29/05/2025
Although we'd like to think that what we do makes people see and function at their best - there are some of our patients with severe eye disease who still suffer from LOW VISION
This initiative from SeeWay will be of interest.
SeeWay has launched to eye care professionals.
New national service launched to support Australians with low vision.
The national launch of SeeWay has marked a powerful new chapter in the support landscape for Australians with permanent low vision. Developed by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and informed by years of research and lived experience co-design, SeeWay is already being embraced by eye care professionals as a long-awaited solution to a glaring service gap.
Unlike existing models of care, SeeWay is designed for the more than 70,000 people who don’t meet criteria for funded services but still live every day with the impact of permanent vision loss. These are patients whose vision may be stable but whose daily lives remain profoundly affected - emotionally, socially and practically.
SeeWay General Manager Mirné le Roux said “SeeWay exists to wrap practical, personalised, no-gap support around the people who need it most. But it only works when our eye care professional partners connect patients to it. They can do this by simply directing their patients to
www.seeway.com.au
We know the best outcomes happen when we work together”.
There’s no formal referral process – eye care professionals simply direct patients to www.seeway.com.au to register themselves. The online resource brings information and low vision support together in the one place and is fully client-led. Some may want help adjusting emotionally, others might want digital skills coaching, and others may just need the right information and pathway. Services will continue to expand and evolve, with new content added weekly. SeeWay clients can access:
• Professional, no-gap counselling (with GP referral)
• Personalised digital skills training
• Curated resources tailored to their diagnosis
• Pathways to trusted condition-specific support organisations or local one-on-one low vision services
SeeWay Marketing Manager Nadine McArthur said “What makes SeeWay different is that it doesn’t assume what people need. It listens first and then tailors support that truly fits their personal lifestyle and goals. No two people experience vision changes in the same way.”
With the national rollout now underway, SeeWay is already changing lives. As word spreads, the hope is that more Australians living with permanent low vision can stop just coping and start living well.
SeeWay Business Development Manager Monica Lette said “SeeWay is different because it focuses purely on holistic lifestyle support – not clinical advice or treatment. We’re here to complement the work of eye care professionals, not replace it. Some eye care professionals are already telling us what a difference it’s made to their patients when the medical journey is underway, but the day-to-day life adjustment is only just beginning.”
As part of its mission, SeeWay is also building a rich library of lived experience stories and practical insights – giving voice to the everyday realities of life with low vision and creating a safe space so people don't have to rely on online search results for answers that often miss the mark.
SeeWay Writer Holly Kelly explains: “At SeeWay, we’re not just sharing information - we’re telling the stories that often go unheard. Low vision isn’t a special need, it’s part of the human experience for many Australians, and accessibility should be part of everyday life. We write with heart and honesty, drawing on lived experience, expert insights, and a deep respect for the realities people face. Your patients might be interested in reading about how the brain rewires itself during vision loss (neuroplasticity), or what’s involved in accessing audio descriptions at the cinema, or maybe they want tips on something as simple and important as making a cup of tea with low vision. This information may not fit into a clinical consult. That’s the space we hold.”
To learn more or guide a patient to self-register, visit www.seeway.com.au
About SeeWay
SeeWay was created by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to meet a growing, urgent need - one that was too often overlooked. Every year, thousands of Australians begin losing their vision. Many are not legally blind, and do not qualify for any formal support.
For more than 60 years, Guide Dogs has been by the side of Australians with vision loss – helping people of all ages live independently, safely and with confidence.
SeeWay is the next chapter in this legacy; a bold, timely step to support Australians earlier, more holistically, and nationally at no cost. Experiencing changes in your vision can be life changing, but with the right support, no Australian should face it on their own.
SeeWay is here to provide guidance, resources, and support tailored to individuals facing changes in vision.
