OMAA

Association for the Blind of Western Australia, with Guide Dogs WA, is the main service provider to more than 25,000 Western Australians who are blind or vision impaired.   Services include orientation and mobility and guide dog services, early intervention support for children, Braille and Talking Book library, Braille services, low vision clinics, day therapy facilities, independent living services, adaptive technology, employment and computer training and recreational activities. The Association maintains links with trained health department workers in regional areas who carry out mobility services in remote areas while there on health department duties. The Association services remote areas once or twice a year. The Association employs five O&M Instructors, one of whom is dual trained as a Guide Dog Instructor.

Website: www.abwa.asn.au

Victoria Park (Main Centre) (4 O&M postions)

16 Sunbury Road, Victoria Park 6100

(PO Box 101, Victoria Park 6979)

Tel:   (08) 9311 8202

Fax: (08) 9361 8696

Toll free: 1800 658 388

Email: mailbox@abwa.asn.au

Bunbury (1 GD/O&M postion)

Lotteries House

99-101 Victoria Street

Bunbury   WA   6230

Tel: (08) 9791 3200

Wellington Street

170 Wellington St, Perth

Tel: (08) 6222 4999

Fax: (08) 6222 4910


Geraldton

Lotteries House

180 Marine Terrace

Geraldton WA   6530

Tel: (08) 9964 3662

Albany

Lotteries House

211-217 North Road, Albany WA   6330

Tel: (08) 9842 5566


Mandurah

Lotteries House

Suite 4, 7 Anzac Place

Mandurah WA   6210

Tel: (08) 9586 1147

Fax: (08) 9586 1187

top

Department of Education, Tasmania

Department of Education, Tasmania employs one O&M Instructor as part of its Vision Impairment Service, working with children from birth to 18 years. This Instructor works with students in the north and north-west regions of the state during school hours as well as after school and during holidays. The collaborative model of service delivery used, enables O&M skills to be reinforced consistently at school, at home and in the community. O&M services for students in the southern region are contracted from the Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Tasmania.

Vision Impairment Service (1 O&M postion)

40A Ravenswood Rd, Launceston TAS 7250

Phone: +61 3 6339 4320

Fax: +61 3 6339 1993

Email: david.w.gray@education.tas.gov.au

top

Education Queensland, Disability Services Unit

Education Queensland, Disability Services Unit provides mobility services to any student with a vision impairment, including those with multiple impairments. Students are based in both government and non-government schools, and range in age from birth to school leaving age. O&M Instructors must hold dual qualifications in Vision Impairment and in O&M and be registered as teachers in Queensland.

(5 O&M positions)

Address: 17 Churchill Street, Buranda QLD 4102

Phone: +61 7 3247 3289

Fax: +61 7 3247 3280

Email:

Web site: http://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning/students/disabilities/staff/omt1.html

Fiji Society for the Blind

Fiji Society for the Blind provides comprehensive services for blind and vision-impaired people in the following areas: Community Based Rehabilitation service provides instruction in getting around safely, working in the home, accomplishing daily activities and learning Braille skills. Counselling is provided to clients and their families with issues related to adjusting to sight loss. Fiji School for the Blind offers academic classes, vocational classes and pre-school and multi-handicapped classes to vision-impaired children. The hostel within the Society’s precincts accommodates vision-impaired children from rural areas who attend the school, or who are integrated into mainstream schools. Also: Braille and Transcription Services; Talking Book Library; Integrated Education; Braille support; special tuition; visiting and liaising with schools; Primary Eye Care program; Orientation and Mobility services.

Address: Nanuku St, Vatuwaqa (PO Box 521), Suva, FIJI

Phone: + 679 338 2966

Fax: +679 338 7950

top

Guide Dogs NSW /ACT

Guide Dogs NSW /ACT train people who are vision impaired to use canes, canines and electronic aids to improve their mobility and thus independence and quality of life. They train companion dogs for children and adults who are disabled or disadvantaged owing to age, isolation or ill health and they advocate on behalf of the people we assist to make the community an easier place in which to live and work.

Chatswood

2-4 Thomas Street

Chatswood NSW 2067

PO Box 1965

North Sydney NSW 2059

Phone: (02) 9412 9300

Fax: (02) 9412 9388

Wollongong

Calls are re-directed to Chatswood office.

