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Optometry Australia (OA) has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to cultural safety through the release of a new Commitment Statement to Supporting the Development of a Culturally Safe Optometry Profession.
This milestone Commitment Statement outlines how OA will continue to listen to, partner with and act on the advice of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, organisations and communities to build a profession where every person can access eye care that is culturally appropriate, respectful, and grounded in self-determination.
‘Cultural safety is not a destination. It’s an ongoing process of reflection, learning, and accountability,” says Optometry Australia CEO, Skye Cappuccio. ‘This Commitment Statement strengthens and codifies the values of our organisation, while challenging us to continue growing with our members and communities.’
Walking together for equity and respect
The Commitment Statement is designed to support Ahpra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy and the Shared Code of Conduct, promoting safe and effective practise, and culturally appropriate care for all.
It brings together practical actions across policy, partnerships, workforce, and member support to guide how OA will help the profession embed cultural safety at every level.
At its heart, the Commitment Statement recognises the right to self-determination and the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices leading change. OA commits to strengthening partnerships with First Nations-led organisations, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander optometrists and students, and advocating for systems that uphold equity, accessibility, and cultural respect in care.
‘We have a shared responsibility to create spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel respected, listened to, and safe,’ Ms Cappuccio says. ‘That begins with recognising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and organisations hold the solutions to improving eye care outcomes within their communities, and that our role as allies is to listen, be led, and act on their advice.’
Embedding cultural safety across the profession
Through this Commitment Statement, OA commits to embedding cultural safety in education, practice, and policy—from strengthening continuing professional development to advocating for inclusive national health policy and advocating for self-determined, First Nations-led solutions.
Cultural safety will also be woven into OA’s own operations and governance, supported by a new Commitment Statement Operational Plan, reviewed annually to ensure transparency and accountability. The Operational Plan will be developed in partnership with First Nations eye health leadership, with a workshop to be convened in November under the leadership of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance.
‘We want every optometrist to feel confident and supported in delivering care that’s not only clinically excellent, but also culturally appropriate,’ Ms Cappuccio says. ‘That means continually reflecting on our own biases, learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and communities, and translating that learning into action.’
Partnership and allyship in action
Central to OA’s approach is partnership. We are committed to working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations such as the First Nations Eye Health Alliance, Indigenous Allied Health Australia, and NACCHO and its affiliates to ensure that policy, education, and advocacy are shaped by those most affected.
‘True allyship means walking alongside – not ahead of – our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners,’ Ms Cappuccio reflects. ‘We are committed to sharing responsibility for change and ensuring our advocacy amplifies, not replaces, First Nations voices.’
OA will also continue to champion the visibility and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander optometrists and students – creating space to amplify their perspectives, celebrating their achievements, supporting ongoing career development, and enabling the development of a profession free from racism.
Continuing the work, together
While rates of vision loss remain disproportionately high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, OA believes the path forward lies in self-determined solutions, eye care delivered in culturally appropriate eye care models and in strong, reciprocal partnerships with like-minded organisations.
‘Cultural safety must live in our daily practice, not just our policy,’ Ms Cappuccio concludes. ‘This is about who we are as a profession and how we show up for every person who trusts us with their vision.’
By embedding cultural safety as a cornerstone of professional integrity, Optometry Australia and its members are shaping a future where optometry contributes meaningfully to reconciliation, equity, and the wellbeing of all communities.