We are excited to announce that applications for the Hugh Jeffrey Scholarships are now open! This year’s round is particularly special as we celebrate the legacy of our ACT Branch. Following the transfer of residual branch funds, BCA moved these resources into the Jeffrey Blyth Foundation Fund.
We encourage ACT members to apply, and this dedicated support will remain a key focus for our scholarship rounds this year. By integrating these resources into the Hugh Jeffrey Scholarship program, we ensure that the dedication and history of the ACT Branch continue to provide meaningful opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to participate in tertiary and further education. For information on eligibility and how to apply please see below.
A reminder, you can also read this update on BCA’s website.
BCA Events
Plan ahead using our monthly calendar – the events calendar for January is available on our website, or you can access the calendar via audio by phoning 1800 033 660 and following the prompts.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us on events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.
2026 BCA Hugh Jeffrey Scholarship - Applications now open
Wednesday, 21st January to Wednesday, 4th February 2026.
Applications for the 2026 BCA Hugh Jeffrey Scholarship are now open!
If you would like to receive an application form, please email bca@bca.org.au to confirm your eligibility.
This scholarship is open to anyone currently enrolled in or planning on enrolling in a post-secondary study program. Scholarship amounts of up to $5,000 are awarded to support students in their studies.
To learn more about the application process, visit our website.
Applications close on Wednesday, 4th February 2026 at 11:59pm AEDT.
For more information, please contact Layal Hage via email at layal.hage@bca.org.au or call BCA on 1800 033 660.
BCA Inform – My Aged Care Reform
Tuesday, 3rd February from 7:30pm to 9:00pm AEDT.
Join us for a BCA Inform session exploring the latest Australian aged care reforms, with a particular focus on what they mean for older Australians who are blind or vision impaired. The session will include an update on the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home Program, and what these changes may mean in practice.
To register for the event please visit the Humanitix website.
In preparation for upcoming Inform sessions, we would like to understand what percentage of our members are on the NDIS and what percentage are using My Aged Care. We have created a short anonymous survey to capture this information and we’d appreciate your response. To complete the survey visit https://form.jotform.com/260107572129857
Trivia
Saturday, 24th January at 8:00pm AEDT.
Are you interested in expanding your general knowledge in an easy-going and fun atmosphere? If so, join this week’s trivia for an enjoyable night of team competition.
Please be aware that, to ensure the smooth operation of the game, Trivia will be limited to 25 players. To give everyone an opportunity, the Zoom waiting room will open to admit people who sign in from 7:45pm Sydney time and closes at 8:00pm.
Note the Zoom joining information has been refreshed for this year, so please see below for the new details.
- Join via weblink
- Join with one tap mobile (via non-iOS)
- Join with one tap mobile using the number below (via iOS):
+61280156011,,84491693225#,,,,*424050# - Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 844 9169 3225
- Passcode: 424050
BCA Updates
Update from the CEO
Dear members,
As we settle into the rhythm of the new year, following on from last week’s exciting news about our $1.2 million funding win for ‘Pathways to Independence’, we have been tucked away finalising our roadmap for the year ahead. We have commenced a voluntary HR Audit of our internal policies and workplace practices.
This deep dive ensures our governance is as strong as it can be. In tandem, we have been busy shaping our project blueprints to ensure that every dollar of our funding – and every hour of our time – is directed toward the things that matter most to you. While a lot of this “back-of-office” work happens behind the scenes, it is a vital step in laying out the foundations for the impactful year ahead.
On the advocacy front, I have an update regarding the Virgin Australia “Pets in Cabin” trial. Virgin Australia has officially extended the trial through to 30 June 2026 and is expanding it to include cats on the Melbourne to Gold Coast route starting later this month. We know our members have a wide range of views on this, and we remain in close contact with our community to gather your feedback. Your safety and comfort as dog guide handlers and travellers are our top priority, and we will continue to ensure your lived experiences are shared directly with Virgin Australia as this trial progresses toward June.
Finally, we are continuing to strengthen our network abroad. We have been connecting with our colleagues at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK. Our GM of Operations, Angela Jaeschke, and Director, Neale Huth, recently met in person with RNIB Northern Ireland Country Director, Robert Shilliday, to exchange insights on each organisation’s work and advocacy priorities. They discussed similarities and differences in approaches to government engagement, collaboration across the blindness and eye health sectors, and how each organisation consults with and supports its members.
Learning from these international models ensures BCA remains at the forefront of global best practices.
It’s going to be a productive year of growth, and I look forward to keeping you updated as these plans turn into action.
