1:30min
Optometry Australia welcomes the final report of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review, which has been provided to the Federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler. This report presents important developments for allied health professionals, including optometrists.
Throughout the year-long review, OA was actively involved in the process, providing submissions and participating in consultations across the various stages of the review. Pleasingly, the final report marks a significant and welcome step towards realising OA’s vision of a healthcare system which fully utilises optometrists, working collaboratively with other health professionals, to make a genuine difference in providing timely eye care for Australians.
Systemic barriers
Led by Professor Mark Cormack, the final report highlights systemic barriers preventing health professionals from practising to their full scope and points to the critical need for supportive funding models.
In a statement released last week, it found that ‘virtually all the nation’s health professions face restrictions and barriers in working to their fullest – restrictions that are unrelated to their skills, training and experience’, noting that it is not a case of a ‘single profession missing out’. It further pointed out that ‘removing these barriers would make it easier for Australians to get high quality care, when are where they need it, without waiting weeks for an appointment’.
Optometry Australia CEO, Skye Cappuccio, said that OA has long advocated for a system that recognises and supports optometrists’ full scope of practice, including in supporting the development of collaborative care models alongside ophthalmologists.
‘It’s important and useful that the Review highlights the barriers to health practitioners – including optometrists – employing their full scope of practice for the benefit of patients and communities. We eagerly await the Government’s response to recommendations directed at removing key barriers,’ she said.
Scope of practice needs to meet future demand
OA’s responses to the Scope of Practice Review over the last year have also reiterated the importance of supporting the evolution of optometric scope of practice, enabling optometrists, optometry and community eye health to keep pace with the changing needs of the population.
‘Ready opportunities to ensure a modern health care system meets the eye care needs of Australians include enabling optometrists to prescribe oral medications for the purpose of the practice of optometry, as they do safely in similar countries like the UK, US and New Zealand,’ Ms Cappuccio adds.
Advocating for sustainable funding systems
In discussing the report publicly, Prof Cormack emphasised, ‘If there’s not a payment available for a healthcare worker to work at their full scope of practice… they won’t do it.’ Review recommendations include funding reform to better facilitate access to multi-disciplinary care.
This observation aligns closely with OA’s Strategic Plan 2024-27, which identified the need to facilitate the development of funding systems that empower optometrists to work to their full and evolving scope of practice. ‘Current Medicare item fees don’t cover the true cost of optometric clinical care. Optometry Australia is committed to exploring funding models and advocating for those which hold promise for optometry, optometrists and community eye health,’ Ms Cappuccio said.
‘We look forward to reviewing the Government’s response to the Review findings and working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure a beneficial and sustainable future for Australian eye care.’
Want to know more?
- The independent Scope of Practice Review examines the barriers and incentives health practitioners face working to their full scope of practice in primary care. Read more about the it here.
- Review Optometry Australia’s initial response to the review here: Unleashing the potential of optometrists: Scope of practice review
- Review Optometry Australia’s second response to the Scope of Practice Review here: Optometry Australia’s response to Scope of Practice Review – Issues Paper 2