The National Boards and Ahpra have released an advance copy of the revised Criminal history registration standard, which will officially come into effect on 15 July 2026.
In late 2025, the Optometry Board of Australia consulted on proposed changes to the Registration Standard: Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines and associated guidelines that would enable endorsed optometrists to prescribe oral medicines for eye conditions, in addition to topical medicines. The proposal reflects many years of sustained advocacy by Optometry Australia.
Optometry Australia warmly congratulates Harrison Pike, who took home the Emerging Leadership Award at the NATSIEHC26 Awards in May. Presented by FNEHA, the accolades were announced at the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference.
The 2026–27 Tasmanian Budget delivers a strong focus on fiscal restraint, preventive health and community-based care, but contains no direct investment in eye health, optometry or blindness prevention. While eye health was not specifically referenced in the Budget Papers, several priorities align closely with Optometry Australia advocacy agenda.
Registrations are now open for the Optometry Clinical Conference (OCC) 2026 held in Brisbane this August, with a powerhouse program featuring international and Australian clinical experts. Presented by Optometry Australia, OCC has quickly established itself as one of the profession’s most significant national clinical education events.
Earlier this year, Optometry Australia submitted its 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission to the Australian Government, outlining a series of practical, evidence-based reforms aimed at improving access to eye care and better utilising the skills and expertise of Australia’s optometry workforce. While the Budget did not include direct funding commitments relating to Optometry Australia’s proposals, several measures are relevant to the profession and broader eye care sector.
Secure e-referral systems are helping optometrists replace fax, post and email with more reliable and traceable communication with ophthalmologists, GPs, hospitals and other specialists. A pivotal example is underway in Tasmania, where Primary Health Tasmania and the Tasmanian Department of Health are leading the rollout of eReferrals in optometry.
Entries for the 2026 Professor Peter Swann Photography Prize competition are invited between 20 May and 5 July 2026. The prize celebrates outstanding ocular images and honours the legacy of Professor Peter Swann, who was a faculty member at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for over 37 years.
The proposal was endorsed nationwide, with 97% of voting members in Optometry Victoria South Australia, 86% in Optometry New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, 95% in Optometry Queensland Northern Territory, 81% in Optometry Western Australia, and 100% in Optometry Tasmania, voting in favour of unification.
In a global first, HOYA Vision Care, Optometry Australia’s Myopia Awareness Campaign parter, today announced that its new MiYOSMART iQ spectacle lens technology is set to halt myopia progression in children.
In the spirit of reconciliation Optometry Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
