Specsavers has launched a new range of glasses in a partnership with Ernabella artist and Pitjantjatjara woman Atipalku Intjalki, to support the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program.
This year’s collection holds “particular significance” to the eyewear brand, marking a return to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, where the first artist collaboration with Langaliki began.
It was in the APY Lands that Fred Hollows dedicated some of his earliest efforts to eliminating trachoma, establishing a legacy that continues today through long-standing relationships with Anangu communities and organisations, including Nganampa Health Council.
At the heart of this year’s collection is artwork Tjukurpa Mulayangu. Drawing on more than five decades of artistic practice, Atipalku brings to life a powerful narrative deeply rooted in her connection to Country.
Her vibrant design portrays her father’s Country, featuring tjanpi (native grass) and numerous tjukula (waterholes). Central to the story is Mulayangu, a wanampi (water snake) whose journey across the APY Lands is said to have created the rockholes that sustain life in the region.
Through this work, Atipalku reflects on generations of shared heritage, weaving together ancestral storytelling, landscape, and enduring cultural connection.
Atipalku Intjalki said, “For 50 years, I have made art here in the middle of my community. I paint my father’s Country to keep his story alive.”
“It’s really lovely to see my artwork on the Specsavers frames. I make my work inside the Ernabella Art Centre, and when I walk outside I see the people in my community and I feel connected to my Country. I’m happy that everyone, including my family, can see the work I make and the stories I’m telling through this partnership.”
This ongoing work comes at a significant moment for Australian eye health, following the recent declaration from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, once a leading cause of preventable vision loss among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Together, Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation are working to help close the gap in eye health by enhancing access to essential eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In 2025, funds raised through the partnership helped support The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program to screen more than 24,000 people, deliver over 330 surgeries, and provide 3,600 diabetic retinopathy treatments.
Joanna Poon, senior frame portfolio manager at Specsavers said, “This year’s collection translates Atipalku’s artistic storytelling directly onto the frames, which have been designed and manufactured using sustainable materials. The result is a collection that blends contemporary eyewear design with a strong artistic influence, offering something both functional and visually unique.”
Cathy Rennie Matos, head of sustainability at Specsavers said, “Through this collaboration, we’re continuing our commitment to improving access to eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and supporting work that helps close the gap in preventable vision loss.”
Tanya Morris, Indigenous Australia program director at The Fred Hollows Foundation said, “Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can benefit from timely access to eye care, with much vision loss being preventable or treatable through culturally responsive services and strong community-led approaches.”
“The recent WHO declaration that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem is an important milestone for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and a reminder of what long-term partnership and community-led care can achieve.”
“Support from partners like Specsavers helps strengthen access to eye care, enabling more people to maintain good vision and continue participating fully in their families, communities and cultures.”
