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.
Ahpra and the Optometry Board of Australia have released an advance copy of the revised Supervised practice framework, designed to make it simpler, quicker, and cheaper for internationally qualified health practitioners to work in Australia.
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 TGA has issued a safety update about a potential association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medicines—commonly known as GLP-1 RAs—and non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Recent media coverage has raised serious concerns about workplace pressures, commercial expectations and patient care in parts of the optometry sector. Optometry Australia takes these concerns seriously.
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.
Two University of Melbourne optometry students spent their clinical placement at Congress in Alice Springs, gaining hands-on experience with complex ocular pathology and a deeper understanding of Aboriginal health.
OA invites expressions of interest to support up to three Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander optometrists and/or optometry students to attend the Optometry Clinical Conference from 9 – 10 August, on the lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera Peoples, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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.
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.
