Vision Australia is cancelling its news radio segment, which has been operational for more than 16 years, and shutting its Warrnambool office and store.

The decision has infuriated listeners, who say it is an integral service which helps them keep up to date on what is happening across the region.

Each day The Standard is broadcast by volunteers on the Vision Australia station.

Volunteer and vision-impaired woman Rose Egerton said "42 volunteers have been totally and utterly hung out to dry".

She said they were "totally disappointed" at the news.

"It's devastating," she said.

"Clients are cross, volunteers are more cross and everyone feels totally let down. There are some very angry people out there."

She said the Warrnambool shop, on Koroit Street, offered vision-impaired people the opportunity to buy products locally.

"It's awful they decided that this is what they had to do. I don't believe it will benefit clients," she said.

"I have people coming up to me who are newly diagnosed asking what to do.

"We hoped having the actual physical office made it more accessible to clients to buy products.

"People have to travel from Terang and other places to buy the products."

She said hearing death notices which were printed in the paper was important for vision-impaired people.

"It's probably one of the things that people will miss the most," she said.

Ms Egerton said it wasn't the Vision Australia Warrnambool staff's fault.

"They do quite a good job," she said.

"It's Melbourne-centric."

She said it was "very important for vision impaired people to have a connection with their peers" because "that gives you the confidence to go out and do all the normal things everyone else does".

"It's really, really disappointing," she said.

"They have a group of 42 volunteers here they will lose and they volunteer because they want to help these people. They have a passion for radio.

"From a client's point of view it's very annoying for older people and people on farms who are a little bit isolated. They can't necessarily access the internet. Hopefully we can get something going again.

"We've had it taken away. Now we have to fight to get it back again."

Ms Egerton said equipment donated by the community for the radio station would be taken to Bendigo's Vision Australia offices.

Vision Australia chief executive officer Ron Hooton said the organisation was "introducing a new way of delivering services in Warrnambool".

"From June 3 all Vision Australia services in Warrnambool will be provided in client's homes or through monthly clinics at a local community venue," he said.

"A variety of retail items will be available for purchase at the monthly clinic. There will be no change to the friendly Vision Australia staff clients are familiar with and there are three staff based in Warrnambool.

"We believe the changes being implemented will greatly benefit our clients and will allow the organisation to provide a better quality of service to them."

He said due to these changes the Koroit Street office would close at the end of May.

"Due to this there will be some changes to the Vision Australia Radio programming," he said.

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