Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and Australia's largest provider of services for people with blindness and low vision. Background Vision Australia was created in 2004 through the merger of 4 smaller blindness organisations: the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (RVIB), Vision Australia Foundation (VAF), The Royal Blind Society (RBS), and The National Information Library Service (NILS). At the time Bills needed to be passed through the parliaments of Victoria and New South Wales for this to occur. In 2006 the organisation was further expanded with the merger of the Royal Blind Foundation Queensland. This merger gave it acsess across the eastern states of Australia. In February 2008 it was announced that the Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) would also merge with Vision Australia by the end of June 2008. The inclusion of guide dog services means that Vision Australia is able to provide all the services required by the blindness and low vision community. Facilities The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind building was designed by architects Crouch and Wilson. The Royal Victorian Institute of the Blind operated a school in Burwood from 1959 to 2009. Ormond Hall, built in 1891, was originally established as a music hall for the blind and is run by the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. Associated people Notable staff of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind include: Hans Roland, wood working teacher Ulrich Pfisterer, physical education teacher Stanus William Hedger, superintendent and secretary Life time governors of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind include: Herbert Taylor Jeff Hook Vice-presidents of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind include: Alexander Mair Presidents of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind include: Jabez Lewis Carnegie Frank Nyulasy Services The following blindness and low vision services are listed on the Vision Australia website: Access Advice Accessible Information Solutions Audio Description Services Audio Publishing Children's Services Community Education Deafblind Services Employment Services (Vision Australia is listed as an official JobAccess Supplier) Equipment Solutions Further Education Bursaries Independent Living Services Information Library Service Low Vision Services Policy and Advocacy Recreation Services Technology and Training Solutions Vision Australia Radio History and heritage collection The history of Vision Australia’s founding organisations go back to the late 1800s and cover much of the struggle for better rights and services for Australia's blind and low vision community. Given this long history, Vision Australia has a very extensive heritage