ANNUAL REPORT 2009 SAVING SIGHT: 195,406 EYE OPERATIONS AND TREATMENTS IN 2009 www.hollows.org.au NEW HOPE IN KENYA Four year old Kipar was born with cataracts in both of his eyes, making it almost impossible for him to do simple things such as walk to wash himself at the nearest water supply. Following sight saving surgery at the Nakuru Eye Clinic in Kenya, Kipar could see clearly for the fi rst time. His family was delighted, knowing that Kipar can now attend school and have the same opportunities as other children his age. Photo: Hugh Rutherford OUR VISION OUR ORGANISATIONAL GOALS The vision of The Fred Hollows Foundation is for a The Fred Hollows Foundation strives to achieve four world where no one is needlessly blind, and Indigenous key goals: Australians enjoy the same health and life expectancy as other Australians. 1. End avoidable blindness in the communities and countries where we work. 2. Improve the life chances and choices of Indigenous OUR INSPIRATION Australians through improving their health. Our organisation is inspired by Professor Fred Hollows 3. Work through strong partnerships and cross-sector (1929-1993). Fred was an eye doctor, a skilled surgeon collaborations – at local, national and global levels. of international renown and a social justice activist who 4. Build a strong and dynamic organisation, capable championed the right of all people to high quality and of facilitating effective eye and Indigenous health affordable eye care and to good health. programs and having a positive impact on public opinion, policies and practices. WHO WE ARE We are an agent for development in Australia and internationally. We focus on blindness prevention and Australian Indigenous health. We are independent, non- profi t, politically unaligned and secular. CONTENTS The objective of the Australian Government’s aid Prime Minister’s Message 3 program, delivered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), is to assist developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve Chair’s Report 4 sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interest. In 2009, AusAID contributed funding towards CEO’s Report 6 The Fred Hollows Foundation’s programs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Eritrea, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Highlights 7 Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Vietnam. Where We Work 15 The Fred Hollows Foundation is a member of the Australian Council for Our Partners 20 International Development (ACFID) and a signatory to the ACFID Code Thank You 21 of Conduct. The Code requires non-government development organisations, such as The Foundation, Governance 24 to meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and fi nancial management. The The Board of Directors 25 Foundation’s adherence to the Code demonstrates our commitment to ethical practice in our operations in Financial Overview 27 Australia and internationally. More information about the Code can be obtained from The Foundation or ACFID. Message from Gabi Hollows 32 Visit www.acfi d.asn.au or phone +61 2 6285 1816 for more information. In 2009 The Foundation was guided by our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), representing our ongoing commitment to embrace, respect and promote Australian Indigenous culture, rights and perspectives. Our RAP is available at www.hollows.org.au Front cover photo: www.fetting.com.au This report is printed by Peachy Print on environmentally friendly paper made using responsible forestry practices. www.hollows.org.au | ANNUAL REPORT 2009 | The Fred Hollows Foundation 1 GEORGE AND MARGARET’S STORY George and Margaret are from Elburgon, a small town They began their journey together to the Nakuru clinic about 40 km from Nakuru in the Rift Valley Province which is The Fred Hollows Foundation’s base for of Kenya. They are clearly devoted to each other, outreach operations throughout Kenya. however due to their cataract blindness, it has been years since they’ve seen one another. George waits anxiously for Margaret to return from her Just prior to their operations, a tennis ball with a piece eye screening. It would be the only time they would be of string through it is used to apply pressure to the eye. apart during the entire sight restoring process. Photos: Hugh Rutherford Following their successful operations, George and George and Margaret cannot contain their joy as Margaret return home and are instantly greeted by the visual world lost to them is opened once more. excited children in their village. For the fi rst time George “Before I could not even see her, but now I can,” said and Margaret can see their smiling faces clearly. George laughing. 