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Macular Disease Foundation Australia

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Macular Disease Foundation Australia

MDFA is a charity committed to reducing the impact of macular disease in Australia.

MDFA is committed to reducing the impact of macular disease in Australia, including age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness in Australia.

07/04/2026

Happy World Health Day

Today, we stand with science and the life-changing impact that investing in research can bring.

At Macular Disease Foundation Australia, supporting science means investing in research to discover new treatments to protect sight, and improves outcomes for people living with macular disease.

Since launching our Research Grants Program in 2011, we’ve invested $6.9 million into 42 Australian research projects, making MDFA the largest non-government funder of macular disease research in Australia.

Standing with science also means standing up for access to affordable treatment and care. Recently, community-led advocacy secured a major win, ensuring people with private health insurance can continue to claim sight-saving eye injection services. This protects access, and makes treatment more affordable for more than 12,200 Australians who rely on this ongoing care.

This outcome was made possible by the voices of over 500 community members who spoke up and shared their stories.

On World Health Day, we’re proud to support science, fund research, and advocate for equitable access to treatment.

Image Description:
From a recent event celebrating 25 years of Macular Disease Foundation Australia and acknowledging the community advocacy win that stopped planned MBS changes to claiming private health insurance for eye injections.

Ms Libby Coker MP , Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health, CEO of Macular Disease Foundation Dr. Kathy Chapman and the Hon White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care.

02/04/2026

Our office will be closed from today (3rd April) and will reopen on 7th April. If you have any eye health concerns, please contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
If it’s an emergency, call 000 or go to an Emergency Room.

02/04/2026

As we celebrated 25 years of Macular Disease Foundation Australia earlier this week, we were reminded of the incredible contribution so many people have made to our cause over the years.

Thank you to our Patron Ita Buttrose AC OBE, Founding Director Dr Paul Beaumont AM, our panel, supporters and community members who joined us at this special event.

We’re proud of what’s been achieved and remain committed to our work helping Australians to keep the gift of sight.

31/03/2026

Today we celebrated a major milestone – 25 years of Macular Disease Foundation Australia.

At a special anniversary event at the State Library of NSW, our Founding Director Dr Paul Beaumont AM and Patron Ita Buttrose AC OBE reflected on how far we’ve come in awareness, treatment and support for people living with macular disease.

From life‑changing breakthroughs to the everyday courage of our community, the past 25 years have been about one thing: helping Australians keep the gift of sight.

Read more: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/shining-a-light-on-25-years-of-progress/

25/03/2026

At Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s 25th anniversary event at Parliament House, former NSW Health Minister the Hon Jillian Skinner MP shared her personal story of living with macular disease.

Jillian spoke about the financial sacrifices many older Australians make to preserve their sight, and the pressure on public hospitals that simply can’t keep up with demand.

Jillian’s message was clear: no one should lose vision because they can’t afford treatment.

Macular Disease Foundation is deeply grateful for Jillian’s ongoing leadership and advocacy as an Ambassador.

Read more: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/jillian-skinner-calls-for-urgent-action-on-affordable-eye-injections/

24/03/2026

“Your advocacy for people living with macular disease is absolutely vital in raising awareness and shaping better eye health initiatives,” said Federal Health Minister, the Hon. Mark Butler MP.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia thanks the Federal Health Minister for his message of support at a recent Parliament House event in Canberra.

We remain committed to working with the Federal Government to improve access and affordability of sight-saving macular disease treatment.

For more on the event and to watch the Federal Health Minister’s video message, please click here: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/celebrating-25-years-of-impact-at-parliament-house/

23/03/2026

What a day at Parliament House. We celebrated 25 years of Macular Disease Foundation Australia and our mission to protect the sight of Australians living with macular disease.

This special event brought together parliamentarians, clinicians, eye sector leaders and our macular disease community.

A diverse group with a unified message:
Vision loss is an unacceptable cost.

We also celebrated a big win for community advocacy - stopping the planned MBS changes to claiming private health insurance for eye injections.

