Meet Kirsten

Kirsten is legally blind born with Septo-optic dysplasia, a rare condition in which Kirsten was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia and a pituitary gland abnormality, she relies on her seeing eye dog Kimba and other senses to be independent.

From a very young age, Kirsten’s family encouraged her to be all she could ever dream of – helping her get involved in sports like swimming, rowing, goalball, and athletics. However, she was always passionate about singing.

After graduating from Newcastle University, Kirsten moved to Sydney after gaining employment with Vision Australia. With funding from the NDIS, Kirsten lives independently, learning to cook, clean and maintain her apartment. 

With her seeing-eye dog, Kimba, she navigates Sydney’s public transport and ride-share vehicles as she makes her way to work and the operatic productions she is involved in.