Call for Mentors – RISE Program 2026
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is inviting Expressions of Interest from members who may be interested in becoming mentors for the RISE Program (Resilience, Insight & Skills for Employment) – a new leadership and skills development initiative for emerging leaders who are blind or vision impaired.
Applications from participants for the 2026 RISE Program have now closed, with the program scheduled to commence in March 2026. BCA is now seeking mentors who are willing to support participants through guidance, encouragement, and the sharing of lived and professional experience.
About the mentor role
Mentors play a vital role in supporting participants to build confidence, set goals, and apply the skills developed through the program to their leadership, employment, and broader life journeys. The role is on a voluntary basis. A detailed mentor position description is available and provides further information about the responsibilities and expectations of the role.
Time commitment and program overview
The RISE Program will run from 7 March to 4 June 2026, comprising 12 weeks of content with a break over Easter. Mentors are typically involved for approximately 10–12 hours across the full program, including:
- 3–4 one-on-one mentoring sessions with a matched mentee, scheduled flexibly at mutually convenient times
- A brief onboarding/orientation session in February
- Attendance at the final participant presentations in late May and/or early June, where possible
There are no fixed weekly mentoring times. Mentors and mentees are thoughtfully matched to support flexibility, and sessions can be arranged around individual availability, including work and travel commitments.
How to express your interest
Members who would like to learn more, ask questions, or submit an Expression of Interest are encouraged to get in touch by emailing rachael.johinke@bca.org.au, or by contacting BCA on 1800 033 660.
Expressions of Interest should briefly outline:
- A little about your background and experience
- Why you would like to be involved as a mentor
- Any relevant leadership, advocacy, employment, or community experience
This information will support the mentor–mentee matching process and help ensure strong, meaningful mentoring relationships for participants.
Expressions of Interest close on Wednesday, 28th January. We encourage members to get in touch as soon as possible.
Employment Opportunity – Project Coordinator
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is seeking a motivated and experienced Project Coordinator to manage the continued delivery of Eye to the Future, a nationally focused project aimed at improving employment outcomes for people who are blind or vision impaired.
This full-time, fixed-term position (parental leave cover) runs from Monday, 2nd March 2026 to Friday, 26th June 2026. The role is classified at Level 5 under the SCHADS Award, reports to the General Manager Operations and has no direct reports. Flexible, work-from-home arrangements are available.
The successful candidate will be a strong self-starter with demonstrated project management experience, excellent communication skills and a sound understanding of accessibility and employment pathways for people who are blind or vision impaired. You will work autonomously to deliver project outcomes, manage reporting requirements, build partnerships and represent BCA at external events.
More details available: https://www.bca.org.au/employment/
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to recruitment@bca.org.au.
To ensure accessibility for the recruitment team, applications must be submitted in Word format. Applications close COB Wednesday, 28th January 2026.
For more information, contact Angela Jaeschke, General Manager Operations, on 1800 033 660.
Policy, Advocacy & Representation
Policy Update – Melanie Chatfield
BCA has provided a response to the Australian Government’s consultation on the proposed new Commonwealth Individual Disability Advocacy Program. Our submission emphasises the importance of ensuring the Program is designed to deliver effective, timely and specialist advocacy for people with disability, including those who are blind or vision impaired. In particular, BCA recommended:
- Strengthening disability-specific advocacy: Explicitly recognising and funding disability-specific organisations, particularly those supporting people from low-prevalence disability cohorts.
- Improving advocacy effectiveness: Valuing specialist lived and technical expertise to address common and predictable accessibility barriers across systems, environments, and technologies.
- Supporting efficient and systemic advocacy: Enabling consolidated referral pathways and advocacy representation through specialist, independent organisations to strengthen systemic impact and deliver efficiencies for government.
You can now read the full response on the BCA website.
BCA in the Media
A ‘Tremendous Revolution’: How AI Is Changing Internet Accessibility – Newsworthy
The internet remains largely inaccessible for people who are blind or vision impaired, but emerging artificial intelligence could help change that. A recent article explores how AI is reshaping digital access and where challenges remain.
BCA Advocacy Officer Martin Stewart shares his experience navigating a digital world where almost 95 per cent of websites fail basic accessibility standards, describing online inaccessibility as a “pandemic”.
Despite this, Martin notes AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot have opened up new possibilities, calling recent developments a “tremendous revolution”. The article also highlights new AI tools that help identify accessibility issues and warns that accessibility gains could be lost if inclusion is not prioritised.
Around the Branches
Casino / Richmond Valley Branch
The Casino / Richmond Valley Branch February meeting is on Monday, 2nd February at 10:00am in the Casino Baptist Church Hall corner Canterbury and West streets Casino.