Our sincere thanks to Libby Coker MP and Senator the Hon Jane Hume, co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health, for their strong advocacy and for hosting the event, and to the Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, for her valued support.

Read more: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/celebrating-25-years-of-impact-together/

Image Description:
CEO of Macular Disease Foundation Dr. Kathy Chapman and the Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care.
Ms Libby Coker MP, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health. The Hon Senator Jane Hume, the Hon Jillian Skinner MP AM, CEO of Macular Disease Foundation Dr. Kathy Chapman, Ms Libby Coker MP and Ms Trish Cook MP.
Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health.
The Hon Mark Butler MP, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing.
The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care.

22/03/2026

Proposed changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) would have stopped thousands of Australians like Pamela using their private health insurance to pay for sight-saving eye injections.

Thanks to strong community advocacy, this eye-health crisis has been avoided. Pamela’s letter was one of 500 that Macular Disease Foundation Australia took to Canberra – and the proposed changes have now been scrapped.

Together, we were heard.

Learn more about our Vision Loss is an Unacceptable Cost campaign and how we continue to advocate for affordable treatment: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/resources/the-autumn-edition-of-our-2026-newsletter-is-out-now/

21/03/2026

We were delighted to partner with Northern Beaches Cataract Retina Glaucoma and Quantum RLV to host a community event focused on empowering people with low vision.

Attendees enjoyed learning about practical tips and tricks to support greater independence at home, along with the chance to explore a range of low vision devices available.

We also proudly launched our new Eye Connect resources, designed to increase awareness and understanding about changes in vision.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success.

Learn more about our free Eye Connect support service that helps you live well with macular disease - https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/support-me/support-services/eyeconnect/

Image1: Dr Andrew Kaines, Krystie Alfaro from Quantum RLV, Monica Patel and Victoria Heaton from MDFA at the Brookvale community session.

Image 2: Community members trailing low vision aids and browsing new resources.

Image 3: New resources on display at the event

20/03/2026

Thanks to strong community advocacy, planned changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) that could have increased out‑of‑pocket costs for more than 12,200 Australians receiving eye injections did not go ahead.

At Macular Disease Foundation Australia, we believe no one should lose their vision because treatment is unaffordable - and together, our voices made a difference.

As part of our Vision Loss is an Unacceptable Cost advocacy campaign, we called on the Federal Government to delay the proposed MBS changes until reforms could be made to ensure equitable and affordable access to eye injection treatment nationwide. With the support of our community, including more than 500 letters delivered to Canberra, we helped stop these changes from proceeding.

Learn more about our Vision Loss is an Unacceptable Cost campaign and how we continue to advocate for affordable treatment and your voice to be heard in Parliament: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/resources/the-autumn-edition-of-our-2026-newsletter-is-out-now/

12/03/2026

We welcome the Federal Government’s decision not to proceed with the Medicare changes that would have stopped people using private health insurance for sight‑saving eye injections in day surgery facilities or private eye hospitals.

This outcome is thanks to our dedicated community – over 500 people shared letters and stories highlighting the financial burden of ongoing treatment.

A big win, but our work continues. We’ll keep advocating for affordable, accessible eye injections for all.

Read more on our website - https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/community-action-keeps-eye-injections-accessible-for-people-with-private-health-insurance/

07/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we recognise the strength, dedication, and impact of:

Women living with macular disease: almost two thirds of people being treated for macular disease in Australia are women. We celebrate your resilience, courage, and empowerment.

Carers: wives, daughters, friends, and supporters provide essential daily care. Your compassion helps your loved ones live with confidence and dignity.

Researchers: 64% of MDFA funded researchers are women who are leading groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Their innovation and commitment bring us closer to new treatments and hope for future breakthroughs.

Today and every day, let’s empower all women with the support, information, and care they need to live well with a macular disease.

[Image Description: Celebrating International Women’s Day featuring diverse women.]

Address

Mezzanine, 383 Kent Street
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611800111709

Website

https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/

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