Developed through a collaborative co-design process involving 26 health profession colleges across Australia, the Framework provides practical guidance to help healthcare organisations reduce their environmental impact, adapt to climate-related challenges and continue delivering high-quality care.
Momentum is building for universal preschool vision screening in Victoria, with Government and Opposition parliamentarians joining eye health leaders at Parliament House late last month to hear the evidence for a reform that could help ensure every child starts school ready to learn.
The 2026–27 Queensland Budget handed down recently contains limited eye health-specific investment. However, it includes a notable commitment to children’s vision screening through the statewide expansion of the Healthy Kindy Kids program.
The Census, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, is Australia’s largest national statistical collection. Held every five years, the next collection is on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Optometry Australia encourages all optometrists to complete the Census with care to make our profession count.
Optometry Australia is disappointed that the Australian Government’s expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment has overlooked optometry students, despite the significant financial hardship many face while completing mandatory clinical placements.
The National Transport Commission has recently launched a review of the 2022 Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines, aiming to ensure the Standards reflect current clinical and road safety evidence and contemporary practice. Member feedback is invited.
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.
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.
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.
Optometry practices across Queensland that provide services to children must now comply with the Child Safe Standards introduced under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, which came into effect on 1st January 2026. Most optometry practices will be captured by the new requirements if they see children as patients, even occasionally.
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.
