The National Trachoma Program

In the mid-1970s, trachoma, a painful and preventable eye disease, was still causing blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. For Fred Hollows, this was unacceptable. He wanted trachoma eradicated, and he wanted Australians to face the truth: people in their own country were living in appalling conditions without access to basic healthcare, clean water or sanitation.

What followed was one of the most ambitious public health projects in Australian history. It would forever change how eye health care was delivered in remote communities.

A bold idea becomes a national mission

Fred, Gabi and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

In 1975, Fred, Gabi Hollows and a small team of dedicated health workers approached the Australian Government for funding to take on trachoma. They secured $1.4 million to create the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program. It was a two-year mission to eliminate trachoma, raise awareness of eye health, and deliver long-overdue care to communities that had been ignored for far too long.

Travelling in dusty old four-wheel drives, the program’s specialist teams were made up of doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health workers. They covered vast distances to reach some of the most remote parts of the country, including the Torres Strait Islands.

Key to the program’s success was the leadership and involvement of Aboriginal people such as Jilpia Jones, Rose Murray, Gordon Briscoe, Trevor Buzzacott and Reg Murray. They worked tirelessly alongside the teams, bridging cultural gaps, building trust and ensuring that the work was guided by community priorities rather than outside agendas.

There must be active community involvement, using the community’s own structures, in every aspect of disease control programs…and have a real say in the direction of any activities.

Fred Hollows

The results

Over two years, teams delivered one of the largest outreach eye health efforts ever undertaken in Australia, reaching remote communities with screening, treatment and care.

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100,000+ people screened across 465 communities

Mobile teams travelled to remote areas to identify and treat trachoma early, bringing eye health services directly to communities.

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1,000+ operations performed

Sight-saving surgery was provided to people at risk of blindness from trachoma and its complications.

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27,000 people treated for trachoma

Antibiotic treatment helped stop infection in its tracks and reduce the spread of disease.

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10,000 pairs of prescribed glasses delivered

Individually fitted glasses helped restore clear vision and support everyday life.

10,000 pairs of prescribed glasses delivered

Individually fitted glasses helped restore clear vision and support everyday life.

Australia eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

As of April 2026, the World Health Organization has confirmed that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This landmark achievement reflects decades of sustained, community-led effort through programs such as the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program, alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, governments and health partners. While this is a significant milestone, ongoing work remains essential to protect these gains and continue improving eye health and access to care in remote communities. Read the announcement here.