Optometry Australia (OA) says it welcomes the announcement that Australia’s state and federal treasurers have agreed to support reforms that enable health practitioners to work to their full scope of practice, as included in the updated National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement Schedule.
OA said the inclusion of full scope of practice reforms reflected growing national recognition that enabling the health workforce to use its full training was essential to improving productivity, strengthening access and reducing system pressures.
As outlined in the schedule, this includes streamlining regulatory processes and appropriately recognising the skills, experience and qualifications of workers, and ensuring Australians can access high quality and sustainable health and care services by removing unnecessary barriers to mobility and supporting consumers to choose the most suitable provider.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his state and territory counterparts last week agreed to support the reforms in order to improve productivity and reduce costs in the health sector.
“This is an important acknowledgement that full scope of practice is not just beneficial for patient care – it’s fundamental to a modern, efficient health system,” said Ms Skye Cappuccio, OA CEO.
“For optometry, supporting full scope of practice means better utilising optometrists who are already trained and qualified to deliver comprehensive, safe eyecare – improving timely access for patients, addressing care gaps, and helping reduce avoidable pressure on other parts of the health system in both public hospital and primary care settings,” she said.
“The skills and training of Australian optometrists are seriously under-utilised compared to our counterparts in similar developed nations. We know that when optometrists are empowered to deliver full scope care, we see earlier detection and management of eye disease, better long-term outcomes, and a more effective allocation of health resources.”
OA said it looked forward to working with commonwealth, state and territory treasurers, health ministers, regulators and sector partners to ensure these productivity-boosting reforms translated into practical, on-the-ground improvements in access to essential eye care for all Australians.
