Professor Hollows anaesthetises the eye of a patient being prepared for cataract surgery. © Photo by Michael Amendolia, courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Understanding and preventing disability have been the major medical focuses for the past 100 years.

This includes:

• development of vaccines to prevent serious illnesses which can cause disability

• improvements in the care of accident victims

• education about safety on the roads and in the workplace

• education to reduce the risks of birth defects caused during pregnancy

• recognising the importance of care and understanding for people with disabilities

Australia has played a leading role in medical research, in the development of treatments and in the creation of models of care.