ADONZ withdraws support for ACOD accreditation

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The Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand (ADONZ) has withdrawn its support for the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing’s (ACOD) Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing, saying it wants to raise educational standards for dispensing opticians in Aotearoa New Zealand.

ADONZ communicated its position to members in May, with the executive committee saying the decision followed an ongoing evaluation and curriculum review conducted by ADONZ and its educational arm, OptiBlocks. During the review, “concerns were identified regarding whether aspects of the current course content sufficiently align with the practical, clinical and professional requirements of New Zealand practitioners – both within the current regulated environment and with consideration to the future direction of dispensing optics in New Zealand.”

Speaking to NZ Optics, ADONZ members said there were “anecdotal” concerns about slipping education standards and the lack of an educational pathway supporting career progression for qualified dispensing opticians.

However, the ADONZ executive committee has stressed the decision is not a reflection of dissatisfaction with any individual educator or organisation. “ADONZ acknowledges the contribution education providers have made to the profession over many years and remains committed to maintaining respectful and constructive professional relationships,” it said.

ADONZ noted that future reaccreditation decisions sit solely with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB), the regulatory authority responsible for determining which programmes are accredited as part of the registration pathway for dispensing opticians in New Zealand. Importantly, the Certificate IV remains accredited by the ODOB, meaning students who successfully complete the programme remain eligible to apply for registration as dispensing opticians in New Zealand.

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Susanne Bradley

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ACOD, which has provided the accredited Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing to New Zealand students since it was first accredited as a prescribed qualification in 2017, told NZ Optics the programme has been successful and produced hundreds of graduates, many of whom are practising dispensing opticians today.

“ACOD is confident that the Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing continues to comply with the scopes of practice for dispensing opticians, as defined by the ODOB. ACOD highly values working collaboratively with all parties throughout the optical industry and works to serve and support the interests and professional development of optical assistants and dispensing opticians in New Zealand,” said ACOD director James Gibbins.

ODOB chief executive and registrar Suzanne Halpin said the Certificate IV was reaccredited in 2022, with its accreditation running until November 2026. Before then the programme will undergo a reaccreditation process, as set out in the ODOB guidelines. This will allow the board to determine whether accreditation will continue beyond that date, Halpin said.

“As part of any reaccreditation process, an education provider, awarding body or programme would be expected to provide the accreditation review team with relevant preliminary information before its site visit. This could include any response to feedback received from a professional association, or any response to any complaint from an interested party or stakeholder,” Halpin said.

She added that any formal complaint received by the board about an education provider, awarding body or programme would be taken seriously and dealt with in accordance with the board’s procedures and natural justice obligations. “As a first step, the complaint would be raised with the organisation in question, inviting a response,” she said.