The Closing the Gap framework represents a long term national commitment to improving outcomes for First Nations peoples across health, education, employment and life expectancy. Each year, the annual report highlights programs that are delivering measurable progress through culturally appropriate, community focused care.
IRIS plays a critical role in addressing one of Australia’s most preventable health inequities. Rates of avoidable vision impairment and blindness remain significantly higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly in rural and remote regions where access to specialist eye care is limited. Geographic isolation, workforce shortages and systemic barriers often delay diagnosis and treatment.
In response, IRIS delivers specialist eye health services, including cataract surgery, directly within community settings at hospitals across the Territory in collaboration with NT Health. This approach reduces the need for patients to travel long distances and supports continuity of care in a culturally safe and familiar environment.
In 2025 alone, the IRIS program completed 445 eye surgeries, a significant achievement that reflects both the scale of unmet need and the effectiveness of bringing specialist services directly to communities. Each surgery represents not just restored vision, but improved quality of life, greater independence and stronger participation in community and family life.
Vanguard Health is proud to support IRIS through workforce coordination, specialist medical placements and operational support that enables the program to reach communities that would otherwise face significant barriers to accessing care. Our role is focused on ensuring the right clinicians are in the right place at the right time, supported by robust systems and a deep understanding of remote health service delivery.
A key strength of IRIS is its collaborative approach. The program works closely with local health services, community organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure services align with local priorities and are delivered with respect for culture, community leadership and lived experience.
Recognition in the Closing the Gap Annual Report reinforces the importance of sustained investment in programs that deliver practical, measurable outcomes. It also highlights the value of partnerships that combine clinical expertise with strong workforce planning and cultural awareness.
Vanguard Health remains committed to supporting initiatives like IRIS that contribute to closing the health gap through action. We acknowledge the clinicians, coordinators and community partners who make this work possible and recognise the Traditional Owners of the lands on which IRIS services are delivered. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening access to specialist care, supporting health systems in remote regions and continuing to deliver meaningful outcomes for communities across Australia.
To learn more about the closing the gap program, find their annual report here - https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/commonwealth-closing-gap-2025-annual-report-and-2026-implementation-plan