Thousands more South Aussies are getting access to affordable prescription glasses thanks to major changes to the State Government’s GlassesSA program, with demand increasing across regional and remote communities.
The expanded initiative, funded through the Department of Human Services, is helping break down barriers to essential eye care, making sure more people can access glasses without the stress of complicated paperwork or high costs.
From children being able to properly see the whiteboard at school, to older residents maintaining independence and staying connected to their communities, the program is helping people participate more fully in everyday life.
Recent reforms to the scheme have already seen a significant jump in uptake, particularly among Aboriginal communities, where applications increased by 37 per cent during the 2024–25 financial year compared to the previous year.
The changes were introduced following feedback from optometrists working across regional and remote South Australia, who identified that many eligible people were struggling to access support due to unnecessary administrative hurdles.
Under the updated system, Aboriginal customers now only need to confirm their name and eligible concession card, helping remove issues caused by mismatched addresses or Centrelink records.
Eligibility has also expanded to include more vulnerable South Australians, including children and young people in care, as well as asylum seekers through accepted concession cards.
At the same time, the process has been simplified for all applicants, with Pensioner Concession Cards, Health Care Cards and Low-Income Health Care Cards now accepted regardless of payment type.
Human Services Minister Katrine Hildyard said, “Accessing what you need for clear vision is not a luxury; it’s fundamental to dignity, independence and the ability to fully participate in everyday life.
“Particularly for people in regional and remote communities, access to glasses can be much harder than it should be and GlassesSA is helping address any gaps.”
The program is also extending its reach into some of the state’s most remote communities, including the APY Lands, through mobile outreach services and a newly introduced postage subsidy for optometrists travelling to regional areas.
Since January alone, more than 200 postage subsidies have already been delivered to help make sure glasses can reach people living remotely.
Community Eyecare mobile optometrist Ben Hamlyn said, “In the first three months since these changes came into effect, our organisation would normally expect about 50 to 60 applications for glasses that we would not be able to progress through the system.
“The recent changes have significantly improved access to glasses by expanding the scope of eligible payments and enabling more people, such as students, to obtain the glasses they need.”
More than 100 participating optometrists are now part of the GlassesSA network across metropolitan and regional South Australia, with standard glasses available from as little as $25 for single vision lenses. Eligible Aboriginal South Australians can also access standard glasses free of charge.
Importantly, customers don’t need to fill out lengthy forms, they simply present their concession card at a participating optometrist. For many South Australians, it’s a small change that’s helping them see a much brighter future.