Phone: (02) 4225 9247

Westmead

Suite 3, 149 Hawkesbury Road

PO Box 16

Westmead NSW 2145

Phone: (02) 9891 4914

Fax: (02) 9891 4143

Guide Dogs Centre

1 Spinks Road

Glossodia NSW 2756

PO Box 3104

Freemans Reach NSW 2756

Phone: (02) 4579 7555

Fax: (02) 4579 7537

Coffs Harbour

Suite 3, 62 Moonee Street

Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Phone: (02) 6652 7424

Fax: (02) 6651 4082

Lismore

107-109 Molesworth Street

P.O. Box 118

LISMORE NSW 2480

Phone: (02) 6621 8475

Tamworth

108 Brisbane Street

TAMWORTH NSW 2340

Phone: (02) 6761 3152

Fax: (02) 6761 3575

Newcastle

Suite 15, 2nd Floor

133 King Street

Newcastle NSW 2300

Phone: (02) 4925 3066

Fax: (02) 4925 3011

Orange

HACC Centre

286 Lords Place

PO Box 2298

Orange NSW 2800

Phone: (02) 6362 6625

Fax: (02) 6361 2117

Australian Capital Territory

Suite 4, Mungga-Iri House

18 Napier Close

PO Box 84

Deakin West ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6285 2988

Fax: (02) 6285 2827

Wagga Wagga

Calls are re-directed to ACT office.

Phone: (02) 69 253559

top

Guide Dogs Association of South Australia and Northern Territory

Guide Dogs Association of South Australia and Northern Territory provide quality, integrated services for people with a sensory loss. All services are free of charge and are delivered by qualified professionals throughout South Australia and Northern Territory

Head Office (10 O&M postions including 1 GD/O&M postion)

251 Morphett Street,

Adelaide, SA 5000

Tel: (08) 8203 8333

Fax: (08) 8203 8332

TTY: (08) 8203 8391

Northern Territory

Darwin

4/5 Keith Lane,

Fannie Bay, NT 0820

Tel: (08) 898 15488

Fax: (08) 898 10820

Alice Springs (1 O&M postion)

Shop 6, Westpac Breezeway,

Todd Mall

Alice Springs NT 0871

Tel: (08) 8955 5874

Fax: (08) 8955 8531

Toll Free: 1800 738 855

info@guidedogs.org.au

top

Guide Dogs Queensland

Guide Dogs Queensland provides free mobility programs both on a domiciliary and residential basis. Five regional offices enable it to offer a comprehensive mobility service throughout the state. 13 O&M Instructors are employed, of whom 3 are dually qualified as Guide Dog Mobility Instructors.

Brisbane Office, Breeding & Training Centre: 4 O&M Specialists( ncluding 2 GD/O&M Instructors)

Address: 1978 Gympie Rd (PO Box 50), Bald Hills QLD 4036

Phone: +61 7 3261 7555

Fax: +61 7 3261 7500

Email: admin@guidedogsqld.com.au

Website: http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au

Bundaberg

PO Box 1169

Bundaberg 4670

P: (07) 4153 4606

F: (07) 4153 4606

Gold Coast (1 O&M postion)

Shop 6, Ground Floor

34 High St

Southport

PO Box 1690

Southport 4215

P: (07) 5528 0433

F: (07) 5528 0533

Hervey Bay / Maryborough

PO Box 156

Maryborough 4650

P: (07) 4123 2735

F: (07) 4123 2735

Rockhampton / Gladstone / Mackay

20 Upper Dawson St

Rockhampton

PO Box 8076

Rockhampton 4700

P: (07) 4922 6667

F: (07) 4922 6653

Sunshine Coast (2 O&M postions)

28A Duporth Ave

Maroochydore

PO Box 693

Maroochydore 4558

P: (07) 5443 8033

F: (07) 5443 9133

Toowoomba

270 Margaret St

Toowoomba

PO Box 1062

Toowoomba 4350

P: (07) 4632 6944

F: (07) 4639 3663

Townsville / Cairns (1 GD/O&M postion)

64 Mitchell St

North Ward

PO Box 1426

Townsville 4810

P: (07) 4772 4300

F: (07) 4721 2476

top

Guide Dogs Victoria

Guide Dogs Victoria is a specialist mobility agency providing free services for vision- impaired people of all ages. GDV has 23 O&M Instructors, 11 of whom are dual qualified as Guide Dog Instructors and six specialise in working with people who have neurological vision impairment. O&M Instructors work in the following teams: Children’s Mobility Services, Intensive O&M Services, Neurological Mobility Services and the Guide Dog Department. Instructors are located centrally in Melbourne, but offer services to clients throughout Victoria through domiciliary training programs and within GDV's residential training centre in Kew. A consultancy team, including occupational therapy, optometry, audiology, counselling and neuropsychology, supports mobility programs.

