Gender Inclusive Eyecare Symposium

Gender Inclusive Eyecare Symposium

Date: 15/06/2025 (AEST)

Venue: Australian College of Optometry, 374 Cardigan Street, CARLTON, VIC, 3053

Provider: Australian College of Optometry

Contact: Shazia Tahseen, [E] cpd@aco.org.au, [P] 03 9349 7546

Activity Outline

On Sunday 15 June 2025, the ACO will host a Gender-Inclusive Eye Care Symposium to inform optometrists about the clinical eye care and cultural safety needs of LGBTQIA+ patients, who often experience barriers accessing safe and inclusive eye care. A diversity of topics will be presented, including clinical insights from a general practitioner and a nurse practitioner, as well as perspectives from optometry and ophthalmology. Interactive workshop exercises will complement this background knowledge to ensure optometrists feel comfortable and confident using culturally safe terminology when asking questions about gender and eye health care needs in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Learning Objectives

• Increase knowledge of gender diversity
• Understand why gender affirming and respectful care is necessary
• Provide simple strategies to be respectful and affirming in your clinical practice
• Know where to find links and suggestions for further information and training in this area
• Understand the importance of communication, using respectful and non-gendered language, etc in delivering respectful primary healthcare – the power of getting it right.
• Have an overview of medications commonly used in gender affirming healthcare (hormones and hormone blockers) and what they do – effects, timelines, side effects, risks
• Understand how patients access gender affirming hormone therapy in the community – and know what the barriers and challenges are
• Understand what keeps patients from seeking care and consider the trans experience of the medical system through a trauma informed lens
• Uncertainties and unknowns and how to navigate these
• Understand the individual and organisational requirements to support a culturally safe environment for members of the LBGTQIA+ community within an optometry practice
• Understand how the facilitation of a culturally safe environment for LBGTQIA+ community improves access to healthcare for LGBTQIA+ community members.
• Understand the pathophysiology of idiopathic intracrannial hypertension
• Understand the diagnosis and management of idiopathic intracrannial hypertension
• Provide an overview of the themes related to LBGTIQA+ eye health that emerges from initial data analysis
• Gain familiarity with asking about preferred pronouns in a clinical situation
• Practice routine clinical and clinical handover conversations vis-à-vis respectfully asking for gender, legal vs preferred name etc
• Provide a basic introduction to gender affirming speech therapy for optometrists
• Recognise the diverse communication styles that can reflect each individual’s unique gender identity and expression, with a focus on the intersectionality between gender and neurodiversity
• Understand how gender diversity and neurodivergence can shape and influence communication in various ways

Max CPD hours awarded: 4.25

Session Information