Steven Daras, one of the well-respected co-authors of the Australasian DO textbooks, at work at OTEN/TAFE

A change of mind at the last moment has saved budding New Zealand dispensing opticians from having to share textbooks this year, at least in the short-term.

In January, the Open Training and Education Network (OTEN), part of TAFE NSW, decided to stop the supply of the Australasian dispensing optician (DO) course textbooks to rival DO course providers, including the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD) which runs the accredited course in New Zealand.

The course text books, Practical Optical Workshop by David Wilson, Steve Stenersen and Steven Daras, and Practical Optical Dispensing by David Wilson and Steven Daras, are relevant to the Australian/New Zealand context and are currently a key component of the ACOD course. ACOD’s course is endorsed by the Association of Dispensing Opticians in New Zealand (ADONZ) and NZ Optics understands OTEN’s decision to suddenly stop supplying the textbooks left little time to find alternatives and amend the course accordingly. Though OTEN retains the rights to the textbooks, the understanding was that the authors wanted them to always be available to all, said one source who didn’t wish to be named.

The textbooks were written by the late David Wilson, who used to work for OTEN, was a cross-Tasman champion of the importance and skills of a good dispensing optician to any practice, and wanted Australasian DOs to have their own Australasian textbooks. Though other good textbooks exist in both the US and the UK, Wilson’s have become the standard in Australasia.

The textbook stoush itself is believed to have been caused by the rise in the number of budding DOs now wishing to become qualified and, in New Zealand, registered, but who have chosen to seek alternative providers to OTEN, such as ACOD. ACOD was set up by former OTEN DO course teachers James Gibbins and Chedy Kalach, just over a year ago and reportedly enrolled more students in 2017 than any other DO course provider after gaining the endorsement of ADONZ, Specsavers and Australian independent optometry group, ProVision, in late 2016 and early 2017.

After being informed of OTEN’s decision to stop the supply and having no initial luck from negotiating with the New South Wales-based college, NZ Optics understands ACOD led an appeal together with some other industry associations, organisations and individuals to seek intervention from the NSW state government. Adding to ACOD’s appeal is a claim by Gibbins that the most recent editions of the textbooks were partly funded by an independent, private Optical Dispensing Education Fund (which has since closed) which adds to OTEN’s obligation to make the text books freely available to the wider industry. NSW Deputy Premier and Skills Minister, John Barilaro, and his Assistant Skills Minister Adam Marshall, are believed to be looking into the case.

However shortly before going to press, OTEN had a change of heart and agreed to make the textbooks available to non-TAFE NSW students during the first half of 2018. The decision was driven by OTEN’s consideration of the potential impact on students from other colleges which don’t have sufficient resources to develop materials for their students, said a spokesman for TAFE NSW.

“However, in a competitive VET (vocational education and training) market, TAFE NSW does not consider that it is appropriate or reasonable, on an ongoing basis, to provide its resources to competitors in circumstances where TAFE NSW has invested significantly in its materials. TAFE NSW will be reviewing its textbooks in 2018 and is intending to update these resources for use in 2019. TAFE NSW does not intend to provide these materials to third parties.”

Given that the matter is currently still under ministerial review, ACOD directors’ Gibbins and Kalach were unable to comment in detail, however they did say they welcomed OTEN’s decision to re-supply the textbooks at least for the first half of 2018. “Therefore, we expect to use the Wilson / Stenersen textbooks as usual for 2018. According to our continuous improvement practise all ACOD learning materials, including the textbooks will be reviewed for 2019.”

ADONZ president Donald Crichton said, “Going forward I can see ACOD using different textbooks to complement their course delivery. I am confident that James and Chedy will manage a successful adaption and that future students will not be affected.”

One of the textbooks co-author’s, New Zealand-based Steve Stenersen, a well-respected, long-serving DO educator and champion in New Zealand who was recognised with an ADONZ life member award at the end of last year, however, said he was still very disappointed with OTEN’s decision. “OTEN have the legal right to block sales of the book. This is a moral issue. When I was asked by David to co-author the book with him it was with the intention that the book was available to all, including Australia, New Zealand as well as some sales in the UK, States and South Africa.”

Stenersen said he would not support OTEN’s review of the textbooks if they continued to be just for OTEN’s use.

In New Zealand in 2017, a record 54 students enrolled in ACOD’s certificate IV in optical dispensing course and larger numbers are expected for this year’s course. The flexible course is completed in 18-24 months part-time and includes online work as well as practical sessions at ACOD’s workshop in Glenfield, Auckland. Students are expected to have worked for at least a year in an optical practice before starting the course and then continue to work about 20 hours a week, while completing the course with the support of a workplace supervisor.