THE Seeing a Difference program, which won the Agency of Clinical Innovation award in the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s (MNCLHD) annual Health Innovation Awards, is in Coffs Harbour on Friday, 24 June and returning in September, and in Woolgoolga on Monday 27 June.

Mid North Coast Local Health District’s StEPS Area Coordinator Wendy Mutton said the team was honoured to receive the recognition.

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“The aim of the state-wide Eyesight Pre-schooler Screening (StEPS) Pictorial Parent information letter is to obtain informed consent from parents with low literacy skills for the vision screening of their child.

“The StEPS pictorial parent letter replaces a page of words into six pictures, demonstrating that a nurse is coming to the preschool to conduct eyesight checks on the children, and the parent needs to sign the consent form that has been sent home from preschool.

“Using pictures for parent health screening information instead of words is innovative and could be used across health services.

“The pictures are a universal language, so it can be comprehended by parents of any cultural background.

“We want Seeing a Difference to make a difference and ensure that any child does not miss out on their health checks due to their parent’s educational or cultural backgrounds.”

StEPS vision screening clinics are conducted periodically across the year for any children that miss out through the preschools or long day-care centres.

The Coffs Harbour clinics at 29 Park Avenue are on Friday 24 June, closing at 2pm and Tuesday 13 September, while the Woolgoolga clinic is scheduled for Monday 27 June.

To make an appointment, call 6656 7200.

By Andrea FERRARI