Wellbeing is not optional — it is the foundation of how we live, grow, and face vision loss.

I’m Joanne, Founder and President of Live Well With Vision Loss. I have lived with lifelong vision loss, including high myopia and myopic macular degeneration. My journey has shown me that while change is inevitable, how we respond to it shapes our future.

Wellbeing has always been central to my life. Staying active, prioritising movement, focusing on nutrition, trying new experiences, and supporting others in their growth are not strategies I adopted because of vision loss — they are part of who I am. I believe our overall wellbeing directly impacts our eye health, resilience, and ability to adapt.

I created Live Well With Vision Loss to support people at every stage of their journey — including the stage before diagnosis, before intervention, and before confidence returns. That early period can be the most confronting and uncertain. My intention is to embrace individuals, families, carers, and supporters as they navigate change and rediscover capability.

Vision loss will touch the majority of people at some point in their lives — whether through ageing, diagnosis, or supporting someone they love. This organisation exists for all of them. Because wellbeing matters. Mindset matters. Community matters.

Alongside my role as President, I also embrace the voice of the Vision Loss Warrior — recognising that strength and compassion can coexist. I believe in facing reality honestly, moving forward intentionally, and walking beside others with courage.

Thriving is not about denying challenges. It is about building resilience, maintaining dignity, and continuing to participate fully in life — with confidence and purpose.

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Advocating for access. Advancing eye care. Empowering communities.

I’m Rhiannon, and I am one of the Directors of Live Well With Vision Loss. I am a rural clinical optometrist currently working in North Queensland.

I graduated from Flinders University in 2021 and completed an Advanced Certificate in Glaucoma in 2025 to expand my skillset in managing one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. A fun fact about me is that my very first eye test was at seventeen—when I began studying optometry.

Growing up in a small country town without a local optometrist fuelled my passion to advocate for improved access to eye care and education in rural communities. I firmly believe optometrists are at the forefront of every individual’s eye care journey. I am dedicated to holistic patient care and value strong integration between general practitioners, specialist ophthalmologists, and allied health professionals. I also engage annually in medical student training to strengthen confidence in managing ocular presentations in Emergency Departments, fostering future inter-professional collaboration.

Living in Queensland for the past four years has been incredibly rewarding. Early in my career, I had the pleasure of meeting Joanne as one of my patients. Her grit and integrity inspired me, and I connected deeply with her passion for improving accessibility for people living with vision loss. My aim is to raise awareness, share informed clinical information, support colleagues in assisting their patients, and improve access to evolving eye care technology.

When I’m not at work, you’ll likely find me exploring the Queensland coastline in my Jeep or enjoying a good coffee with a book in hand.

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Find the positive out of the negative.

I’m Brett Jiggins, a Director of Live Well With Vision Loss and a disability advocate. Although I have only been legally blind for a short time, I am passionate about ensuring that both I and others in our community live as full and normal a life as possible.

I’ve always been outgoing, driven, and someone who believes in the philosophy of “work hard, play hard.” While I’ve long had empathy for the disability community, it wasn’t until I personally experienced legal blindness that I truly understood the daily challenges faced by people with significant vision loss.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in customer service and administration, developing strong communication, organisational, and people-focused skills. I aim to bring these strengths into my role within this organisation. My outlook has also been shaped by witnessing others refuse to let blindness define their ambitions—in many cases, becoming even more determined because of it.

I consider myself a team player and firmly believe that “everyone counts or nobody counts.” The opportunity to inspire others, just as I have been inspired, motivates me deeply. No matter the circumstances, I strive to maintain a positive outlook and find strength in every challenge.

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Living well means having choice, purpose, and the ability to stay involved in the things that matter most.

I’m Rennai, a Director of Live Well With Vision Loss. I care deeply about accessible services, strong community connections, and supporting people to live with confidence and independence.

With a background in disability and aged care services, I lead Health Cab & Co, a business specialising in supported and medical transport. Over the years, I have worked closely with people navigating complex health systems and accessibility challenges. These experiences have reinforced my belief that services must be practical, compassionate, and truly centred on the people they support.

I bring hands-on leadership experience, a strong understanding of service delivery, and a commitment to building organisations that genuinely work for the community. Making support easier to access and ensuring people feel heard and respected is important to me.

What motivates me most is seeing individuals regain confidence, independence, and control in their lives. To me, living well means having choice, purpose, and remaining engaged in the things that matter most.

Website: https://healthcabnco.com.au/

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I believe living well means feeling supported to move confidently through life.

I’m Caitlyn, a Director of Live Well With Vision Loss. I am passionate about helping people, and supporting those with vision impairment brings deep fulfilment to my life.

As a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, I use safe, evidence-based exercise prescription to support people living with a wide range of conditions and disabilities, from acute sporting injuries to paediatric and neurological conditions. My first exposure to life with low vision came during a university placement, which significantly shaped the kind of clinician I aspired to become.

