Support for Carers and Health Professionals.

Connect those living with low vision or blindness with services to support their unique independence and mobility goals.

Refer a patient

Occupational Therapists support people to achieve individual goals in everyday life, including personal care, domestic tasks, and recreational activities.
Orientation & Mobility Specialists work with people to identify personal mobility goals to be safe and independent accessing their community, using public transport, crossing roads and more.
Assistive Technology Specialists understand the best equipment to support independence with a range of activities.
Counselling support can help you build strategies to overcome any difficult feelings and continue living a fulfilling life, no matter where you are in your low vision journey.
Leisure and lifestyle programs help you to connect with other people to form new friendships, enjoy activities and share stories and experiences.
Guide Dog Mobility training provides skills and techniques to establish trust in your specially matched Guide Dog. Together, you can walk freely and feel confident regardless of your vision level.

A mother and young child embrace. The mother is cuddling her child from behind.

Support for Carers

Partners, family and friends often play a big part in assisting loved ones with vision loss.

We’re here to support you, to support them.

We know how important it is that you feel confident and have the right knowledge and skills to be able to best support the person you care for. Together, we can support your loved one to live life with confidence.

Our highly experienced and friendly team will work with you and your loved one to reach their identified goals and live a life of independence.

To find out more about how we can support you, to support them, call our friendly team on 3500 9060, email clients@guidedogsqld.com.au or complete our online contact form below.

Clients Makayla and Reilly sitting next to each other.

Options for financial assistance

Financial assistance.

Guide Dogs Queensland can provide services through the following funding programs:

Referral

Considering a referral.

Do you have a patient diagnosed with any of the following conditions?

Partial / Total Vision Loss
Glaucoma
Anirida
Ocular Albinism
Hereditary vision loss, e.g. Retinitis Pigmentosa
Age Related Macular Degeneration
Visual field loss from brain injury e.g. Hemianopia
Visual Agnosia

Whether your patient is young or young at heart, recently experiencing vision changes, or living with long-term vision loss, we’re here to support them in achieving their goals.

If you’re ever unsure, call us for a chat on 1800 810 122.

A person crossing the road with their white cane while a Guide Dog's staff member walks beside them. They are both looking at the camera smiling.

When to refer

Situations when you might refer.

For example, a patient who has had a recent stroke may experience difficulties due to functional vision loss—without a clinical presentation—which may create challenges for their wider rehabilitation program because of issues with awareness, balance or mobility.

A person struggling with low vision might experience difficulty with:

Independence in the home: For example, difficulty handling tools in the shed or maintaining safety in the kitchen and bathroom.
Personal care: For example, difficulty grooming, identifying clothes and managing hair or makeup.
Technology: For example, struggling to use devices like phones, TVs or computers.
Recreation: At school, out shopping or within the community.
General mobility: Consider making a referral in any instance where you’re unsure how a person will travel home, if they have experienced any unexpected falls, or suffer common headaches.
Counselling: To help you overcome any difficult feelings and continue living a fulfilling life, no matter where you are in your low vision journey

What to include in your referral

When referring, it’s always beneficial to provide as much information as you can.

In an ideal case, your referral will include each patient’s:

Discharge summary
Vision report
If they have funding eg. NDIS or a Funding status, e.g. NDIS Participant
Additional context or supporting information

Request a service from Guide Dogs

Referrals are welcomed from individuals, family members and health professionals. All responses are mandatory
unless otherwise specified.

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