2 The Fred Hollows Foundation | ANNUAL REPORT 2009 | www.hollows.org.au PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE It’s little wonder that when The Australian Government is “The Australian Australians are asked to proud to be working side by side nominate their heroes, many with The Fred Hollows Foundation Government is proud to mention the name of Professor both to improve the health of be working side by side Fred Hollows. Indigenous Australians and as part of our international aid and with The Fred Hollows The people who most inspire development program. Foundation both to improve us are so often those who devote their talents, energies In 2009 the Australian Government the health of Indigenous and their lives to helping those commenced a $58 million program Australians and as part of most in need. Fred was one to tackle eye and ear diseases our international aid and such man. A man of passion, among Indigenous Australians. courage and determination, This is part of the Government’s development program.” Fred used his outstanding medical commitment to close the gap skills to reach out to people in real life outcomes between blinded by poverty. For many Indigenous and non-Indigenous decades he worked to improve Australians. The 2009 Annual Report of The the eye health of Indigenous Fred Hollows Foundation is an Australians and people living in This followed the Government’s impressive record of achievement the developing world. commitment of $45 million in of which all Australians can be 2008 to reducing the incidence proud. His methods were often of avoidable blindness and controversial. He was an developing a disability strategy outspoken advocate for justice for Australia’s aid program. The and wasn’t afraid to ruffl e a few Avoidable Blindness Initiative feathers if it meant getting his involves a consortium of Australian The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP point across. And he was non-government organisations Prime Minister of Australia committed to results. including The Fred Hollows Foundation, working with other Despite Fred’s death almost regional partners in the ambitious two decades ago, his work lives task of helping rid our region of on through The Fred Hollows avoidable blindness. Foundation which now works in 18 countries and has become The Foundation’s work goes on one of the world’s leading because of the generosity of blindness prevention organisations. tens of thousands of everyday Millions of people throughout the Australians who continue world can now see again because to support the vision of an of its work. outstanding Australian. www.hollows.org.au | ANNUAL REPORT 2009 | The Fred Hollows Foundation 3 CHAIR’S REPORT Photo: Baycorp Advantage In 2009, despite challenging fi nancial of our next fi ve year plan, due to agencies, backed by the Australian and security conditions, we made commence in 2010, was moved Government. The Foundation is great strides towards achieving forward and undertaken in 2009. the consortium’s Agent and Prime our goals of eradicating avoidable We revisited Fred’s original Contract Holder, as well as an blindness globally and improving the aspirations for The Foundation, implementing agency in Cambodia health of Indigenous Australians. reviewed the lessons we have and Vietnam. This is an historic learned from our experience, and cooperation between not-for- Fred’s Foundation is in great sought input from our international profi t eye health organisations, condition. We are assisting more program leaders, our sister the ophthalmic profession and people through more programs in Foundations in New Zealand, government which is aimed at more countries than ever before. the UK and South Africa, and key eliminating avoidable blindness in the These strong results refl ect a clear program partners. Asia-Pacifi c region. We are already strategic focus, a highly engaged exploring the potential for applying Board and a talented, united The outcome is a new fi ve-year this collaborative model in other operational team in Australia and Strategic Framework for the period parts of the world. overseas. 2010 – 2014 that reinforces The Foundation’s determination to be: In 2009 The Foundation’s Board Even more importantly, we have the • a key global player and partner also strengthened ties with our strong and continued support of in ending avoidable blindness by sister Foundations which will mean our many members and donors. As 2020 a better coordinated and more the global fi nancial crisis rocked the • an effective contributor to effective global impact. As we world, we needed you more than ever collaborative action to achieve continue to create new structures before – and you did not let us down. measurable improvements in and processes for an international So we offer our heartfelt thanks Indigenous health ‘Fred Hollows’ presence, we will to each and every one of you for • a world class advocate, be guided by a new Corporate ensuring that Fred’s work continues nationally and internationally Governance Charter that sets to expand, bringing sight and hope to • a strong and dynamic out the principles and practices those blinded by poverty alone. organisation with ‘best practice’ necessary to fulfi l the public trust human resource management vested in us to protect and promote In 2009, income from individual and operational systems Fred’s legacy.