Address: Chandler Hwy (Private Bag 13), Kew, 3101

Phone: +61 3 9854 4444

Fax: +61 3 9854 4466

Email: client services cs@guidedogs.asn.au Referrals: referrals@guidedogs.asn.au

Website: www.guidedogs.asn.au/services.asp

top

Kilparrin

Kilparrin is a state-wide specialist support service for children and students with sensory and additional disabilities. The specialist support service consists of a school, and support teachers who support students in their local schools, preschools, homes and special facilities across the state. 1 O&M Instructor is employed.

Interim address: PO Box 43, Brighton SA 5048.

Phone: +61 8 8296 5297

Fax: +61 8 8377 1275

Email: kilparri@kilparrin.sa.edu.au

Website: www.kilparrin.sa.edu.au

top

Moving Foward LTD

Moving Forward LTD provides Orientation & Mobility, Developmental Orientation and Mobility, Adaptive Daily Living Skills, Training of trainers and support people and other relevant community groups on areas associated with Blindness. We work with all age groups and specialize in supporting people who have additional disabilities. Moving Forward LTD’s goal is to support and empower people who have vision impairment, and potentially other disabilities to achieve all they want to achieve .

Auckland

22 Laingfield Terrace

Laingholm 0604

Ph / Fax: +64 9 817 4954

Email: kdalymovingfoward@clear.net.au

Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Tasmania

Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Tasmania (RGDAT) offers a comprehensive lifeskills service to adults and children who are blind or vision impaired. Services are provided throughout Tasmania and include orientation and mobility, guide dogs, occupational therapy, assistive technology and low vision. RGDAT can also assist with advice and links to counselling, employment, recreation and accommodation services based in the community.

Hobart Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 164-166 Elizabeth St, Hobart (PO Box 82, North Hobart TAS 7002)

Phone: +61 3 6232 1222

Fax: +61 3 6232 1221

Launceston Office (3 O&M positions, including 1 Guide Dog Instructor)

Address: 83 Elphin Road, Newstead TAS 7250

Phone: +61 3 6331 8100

Fax: +61 3 6331 9492

Email: Errol Ingram (Client Services Manager) errol@guidedogstas.com.au

top

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind offers comprehensive services to vision impaired people, including guide dog and mobility services, techniques of daily living, needs assessment, child and family case managers, Braille and talking book library, vocational service, equipment services, recreation and sport, and volunteer services. The Pacific Island Whanau Workers serve the needs of people from Samoa, Tonga and Niue living in New Zealand. RNZFB employs 23 O&M Instructors of whom 13 work with adults and 10 work with children aged between 0 and 18 years old. In addition there are 11 O&M Instructors who are dual qualified as Guide Dog Instructors. The Guide Dog and Developmental Instructor qualifications are gained through in-house training programs and are registered on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) framework.

National Office

Address: 4 Maunsell Road (Private Bag 99941), Parnell, Auckland NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 9 355 6900 or (tollfree) 0800 24 33 33

Fax: +64 9 366 0099

Email: phooper@rnzfb.org.nz

Website: http://www.rnzfb.org.nz

North Island

Auckland Office (6 O&M postions+ 3 GD/O&M postion)

Address: Awhina House (Private Bag 99941), Parnell, Auckland NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 9 355 6900

Fax: +64 9 3660099

Email: phieatt@rnzfb.org.nz

Waikato Office (1 O&M Instructor + 1 GD/O&M Instructor)

Address: 1st Floor Caro St Community Building (PO Box 854), Hamilton, NZ

Phone: +64 7 839 2266

Fax: +64 7 839 5588

Email: krolls@rnzfb.org.nz

Napier Office (1 O&M postion + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: 94 Raffles St (PO Box 10), Napier, NZ

