News
Celebrating World Sight Day 2025!
On Thursday 9 October 2025, Guide Dogs SA/NT welcomed 200 guests to celebrate World Sight Day at Government House in Adelaide.
We were excited to recognise Adelaide Airport as our Access Advocate Award recipient for 2025, with City of Marion, City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, and Adelaide Oval receiving commendations.
The awards celebrate local organisations’ efforts to embed accessibility and inclusion practices, including undertaking Human Guide Training, and their commitment to raising awareness within their workplaces to support people living with low vision and blindness.
Last year’s inaugural Access Advocate Award winners were Adelaide Fringe and Keolis Downer.
“It is important to highlight organisations doing their best to make sure every person can be equal, without being restricted by access or ability,” said Aaron Chia, CEO of Guide Dogs SA/NT.
“Adelaide Airport has shown great leadership in creating a more inclusive experience for travellers in South Australia. Through their Hidden Disability program which includes Facility Dog Elmo, the “Try Before You Fly” event, and its participation in Human Guide Training, Adelaide Airport shows a genuine commitment to accessibility.
“Travel can be a stressful time for anyone, and the initiatives Adelaide Airport has implemented as part of its workplace training create empathy and understanding, supporting more people to travel safely and confidently.”
The morning also featured two panels. The first panel included clients ranging in age from their 20s (musician and university student Anthony) to 40s (mother and advocate Melissa, and Guide Dogs volunteer John) and 60s (social group participant Steve) raising awareness of the challenges they face and overcoming obstacles, focussing on accessibility opportunities.
The second panel featured Adelaide Airport’s Access and Inclusion Specialist, Kelly Vincent, to discuss the ways they support travellers, and Adelaide Oval, which has undertaken Human Guide Training and implemented other initiatives including a sensory room, so more people can enjoy their visit to the Oval.
We were also pleased to have many of our Clinical Services Team attending to share with guests a selection of assistive technologies, which enable people living with low vision or blindness to better engage with their community.
Our Dog Services Team was also on hand with puppies-in-training – Yoshi, Yogi, and Ziggy – along with Ambassadogs Darcy and Merlin, to greet guests and share information about the puppies’ journeys to become life-changing companions.
“We are pleased to welcome our clients and community to celebrate World Sight Day with our team, and of course our puppies starting their journey and our working dogs supporting our clients on the day,” Mr Chia said.
“Events like World Sight Day help us to raise awareness of the importance of improving accessibility and inclusivity in our community, while sharing the role assistive technology plays in supporting people to live more independently at home and to have greater confidence when in the community, from hot water measuring cups which sound an alarm to phones and white canes.”
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us, it was a wonderful morning to celebrate and acknowledge our community, while also raising awareness.
