Optometry Australia has launched a new initiative called “Optometry 2040” aimed at identifying likely and preferred futures for optometry, optometrists, and community eye health in Australia.
“Optometry 2040 will enable the optometry sector to collaborate to identify, test and consider initiatives to create a sustainable and successful optometry sector over the next 20 years and beyond,” said Optometry Australia’s CEO Lyn Brodie. “Optometry 2040 responds to concerns that the future is looking more uncertain for many in the sector. These concerns have arisen due to on-going turbulence resulting from technological, economic, political and demographic change which has caused significant disruption to tried and true practice models, working conditions, patient care, training requirements and communications.
“Optometry 2040 will use proven techniques to enable the optometry sector to identify potential futures for optometry and what is needed to ensure preferred futures become a reality. This is about collaborating to create and have better control over the future of the profession. Change will continue at increasingly rapid rates and rather than hope it may settle, we must embrace and channel the opportunities it brings for the successful sustainability of our sector.”
Optometry Australia members plus a wide cross-section of optometry sector influencers are being invited to participate in Optometry 2040 via a series of workshops being conducted by Optometry Australia across Australia between March and September and via a live interactive webinar. Workshops will also be held at Silmo Sydney 2018. Dates and venues are still be finalised.
The outcomes of the workshops will feed into the creation of a multi-decade strategy that will become the blueprint for a progressive Australian optometry sector, said Brodie.
