Optometry Australia's advocacy efforts are directed toward ensuring a sustainable primary eye care system and timely access to primary eye health and vision care for all patients, regardless of where they live.
Optometry Australia's advocacy work is responsive to member's needs. Regular surveys of members ensure the organisation understands priorities for members. Further consultation with members occurs through the organisation's expert working groups, state divisions and other consultation forums has led to the development of the below following positions on these issues:
Contents
Optometry Australia and Glaucoma Australia MOU
Bulk Billing by optometrists
Equitable access to optometric care
Expired Prescriptions
Preserving timely access to preventative eye care
Private Health Insurance and Optometry
Provision of an Adult Primary Eye Health and Vision Examination
Provision of sustainable eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Ready-Made Spectacles
Regulation of the Prescription of Optical Appliances
Remuneration for sustainable primary eye care
Supply of Contact Lenses
The optometry workforce
Vision Screenings
Optometry Australia and Glaucoma Australia MOU
Optometry Australia and Glaucoma Australia have signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting both organisation’s critical roles in glaucoma detection and management within the community. The MOU is further designed to strengthen the relationship between the two organisations. Back to top
Provision of an Adult Primary Eye Health and Vision Examination
This position statement articulates Optometry Australia's position on the roles of the optometrists in promoting eye care health. Back to top
Equitable access to optometric care
This position statement outlines key policies to foster equitable access to optometry for all Australians, particularly those at disadvantage. Back to top
Remuneration for sustainable primary eye care
Optometry Australia has developed a position statement which outlines remuneration and funding policy to ensure primary eye care remains sustainable into the future. Back to top
Bulk Billing by optometrists
Optometry Australia has updated the position statement on Bulk Billing by optometrists. The decision on whether to bulk bill patients is the responsibility of the optometrist or their practice. Back to top
The optometry workforce
Optometry Australia has developed a position statement which outlines policy for the future supply of the optometric workforce to ensure optometry continues to meet the eye care needs of the community. Back to top
Preserving timely access to preventative eye care
Optometry Australia has developed a position in response to the Government’s intended changes to the permitted time period for accessing a comprehensive eye examination under Medicare, arising from the 2014 Federal Budget. Back to top
Private Health Insurance and Optometry
Expired Prescriptions
Ready-Made Spectacles
The position statement on ready-made spectacles sets out Optometry Australia's position on the sale of ready made spectacles. Optometry Australia believes that although ready-made spectacles are unlikely to cause a direct injury to someone using them, their unrestricted sale poses a risk to the community through its potential to divert people with serious eye conditions from seeking professional care. Purchase of ready-made spectacles may lead to a false sense of security, since the spectacles may temporarily address one vision problem whilst other problems have not even been detected. Back to top
Regulation of the Prescription of Optical Appliances
The position statement on regulation of the prescription of optical appliances sets out the organisation's position on the laws governing who should be permitted to prescribe optical appliances. In all States and Territories of Australia the prescription of optical appliances is restricted, except in special circumstances, to optometrists and medical practitioners. Governments have chosen to maintain the restriction on the understanding that the prescription of optical appliances is not an activity that can safely be separated from a comprehensive eye examination and that the person who prescribes an optical appliance also has the responsibility for the entire visual wellbeing of that patient. Back to top
Provision of sustainable eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
The position statement on sustainable eye care sets out the position of the organisation to sustainable eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Back to top
Supply of Contact Lenses
The position statement on the supply of contact lenses sets out the position of the organisation on the sale of contact lenses. Contact lenses may pose a significant risk to ocular health and vision if they are not professionally prescribed or if they are not used and maintained correctly.
It is therefore the position of Optometry Australia is that contact lenses, regardless of type, tinting, optical power or intended use, should not be supplied except on presentation of a valid prescription. Back to top
Vision Screenings