1:30min
Optometry Australia extends a sincere thank you to all members who expressed interest in the inaugural open round of our Advanced Practice Recognition (APR) Program – Glaucoma.
Over the past two months, we’ve received an extraordinary volume of high-quality enquiries, and we are pleased to confirm that the number of impressive applications submitted will ensure a strong cohort of highly qualified candidates for this first intake.
Applications for this round are closed, and candidates have been advised of the outcome. Successful candidates will now move into the assessment phase of the program. This next stage includes the submission of detailed case reports and supporting clinical evidence, as well as participation in a clinical discussion interview. The process is designed to robustly assess candidates’ advanced glaucoma management expertise and professional leadership.
We look forward to announcing the successful candidates from this open round in the coming months.
In the meantime, we are proud to formally acknowledge the first seven optometrists credentialled through our APR – Glaucoma pilot phase:
- Alex Craig
- Damon Hannay
- Inez Hsing
- Thi Thi Nguyen
- Simi Sarin
- Daniel Thomson
- Mary Travis
These optometrists have now earned the title “Optometry Australia Credentialled Advanced Practitioner – Glaucoma” and are formally recognised for their advanced clinical capability and leadership in collaborative glaucoma care.
These credentialled optometrists are already contributing to elevated models of patient care and showcasing the value of advanced practice recognition in optometry. As Damon Hannay shared in a statement made online, ‘It’s an exciting time for optometry and I am proud to be amongst this first cohort of graduates. I believe this program is an important step in enhancing our professions viability into the future. Career development, scope of practice, recognition and job satisfaction are key concerns for our profession and the APR is a great step forward.’
Daniel Thomson also noted, ‘The credentialing process is a challenging but valuable learning process in itself and provides an exciting pathway for optometrists to be acknowledged for their dedication in this field and the valuable service they provide to glaucoma patients. The recognition will create further opportunities for both the individual and the profession to maximise optometrists’ expertise and skill in glaucoma care to meet future needs in eye care and foster rewarding careers.’
We’re incredibly proud of these pioneers and the broader cohort who are shaping the future of advanced practice recognition in optometry.
The Round 2 intake is expected to open in late 2025.
For more information about the APR – Glaucoma program, visit our Advanced Practice Recognition hub.