My son was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of childhood eye cancer. After a tough battle, he lost his eye and now lives with a prosthetic. Unfortunately, here in Victoria, the cost of this vital piece of equipment is not covered by any organisation, leaving families like mine to bear the financial burden alone. This is not a one off payment, it is a lifelong situation that will requires yearly prosthesis changes for children. 

Access to ocular prosthetics should be a basic right for every Australian who needs them. A prosthetic eye is not just a cosmetic luxury but essential for those who have lost an eye due to serious conditions like cancer or accidents. It could dramatically improve their quality of life, aid their self-esteem, and even have significant psychological benefits. Additionally if children do not wear an ocular prosthetic their facial bone structure will change, leaving deformity which requires surgical correction. 

In Australia, the incidence of eye cancer in children, such as retinoblastoma, is about 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 births according to the Australian Government's National Eye Health Survey. These families shouldn't have to worry about affording the prosthetic devices that their children need.

We are calling on the Australian government, particularly in the state of Victoria, to recognize this gap in healthcare funding. By ensuring ocular prosthetics are covered under public funding schemes, we can relieve families from unnecessary financial strain and provide necessary support to help individuals live fuller lives.

We propose that funds be allocated to cover ocular prosthetics for children and adults as part of Medicare or through state-funded initiatives. These measures have the potential to bring about a meaningful change in the lives of many Australians.

Please join us in advocating for this change by signing this petition. Your support can help ensure that no family has to struggle alone to meet this essential medical need.