I was later introduced to our President, Joanne, when she required clinical support with cane training. This experience strengthened my commitment to supporting people with low vision and inspired me to join Live Well With Vision Loss.

I bring a strong understanding of human physiology, practical clinical experience, and familiarity with insurance schemes including the NDIS. I aim to contribute informed clinical insight to support thoughtful decision-making and real-world application.

What inspires me most is seeing people recognise their own capability. I value inclusion, dignity, and independence, and believe living well means being supported to move confidently through life. Outside of work, I enjoy quality time with family and friends, relaxing at home with my dog, and embracing the simple joy of doing what you love.

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Living well is not about denying our wounds, but understanding how they equip us to help others.

I’m Sheree, a member of Live Well With Vision Loss.

I have had a long and wonderful friendship with Jo since we met in 2000 while teaching English in Brisbane. Both of us have travelled widely and share many common interests, like adventures in nature, connecting with people and animals, and being healthy and active. Whenever we have an opportunity to meet up, it’s a playdate of fun and laughter. Connecting with others comes easily to Jo due to her compassionate nature and outgoing personality, which makes her a natural in community building. Jo always takes a proactive and positive approach to life, no matter what challenges come along. Her ability to find balance when things get tricky, and being able to pivot quickly while still aiming for a goal is a skill Jo uses well in both her personal and professional life. It is an honour for me to count Jo as a precious friend.

As a retiree, I’m living my best life as a nomad in a campervan, travelling throughout beautiful New Zealand. I’m passionate about living simply, exploring the country, and caring for people’s pets while they take a well-earned break.

Throughout my working life, I had two careers—one in hospitality and the other in education. Both gave me the opportunity to travel widely and live and work in different countries, enriching my understanding of people and cultures.

I’m involved with this organisation to support my dear friend Jo and her vision. Through my lived experiences, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for our shared humanity. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live to their highest potential, regardless of age, gender, disability, education, or socio-economic background.

In my fifth year of life on the road, I’ve realised what truly matters: community, belonging, helping one another, and discovering purpose through our unique gifts. Living well is not about avoiding our wounds or weaknesses, but recognising how they shape us and enable us to support others.

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Advocating for everyone’s right to live the greatest life possible.

I’m Rachel, a member of Live Well With Vision Loss, and I am deeply committed to advocating for everyone’s right to live the greatest life possible—to be independent, engaged in their community, and recognised as an equal human being regardless of disability, background, or life circumstances.

I have worked as an Assistant Nurse in the aged care sector for 28 years. Throughout my career, I have supported individuals who are legally or visually blind, and I have been continually inspired by their resilience and determination to build meaningful lives as parents, partners, and community members.

As a spouse supporting my husband through his transition into daily life as a legally blind person, I have experienced firsthand how complex and frustrating it can be to navigate systems of support. We have seen how easily people can fall through bureaucratic gaps while waiting for assistance that is essential to living independently.

I believe one of my strengths is empathy and my willingness to listen—particularly to spouses and families adjusting to vision loss. My own life experiences, including living with dyslexia and recently coming to terms with ADHD, have shaped my understanding that “normal” looks different for everyone. I choose to embrace those differences and use them to positively impact others.

In life, I believe we must accept what comes our way and use it to grow, strengthen ourselves, and help those who may benefit from our

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Passion drives us — for speed, for skill, for overcoming what life throws our way.

I’m Gary, a lifelong motorsport enthusiast and automotive specialist. My journey began in Gympie, Queensland, and has been defined by a love of racing, engineering, and creating experiences through vehicles — from drag racing to off-road adventures, and even pursuing speed records on water.

Motorsport has always been central to who I am. The thrill of tuning, building, and racing cars and buggies, exploring forest rallies, or pushing limits on the water wasn’t just a pastime — it was a way of living fully, embracing challenges, and mastering skill. That passion shaped my identity long before life asked me to adapt.

In 2017, everything changed. Overnight, I lost my vision completely due to retinal detachment caused by a growth. The sudden blindness was devastating and forced me to redefine what independence, purpose, and achievement mean. Competitive racing, once a central part of my life, was no longer possible.

Through this period, I discovered new ways to channel my determination. Restoring a 1977 Holden Monaro, which I named “Lucy,” became my focus. Stripping it to bare metal and rebuilding nearly every part by myself, with limited vision, tested my patience, creativity, and resilience. The project was more than a restoration of a car — it became a restoration of self.

Lucy went on to be showcased at Summernats, symbolising not just skill, but perseverance. The experience taught me that independence and capability are never lost — they just require adaptation. Tasks may take longer, challenges may be greater, but purpose is always within reach.

I continue to live by the principle that passion and resilience define how we navigate life. While my journey no longer follows the straight line of the racetrack, it remains full of speed, skill, and unwavering determination. I may have built Lucy, but in many ways, Lucy rebuilt me.

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