Foresight Australia

What Foresight Australia does

Foresight Australia is a registered Australian charity founded in 1977 by Professor Frank Billson AO and Major General Paul Cullen AC, operating a "grassroots up" model that combines surgical eye care, local clinical training, and infrastructure development to address avoidable blindness in underserved communities. Its core product is a portfolio of six regional eye health programs spanning regional New South Wales (Griffith Indigenous Eye Health Program, launched 2022), Indonesia (Sumba Eye Program, integrated in 2021), Solomon Islands (National Eye Program, returning 2026), Bangladesh (legacy support to Chittagong Eye Infirmary), Philippines (Northern Luzon mobile surgical missions), and Timor-Leste. The underlying technology stack is standard ophthalmic clinical equipment — slit lamps, retinal cameras, iCare tonometers, keratometers, autoclaves, and laser units — with no proprietary software layer.

Revenue is generated exclusively through charitable channels: individual donations (one-off and monthly) via the Donorbox platform, institutional grants (notably ANZEF and Rotary International Global Grants), legacy giving via bequests, and partnership funding from foundations such as Perpetual and MediAid. Distribution is executed through embedded assets — the GBH Department of Ophthalmology at Griffith Base Hospital, a permanent eye clinic and surgical theatre at RSUD Waikabubak Hospital on Sumba, four regional eye clinics in the Solomon Islands, and 46+ sets of screening equipment donated to Aboriginal Medical Services. Programs deliver measurable outcomes including 200,000+ patients screened, 2,000+ surgeries performed, and 25,000+ glasses distributed over the organisation's 40+ year history. Customer segments are geographic rather than commercial — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in rural NSW, Sumba islanders, Solomon Islanders, and remote communities in the Philippines and Timor-Leste — with government health districts, hospitals, and Aboriginal Medical Services acting as delivery partners rather than paying customers.

Name

Foresight Australia

Legal name

Foresight Australia

Website

https://foresight.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foresight Australia is a registered charity founded in 1977 that delivers sustainable eye care to underserved communities in Australia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Bangladesh, Philippines, and Timor-Leste, combining surgical missions, local clinician training, and infrastructure development funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Eye Health and Preventable Blindness Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Offices of Optometrists (621320)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL), Vision & Ophthalmic Diagnostic Centers (Optometry/OCT/Retinal Imaging) (HLAFAKAI)

Keywords

• Preventable blindness treatment
• Cataract surgery programs
• Indigenous eye health
• Clinical skills transfer
• Community eye care

Headquarters

HQ city

Woolloomooloo

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting clinical screenings, surgeries, training programs, and equipment provision. One-off and monthly donation options available through Donorbox.
2. Institutional Grants: Funding from ANZEF (Australian and New Zealand Eye Foundation) grants supporting training programs and equipment. Inaugural ANZEF grant of $35,000 awarded in late 2023 to expand training across Western MLHD.
3. Legacy Giving: Bequests included in Wills to ensure continued funding for sight restoration work for generations to come.
4. Partnership Funding: Rotary International Global Grant partnership providing $100,000 for advanced surgical equipment and subspecialty training in Solomon Islands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Foresight Australia delivers sustainable eye care services to underserved communities across Australia, Indonesia, the Pacific, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Its core offerings include cataract and other sight-restoring surgeries, vision screenings, corrective glasses distribution, diabetic retinopathy screening and laser treatment, training of local clinicians (Eye Care Nurses, ophthalmologists, Aboriginal Health Care Workers), and infrastructure development through permanent eye clinics and equipment provision.

Product overview

Foresight Australia operates as a unified charitable eye care service delivery model rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization offers six regional eye health programs spanning Australia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Bangladesh, Philippines, and Timor-Leste. Each program follows the same sustainable 'grassroots up' methodology combining clinical surgical care, local health worker training, and infrastructure development. The programs include: Griffith Indigenous Eye Health (Australia), Sumba Eye Program (Indonesia), National Eye Program (Solomon Islands), Chittagong Eye Infirmary Support (Bangladesh), Philippines Eye Care Program, and Timor-Leste Eye Care Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Griffith Indigenous Eye Health Program A sustainable, community-based eye health program providing specialist clinical services and training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in regional New South Wales. Includes ophthalmology clinic services at Griffith Base Hospital staffed every four weeks with visiting specialists, diabetic retinopathy screening, Aboriginal Health Care Worker training, and equipment donations to Aboriginal Medical Services.
• Sumba Eye Program A long-term partnership transforming eye health on Sumba Island, Indonesia, providing screenings, cataract surgeries, glasses distribution, and training local Eye Care Nurses to establish a permanent locally-led eye care service. Includes mobile outreach clinics, school-based vision screening across 700 primary schools, and a permanent eye clinic and surgical theatre at RSUD Waikabubak Hospital.
• National Eye Program (Solomon Islands) Surgical visits and skills transfer program providing specialist ophthalmic care, diabetic retinopathy screening and laser treatment, and training for local ophthalmologists and nurses at the National Referral Hospital and four regional eye clinics in Honiara, Gizo, Auki, and Kirakira.
• Chittagong Eye Infirmary Support Early contribution to the establishment of the Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex in Bangladesh, supporting infrastructure development for sustainable eye care including local ophthalmic training and services.
• Philippines Eye Care Program Supporting eye care in Northern Luzon through mobile surgical missions and local clinics reaching remote farming communities with limited specialist access.
• Timor-Leste Eye Care Program Helping the young nation of Timor-Leste build eye care infrastructure from the ground up through specialized training programs addressing limited specialist access and the need to build healthcare systems from scratch.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ patients screened, 2,000+ surgeries, 25,000+ glasses distributed over program history
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance working to eliminate avoidable blindness; Foresight Australia is a member organization contributing to international eye health efforts.
• Vision 2020 AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian coalition working to eliminate avoidable blindness; Foresight Australia collaborates through this network for advocacy and knowledge sharing.
• ACFID (Australian Council for International Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body for Australian non-governmental organizations working in international development; Foresight Australia adheres to ACFID's Code of Conduct.
• Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), MakassarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal MOU partner for training local Eye Care Nurses (ECNs) through ophthalmic training sponsorship program. Four ECNs trained and now leading daily clinic operations in Sumba.
• PERDAMI (Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with PERDAMI (NTT Province) established in October 2024 to support development of local eye care systems.
• The Sumba FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership supporting Sumba Eye Program infrastructure, training, and surgical excellence on Sumba Island.
• OneSight / EssilorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for optical workshop establishment in Sumba, providing affordable glasses and optical services to local communities.
• RSUD Waikabubak HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary hospital partner in West Sumba where permanent eye clinic and surgical theatre were established in 2024, serving catchment of approximately 200,000 people.
• Western Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health district partner for Griffith Indigenous Eye Health program; provides institutional support and hosts the GBH Department of Ophthalmology.
• Gordon Eye SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney-based eye surgery practice providing volunteer ophthalmologists and clinical expertise for Griffith Indigenous Eye Health program.
• Chatswood Private HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurgical facility partner where cataract surgery lists are conducted for both public and private patients from Griffith Base Hospital.
• Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service (GAMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal Medical Service partner where retinal camera was reactivated and staff trained in diabetic retinopathy screening and retinal photography.
• National Referral Hospital Eye Unit, HoniaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary clinical partner since 1996; Foresight has delivered 15+ surgical visits, upgraded facilities, and funded training of Solomon Islands' first ophthalmologists.
• University of Papua New GuineacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining pathway for Solomon Islands doctors pursuing ophthalmology qualifications; Dr Mundi Qalo received Diploma of Ophthalmology from this university in 2005.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foresight Australia