Phone: +64 6 835 3777

Fax: + 64 6 8358040

Email: deaston@rnzfb.org.nz

New Plymouth Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 131 Vivian St, New Plymouth, NZ

Phone: +64 6 759 1169

Fax: +64 6 757 9370

Email: deaston@rnzfb.org.nz

Palmerston North Office (1 O&M postion + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: 62 Grey St, Palmerston North, NZ

Phone: +64 6 350 2540

Fax: + 64 6 356 1790

Email: deaston@rnzfb.org.nz

Rotorua Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: Community House, Haupapa St, Rotorua, NZ

Phone: +64 7 348 7218

Fax: +64 7 347 2007

Email: krolls@rnzfb.org.nz

Tauranga Office (2 O&M postion + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: PO Box 15114, Tauranga, NZ

Phone: +64 7 578 2376

Fax: +64 7 578 8359

Email: krolls@rnzfb.org.nz

Wellington Office (3 O&M postions + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: 121 Adelaide Rd, Newtown (PO Box 27177), Wellington, NZ

Phone: +64 4 380 2160

Fax: +64 4 389 5254

Email: deaston@rnzfb.org.nz

Whangarei Office (1 O&M Instructor)

Address: 277 Kamo Rd, Kamo, Whangarei

Phone: +64 9 437 1199

Fax: + 64 9 437 1199

Email: phieatt@rnzfb.org.nz

South Island

Christchurch Office (4 O&M postions + 1 GD/O&M Instructor)

Address: 96 Bristol St, St Albans, Christchurch, NZ

Phone: +64 3 375 4300

Fax: +64 3 355 9151

Email: pmadden@rnzfb.org.nz

Dunedin Office (1 O&M postions + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: 458 Hillside Rd, South Dunedin, NZ

Phone: +64 3 466 4249

Fax: +64 3 455 4319

Email: pmadden@rnzfb.org.nz

Nelson Office (1 O&M postion + 1 GD/O&M postion)

Address: Stoke Central Mall, 530 Main Rd, Stoke, Nelson, NZ

Phone: +64 3 547 6616

Fax: +64 3 547 6615

Email: pmadden@rnzfb.org.nz

top

Royal Society for the Blind

Royal Society for the Blind provides comprehensive services to blind and vision impaired people, including a low vision centre, occupational therapy, counselling, information technology, employment, recreational and mobility services.

Adelaide Office (3 O&M postions; plus 5 O&M assistants)

Address: 254 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Phone: +61 8 8232 2444 or (toll free) 1800 644 577

Fax: (08) +61 8 8232 2111

E-mail: adavis@rsb.org.au

Website: www.rsb.org.au

top

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia provides Australians who are blind or vision impaired with the opportunity to participate as active members of the community. For a person who is blind, a Seeing Eye Dog is often essential in enabling them to be independent and active within the community. Their dog can provide mobility and security that might otherwise be threatened by everyday obstacles.

Victoria

17 Barrett Street

Kensington Vic 3031

Email:    info@seda.org.au

Phone:    (03) 9381 6400

Fax:    (03) 9381 6464

New South Wales

Phone:     1800 037 773
Email:    info@seda.org.au

Queensland

Phone:    1800 037 773
Email:    info@seda.org.au

top

Townsend School

Townsend School is a state-wide service for students with a vision impairment, aged between 5 and 18 (approx). The school itself serves the needs of vision impaired primary students, with a secondary component for students with additional disabilities. Townsend School also runs a visiting teacher program, which serves the needs of vision impaired students who are integrated into mainstream schools. Townsend School liaises with the Guide Dogs Association of SA and NT to ensure that O&M services are provided to vision impaired students in remote areas, and to those who are undertaking their last year of school. Two O&M Teachers (dual qualified as O&M Instructor and registered teacher) are employed at Townsend – one based at the school and one with the visiting teacher service.

Address: Smith Avenue, Hove SA 5048

Phone: +61 8 8298 5055

Fax: +61 8 8377 0785

Email: townsend@townsendsp.sa.edu.au

Website: www.townsendsp.sa.edu.au

top

Vision Australia

Vision Australia assists more than 38,000 children and adults to live the lives they choose. Services are provided to people at home, in centres and in the community.