This is the first meeting for the year and is a welcome back social and planning meeting for 2026. Come and help plan meetings and activities for the year.
New members are very welcome. Join us for a “Cuppa” at 10:00am. Free transport is available.
Phone Denise on 0448 014 682 or email: deniseg.vip@outlook.com
News From Outside BCA
National
Join our External Engagement Team – Action on Disability and Development (ADD) International
Contract: Full time and permanent contract (though we are open to considering applications from those who want to work on a part-time or job-share basis). At ADD we work a 4-day week, Monday to Thursday 30 hours per week. Expected start date is April 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Location: This role is global and is open to applicants based in any location. You must have an existing right to work in the country you are to be based.
If you are based in a country where we have an existing office you can choose to work from the office, from home, or a combination. If outside of these countries, you will be expected to work from home. In that case we would use an Employer of Record to employ you on our behalf.
Salary: USD 94,857 per annum. This will be converted and paid in local currency dependent on location. This role will be paid at the rate for Grade G. We do not negotiate on salary.
Closing date: Wednesday, 21st January 2026 at 9:00am UK time.
Interested applicants should complete the online application form, including uploading their CV or resume.
You also have the option of responding to the application questions through an audio or video recording of no more than 6 minutes and uploading this through the form.
For more information and to apply visit the ADD website.
Victoria
Australian Open Blind and Low Vision (BLV) Showdown 2026 Event – Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria (BSRV)
You are invited to watch Team Australia and Team World train for the inaugural Australian Open BLV Showdown, featuring the world’s top B1–B4 blind and low vision tennis players.
Come long to try BLV tennis, learn new skills, meet and have a hit with the players from Team Australia and Team World! Wednesday, 28th January, 2026 2:00pm to 4:00pm AEDT.
Team Australia & Team World training session 4:00pm to 5:00pm AEDT.
Free on-court BLV Tennis Come and Try session 5:00pm to 6:30pm AEDT.
Meet the players and join us for a free BBQ Liston Tennis Club, 142 Nelson Place, Williamstown
RSVP: Friday, 23rd January, 2026. Please contact info@blindsports.org.au
Relaxed Morning & Audio Description Tour Westwood & Kawakubo – The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
Saturday, 21st March from 8:00am to 10:00am AEDT.
Discover two global icons of the fashion world with this audio description tour exploring exhibition highlights of Westwood and Kawakubo.
This tour will be presented during a Relaxed Session event and is suitable for people who are blind or have low vision and their families or carers. Relaxed Sessions at NGV offer an opportunity for people who could benefit from a quieter experience at the Gallery to experience exhibitions with fewer people and less sensory stimuli.
For information or to book over the phone, call 03 8620 2222 between 9:00am – 5:00pm, daily.
Please note, this tour is free however you need to purchase a ticket to the Relaxed Morning to attend. To book visit the NGV website.
South Australia
Workshop on Exploring AI as a Creative Tool – Access2Arts
Join us for the Access2Arts Exploring AI as a Creative Tool Workshop.
A free workshop designed exclusively for artists with a disability. Learn practical ways to use AI as an effective and ethical creative tool. This hands-on session will cover simple ideas, useful tools, and a group exercise. We will focus on visual art forms, including images and video creation.
When: Monday, 9th February 2026, 4:00pm to 6:00pm ACDT.
Where: Inparrila Boardroom, 161 Frome Street, Adelaide
BEGINNINGS Audio Described Exhibition – Museum of Discovery (MOD)
Opening in January, BEGINNINGS invites you to explore how our actions in the present shape the future. Through immersive and interactive experiences, the exhibition asks big questions about belonging, choice and possibility. From sonic experimentation and playful decision-making to responding to an AI gone rogue, this is a curious and creative journey for all ages.
MOD., North Terrace, Kaurna Yarta, AdelaideOpening mid-January 2026 – November 2026
Free entry
Visit the MOD website for more information.
Support our work
By donating to BCA, you contribute to important programs and services that empower our community. Every dollar goes a long way in helping us achieve our purpose and enhancing the lives of those we serve.
Have you got something to contribute?
If you have something you would like included in the Member Update, please send it to memberupdate@bca.org.au or call us on 1800 033 660. Items received by 12:00pm Monday will be considered for publishing in the Wednesday update.
Blind Citizens Australia
Email: bca@bca.org.au
Website: www.bca.org.au
ABN: 90 006 985 226
BCA acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea, and community. We also pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past, present, and future.