congratulations to Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker for being selected to deliver the second annual Barry Jones Vision Oration. The oration was released on 8 December on the Vision 2020 Australia website.
A proud Yuggera and Biri-Gubba man, A/Prof Rallah-Baker is a highly respected ophthalmologist and is one of the founding members of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, a Board Director of the Royal Flying Doctors Service, technical advisor to the Fred Hollows Foundation and Chair of the Vision 2020 Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee.
A/Prof Rallah-Baker made history becoming Australia’s first Indigenous ophthalmologist while working on the Lions Outback Vision Van. The Queensland doctor was based with Lions Outback Vision – the outreach arm of the Lions Eye Institute – in 2018. He completed his formal training through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology in June the same year. Interviewed after completing his training, A/Prof Rallah-Baker said his patients were excited to see an Indigenous face on the other side of the slit lamp during eye examinations.
“It brings them great pride and joy to know that Indigenous peoples are achieving across all fields and expressing the opinions and cultural perspectives from within organisations to help improve lives,” he said.
“Being the first Indigenous ophthalmologist in Australia is of enormous importance, both symbolically and practically, because it breaks barriers that were once seen as impossible.”
While in Western Australia, A/Prof Rallah-Baker worked in outreach ophthalmology on the Lions Outback Vision Van – a mobile eye health clinic that travels all over the state delivering care for people with a range of eye conditions, including cataract, glaucoma, trachoma and diabetic retinopathy. Lions Outback Vision McCusker Director, Associate Professor Angus Turner said the formal completion of A/Prof Rallah-Baker’s ophthalmology training was a significant moment for the Indigenous community.
“Kris is already making a big impact on the profession as a leader and advocate,” he said.
“With Indigenous Australians three times more likely to be blind than the general Australian population, Kris’ voice will help focus attention on this significant public health issue.”
A/Prof Rallah-Baker is optimistic about the future of Indigenous eye health and believes partnerships will ultimately close the eye health gap in Australia.
“The Lions Outback Vision model is an exceptional example of the correct way to deliver appropriate, culturally safe services to rural and remote communities. There are many wonderful non-Indigenous doctors providing outstanding services to Indigenous peoples and communities – Angus Turner being a leader in ophthalmology,” he said.
“Ultimately, Indigenous health is about a partnership and working together between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Each party brings a different perspective to health care and solving the complexities of Indigenous health.”
View the 2021 Barry Jones Vision Oration, or download the transcript.