Website: http://www.visionaustralia.org.au

Albury Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 566 Olive St, Albury NSW 2640 (PO Box 1507 Wodonga VIC 3689)

Phone: +61 2 6023 6611

Fax: +61 2 6023 6614

Email: Albury@visionaustralia.org.au

Ballarat Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 1300 Howitt St (PO Box 169), Wendouree VIC 3555

Phone: +61 3 5337 4555

Fax: +61 3 5338 2795

Email: Ballarat@visionaustralia.org.au

Bendigo Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 92 -100 McIvor Rd, PO Box 5076 Bendigo East, 3550

Phone: +61 3 5445 5700

Fax: +61 3 5445 5777

Essendon Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: Cnr Lawson & Albion Sts, Essendon VIC 3040

Phone: +61 3 9370 6111

Fax: +61 3 9326 0915

Email: Essendon@visionaustralia.org.au

Geelong Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 265 Pakington St (PO Box 850), Geelong VIC 3220

Phone: +61 3 5221 4100

Fax: +61 3 5223 1317

Email: Geelong@visionaustralia.org.au

Kooyong Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: 454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong VIC 3144

Phone: +61 3 9864 9222

Fax: +61 3 9864 9210

Email: Kooyong@visionaustralia.org.au

Seaford Office (3 O&M postions)

Address: 38 Hartnett Drive, Seaford, VIC

Ph: +61 3 8770 6800

Shepparton Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: Cnr Archer St & Channel Rd, (PO Box 1309), Shepparton VIC 3630

Phone: +61 3 5831 3555

Fax: +61 3 5831 2446

Email: Shepparton@visionaustralia.org.au

Warragul Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: 2A Mouritz St, Warragul VIC 3820

Phone: +61 3 5623 0100

Fax: +61 3 5623 0130

Email: Warragul@visionaustralia.org.au

"St Kilda Road" Office (3 O&M postion)

Address: 557 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, 3004

Phone: +61 3 9522 5222 or (tollfree) 1800 335 588

Fax: +61 3 9529 3589

TTY: +61 3 9521 2719

Email: iru@rvib.org.au

Website: www.rvib.org.au

Boronia Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: Level 1, 252 Dorset Rd, Boronia VIC 3155

Phone: +61 3 9761 0011

Fax: +61 3 9761 2455

Email: east@rvib.org.au

Heidelberg Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: 104 Mount St, Heidelberg VIC 3084

Phone: +61 3 9457 6611

Fax: +61 3 9457 7826

Email: north@rvib.org.au

Oakleigh Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: 69-71 Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166

Phone: +61 3 9569 7255

Fax: +61 3 9569 7565

Email: south@rvib.org.au

Enfield Office (2 O&M postions)

Address: 4 Mitchell Street, Enfield NSW 2136 (PO Box 176, Burwood NSW 1805)

Ph: +61 2 9334 3333 (referrals: tollfree 1300 134 560)

Fax: +61 2 9334 3126

Email: clientliaison@rbs.org.au

Lismore Office (1 O&M postion)

Address: Shop 22/62 Wyrallah Road (PO Box 5071), East Lismore NSW 2480

Phone: +61 2 6622 8383 (referrals: tollfree 1300 134 560)

Fax: +61 2 6622 8311

Tamworth Office (1 O&M postion)

Ph/Fax: +61 2 6769 3635 (tollfree 1300 134 560)

top

WA Department of Education and Training

WA Department of Education and Training has a specialist service to support students who have vision impairment. The Vision Education Service operates throughout WA supporting young children and students from birth through to the end of Year 12. Support is provided by specialist visiting teachers and also by a Production Unit that produces school texts in alternative formats – Braille, large print and audiotape. VIS employs its own O&M Teacher (dual qualified as O&M and teacher) but also contracts O&M services from the Association for the Blind WA and directly from private O&M Instructors.

Address: Vision Impairment Service, Hale House, Parliament Place (PO Box 1595) West Perth WA 6872

Phone: +61 8 9426 7122

Fax : +61 8 9426 7166

Email: VisionEducation@det.wa.edu.au

Last updated 18/08/2007

top

Orientation and Mobility Association Australasia

O&M Service Providers

O&M Services by country/region

Association for the Blind of Western Australia + Guide Dogs WA