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Supporting the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation’s Seeing into the Future Gala

The Grand Ballroom, Shangri-La, Sydney, 22 May 2026

TOPICS FROM THE EVENING

Explore the key stories from the Seeing into the Future Gala — from the $380,000 raised for regional eye care, to BindiMaps' role as Video Sponsor and the accessible wayfinding we delivered on the night at the Shangri-La Hotel.

EVENT RECAP

BindiMaps was proud to support the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation

On Friday 22 May 2026, BindiMaps was proud to support the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation's Seeing into the Future Gala — a landmark evening held at the Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney. More than a fundraising dinner, it was a declaration of intent: to transform how specialist eye care is delivered across NSW, starting right now. The event raised an extraordinary $380,000 in a single evening, with $50,000 pledged specifically to pilot the Tele-Vision programme.
The Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has been championing the hospital and its patients for 45 years, and this gala represented one of its most significant milestones.

The need is urgent and the data is clear: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 40 and over experience vision loss at three times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians, and 94% of that vision loss is preventable or treatable. Tele-Vision is a direct and meaningful response to that inequity, designed to ensure that geography is no longer a barrier to specialist care.

BindiMaps at the Gala

BindiMaps served as the exclusive Video Sponsor and also deployed indoor wayfinding at the Shangri-La so every guest could navigate with confidence.

Managing Director Bret Duckers and Executive Director Linas Jarasius attended in person, proud to be in a room united by shared belief in what is possible when generosity meets purpose. Compelling video creates the emotional connection that turns attendance into action, and BindiMaps was glad its contribution helped move the room.

OUR COMMITMENT

WHY BINDIMAPS SUPPORTS EVENTS LIKE THIS?

  • Advancing equitable access to specialist eye care across regional NSW
  • Supporting Tele-Vision, a 24/7 virtual ophthalmology consultation pilot
  • Providing accessible indoor wayfinding for all event attendees
  • Strengthening community trust through purposeful partnerships

ACCESSIBLE WAYFINDING TRANSFORMS EVERY EVENT

Discover how BindiMaps is making every venue and event accessible for all attendees
THE IMPACT OF

ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPACT

BindiMaps served as the exclusive Video Sponsor for the evening, helping bring the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation's story to life across three screens. Compelling video content created the emotional connection that moved guests to act -contributing to $380,000 raised on the night. BindiMaps also mapped the Shangri-La venue with indoor wayfinding, so every guest could navigate with confidence, including accessible entry points planned before arrival.

Accessible navigation does not stop at the hospital door, and it does not stop at the event venue either. For an organisation dedicated to saving sight, ensuring the evening itself was fully navigable felt both purposeful and fitting. Every attendee could find their table, locate accessible entry points, and move through the Shangri-La with independence and confidence.

ACCESSIBILITY

WAYFINDING AT THE GALA

BindiMaps mapped the Shangri-La Hotel venue for the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation's Seeing into the Future Gala, delivering indoor wayfinding for all attendees on the night. Using a simple QR code scan, guests could access detailed floor plans and receive step-by-step navigation guidance directly on their mobile device. Accessible entry points were clearly identified, allowing guests with mobility or vision challenges to plan their journey before they arrived. The BindiMaps platform operates without beacons, wiring, or building modifications — making deployment at event venues straightforward and non-disruptive.

For an organisation dedicated to preserving and restoring sight, ensuring the event itself was fully navigable carried particular meaning. Accessible navigation is not a feature reserved for hospitals and transit hubs — it belongs in every space where people gather.
The BindiMaps wayfinding solution deployed at the Shangri-La provided audio directions optimised for guests with vision impairment, alongside visual maps for all attendees. QR codes positioned throughout the venue allowed guests to orient themselves instantly and navigate to their table, accessible facilities, or exit points with ease.

Journey planning was available ahead of the event, so guests could familiarise themselves with the venue layout before arriving. BindiMaps provides 30cm-accurate indoor positioning without requiring any infrastructure changes to the venue. The same technology that guides patients through complex hospital environments was applied to ensure every guest at this landmark evening could move through the space independently, safely, and with confidence.
Accessible wayfinding transforms the experience for attendees who might otherwise rely on staff assistance, freeing everyone to focus on the purpose of the evening.
ACCESSIBILITY

HOW BINDIMAPS SUPPORTED THE GALA

BindiMaps served as the exclusive Video Sponsor for the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation's Seeing into the Future Gala, held on 22 May 2026 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney. The evening raised $380,000 to fund Tele-Vision, a specialist virtual care model connecting regional Emergency Departments with ophthalmologists at Sydney Eye Hospital in real time.

Inclusive Navigation

BindiMaps also deployed indoor wayfinding technology throughout the Shangri-La venue, ensuring every attendee could navigate independently and with confidence, including access to accessible entry points planned from home before the event even began.

RELATED RESOURCES

EXPLORE BINDIMAPS SOLUTIONS

BindiMaps indoor wayfinding supports accessible navigation at events, hospitals, and public venues across Australia. The Seeing into the Future Gala demonstrated how technology and purpose can work together — ensuring every guest could navigate the Shangri-La with confidence, including accessible entry points, before and during the event.

Explore our product suite to learn how BindiMaps can support your venue or organisation. From the BindiMaps App and BindiLytics analytics to BindiView and BindiWeb, each solution is designed to deliver inclusive, precise, and scalable wayfinding for complex environments.

ONGOING IMPACT

STAYING CURRENT WITH COMMUNITY IMPACT

This page reflects BindiMaps' ongoing commitment to the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and the communities it serves across regional NSW. As the Tele-Vision pilot progresses and fundraising milestones are reached, content here will be updated to ensure healthcare and venue professionals have access to the most current information. Accurate, timely updates build the trust that meaningful partnerships require.BindiMaps will continue to share developments from the Seeing into the Future Gala, including outcomes from the Tele-Vision pilot launch, new accessibility innovations deployed at events, and the broader impact on equitable eye care delivery across New South Wales.

CONCLUSION

The Seeing into the Future Gala raised $380,000 in a single evening - a result that reflects both the urgency of the cause and the generosity of everyone in the room. The $50,000 pledged to pilot Tele-Vision will directly connect regional Emergency Departments with ophthalmologists at Sydney Eye Hospital, helping patients across NSW receive specialist care without leaving their communities.
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READY TO BUILD YOUR OWN ACCESSIBLE WAYFINDING SOLUTION?

Explore how BindiMaps can make your venue accessible and navigable for every visitor.