info@qldblind.org.au  |  07 3848 8888

info@qldblind.org.au  |  07 3848 8888

Queensland Blind Association Membership

If you are legally blind, 16 years or older, and living in Queensland we welcome you to join this Association. Please contact the office on 07  3848 8888  for a Member Welcome Package.

Your completed application will be presented to the next Board of Management meeting.

Queensland Blind association Inc  (QBA) was established in 1939 for the purpose of providing assistance to Blind people. We are a ‘not for profit’ registered charity which does not receive any government grants.

A Board of Management of six members is elected from the membership of the organisation. Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month except for January.

QBA is an independent blindness agency and is not affiliated with any other blindness agency. However, we liaise with other agencies at various times. If for example, we cannot be of assistance, or what you are asking for is outside of our charter, we will do our best to refer you to another agency or government body.

Our mission is to maximise the potential of a Blind person’s physical, social and emotional environment so that each person may live comfortably within the general community.

To become a member you must be legally blind, 16 years or older, and reside in Queensland. There are three categories of membership Full, Associate and Junior. A full member is 18 years or over, reside not more than 160 kilometres from the Brisbane GPO. Full members have the right to vote at meetings and may be elected to the Board of Management. All other members and Junior members will be Associate members. A Junior member is legally blind 16 years to 18 years and reside in Queensland. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote or hold a position on the Management Committee.

A proposer and a seconder who are current financial members of  Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) must sign all applications for membership. A copy of our Constitution is available on request.

The membership fee is currently $5 and is payable with your application when joining and is payable by 31st December each year for the following years membership. It is important to note if the membership is not paid, membership will lapse and it will be necessary for you to re-apply.  This will result in a delay in receiving services and benefits may change from what you were previously receiving.

Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) provides a range of services and benefits to its members. Our aim is to ensure our services and benefits meet individual needs and are of high quality.

QBA may provide financial assistance to members. Any assistance will be provided on a needs basis and applicants must provide the Association complete and accurate income details for themselves and their partner. An Income Assessment form is included in the Member Welcome Package.

There is an initial waiting period of between 3 months from date of acceptance before a member may make application for financial assistance should it become necessary. All applications for financial assistance, must include a copy of an invoice and receipt showing the members name and must be received at the QBA office at least seven days prior to the Board of Management meeting.

QBA offers a direct deposit service, which will enable us to deposit any financial assistance that may be granted to you, directly into your nominated bank account (excluding credit card account). Should you wish to use this service, you will need to complete the authority form in the membership package.

Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) has a wide range of equipment available to assist its members. Our staff will provide information and advice on equipment for daily living over the telephone or you may like to visit our low vision equipment sales room, which is open Monday to Thursday 9 am to 2 pm. All other times by appointment only.

Please call our office on (07) 3848 8888 prior to visiting our low vision equipment sales room.

All products except white canes are also available for purchase through our website.

We are a NDIS/My Aged Care provider of equipment if you wish to make purchases through your plans.

The Association’s AGM is conducted in Brisbane each year. Members will be advised of the date and are encouraged to attend.

  • ‘Directory of Agencies’
  • ‘Queensland Support Groups’
  • ‘Directory of Concessions’
  • ‘Directory of Suppliers for Building Modifications ‘
  • ‘Catalogue of Equipment’

Our publications are available by print format or can be viewed and downloaded from our website.

Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) communicates with its members several times during the year. You may choose your preferred method of receiving newsletters by large print or email and correspondence by large print or email.

Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) maintains an accurate record of relevant information and services provided on each member either on an electronic data membership system or in a physical form via filing and storage areas.
Please note we cannot provide you with any medical advice on your condition of blindness. We suggest you consult with your medical practitioner concerning these matters.
We have many caring people who support the work of Queensland Blind Association Inc (QBA) by making a donation, or a gift from their Estates.To this day, the Board of Management has ensured that any legacies gifted to the association are invested for long-term growth and security. The income earned from the investment of these legacies is used to support and maintain services and benefits to members.Below is the preferred wording of a Form of Bequest that will ensure legal endorsement:“I give, devise and bequeath ($…… OR my property at…… …… OR ……% of the residue of my Estate) free of all duties to the Queensland Blind Association Inc. for the purposes of the said Association within the State of Queensland, and I declare that the receipt of the Secretary of the Association shall be full and sufficient discharge to my executor or trustee, and shall absolve them from seeing as to the application thereof.”

Please direct all queries to QBA office.

Telephone: 07 3848 8888

Email: info@qldblind.org.au

Website: www.qldblind.org.au

We look forward in welcoming you to the association.

As stated by Centrelink.Selection Criteria for Age / Disability Support Pension on the basis of blindness under section 95.To be paid Age / Disability Support Pension on the grounds of permanent blindness, a person must provide evidence of permanent blindness according to the criteria set out in the guide to the administration of the Social Security law. A person is considered to be permanently blind for the purposes of the Social Security Act 1991 if any of the following criteria are satisfied:(a) Visual acuity on the Snellen Scale after correction by suitable lenses is less than 6/60 in both eyes; or(b) Field of vision is constricted to 10 degrees or less of arc around central fixation in the better eye irrespective of corrected visual activity (equivalent to 1/100 white test object); or(c) A combination of visual defects results in the same degree of vision impairment as that occurring in (a) or (b) above.

At Queensland Blind Association Inc. (QBA) we believe a members right to keep their personal information private is highly important. We are committed to protecting and maintaining the privacy, accuracy and security of the personal information of its members, customers, donors and staff.

The type of information we ask you will depend on the type of benefit or service we provide to you and may include the following:

We only collect information that is needed by us to provide our benefits or services. We will usually collect your personal information directly from you, unless it is not reasonable nor practical to do so, or you have consented to us obtaining the information from someone else.

When personal information is collected by us we will ensure that:

  • it is collected by lawful and fair means
  • it is used for a lawful purpose
  • it is collected with your consent and
  • the purpose for collection is made clear and explicit

You need not give us any of the personal information about yourself, which may be requested in our communications with you, but it may affect our ability to provide you with our benefits and services.

Information security

Association employees are allowed access to donor/customer records only in pursuit of their duties.

We take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Your information is stored securely whether in an electronic format via our computer system or physical form via filing and storage areas. For example, only staff needing access to the information are allowed access. Your personal information is stored in secured premises or in electronic databases requiring logins and passwords.

We will not retain any of your information for any longer than it is required by us, except to fulfil our legal obligations.

We will with your help, keep your personal information accurate, complete and up to date.

Web Site Privacy

This web site records statistical logging of requests without identifying personal information. No attempt will be made to identify users or their browsing activities except, in the unlikely event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency may exercise a warrant to inspect the Internet Service Provider’s log.

We will only record your email address if you send us a message. It will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it and will not be added to a mailing list unless you request for this to be done. We will not use your email address for another purpose, unless you request correspondence to be sent to you using this format and will not disclose it without your consent.

Need further information

Contact QBA directly on 07 3848 8888 or you can email to info@qldblind.org.au

We reserve the right to change or alter the policy at any time whilst maintaining a standard of privacy confidentially.

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