Optometry Australia (OA) has unveiled its Strategic Plan FY2024-27 which outlines the organisation’s focuses and sets forth “clear and ambitious” targets over the next three-year period.
According to OA CEO Ms Skye Cappuccio, the strategic plan highlights the organisation’s commitment to forging a sustainable and dynamic future for optometry whilst providing comprehensive professional support to members.
“Our goal is to secure optometry’s future by shaping a profession for our members that not only thrives, but remains sustainable,” she said.
“Through our strategic plan, we’ve laid out a clear roadmap that positions optometry as a vital pillar of the healthcare system. At the same time, we’ve reiterated our commitment to ensuring we meet and exceed our members’ professional needs.”
Cappuccio also acknowledged the state divisions for their vital contributions to OA’s strategic planning.
“We appreciate the invaluable input from our state divisions and division leaders in helping to shape a plan that aligns with our members’ needs and interests,” she said.
The strategic plan is structured around four key pillars and its strategies for providing quality, comprehensive services to members, acting as a strong, impactful voice for the optometry profession, leading the profession toward its preferred future, and ensuring organisational sustainability.
Pillar 1: Engage optometrists, provide valued member services
The first pillar focuses on engaging with current and new members by delivering an essential suite of member services, tailored to varying career stages. Strategies include:
- Continuing to provide high-quality professional indemnity insurance to safeguard members.
- Maintaining and continuously improving CPD programs to ensure OA remains the pre-eminent provider of education.
- Ensuring members have ready access to timely and professional information to develop their careers.
Pillar 2: Lead the profession, realise the preferred future
This pillar focuses on leading the optometry profession towards the preferred future for optometry, where optometrists play a central role in eye health, working to their maximal and expanded scope in integrated, collaborative care models to meet community needs. Strategies include:
- Expanding clinical scope by continuing to pursue regulatory changes for in-scope oral therapeutic prescribing.
- Facilitating the development of funding systems and models of care that enable the profession to realise its preferred future.
- Introducing an approach to recognising advanced practice in optometry.
- Supporting timely patient access to culturally safe care, including for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander peoples and refugee communities.
Pillar 3: Promote eye health, embed optometry
The third pillar focuses on promoting the role of optometry to ensure optometrists are the first port of call for eye health and vision. Strategies include:
- Increasing public awareness, knowledge and understanding of eye health and the essential role of optometry through community and media campaigns.
- Embedding optometry as an integral part of the Australian healthcare system by optimising health referral pathways and collaborative care models.
- Enhancing government understanding of optometry roles to increase system efficiency and patient access.
Pillar 4: Strengthen the organisation, ensure organisational sustainability
The final pillar aims to ensure the sustainable provision of high-value services for optometry members. Strategies include:
- Increasing efficiency and effectiveness across all organisational domains.
- Promoting efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the organisation and the optometry sector.
Cappuccio said the strategic plan underscores OA’s commitment to the growth and advancement of the optometry profession.
“By focusing on these four pillars, Optometry Australia aims to continue to provide high-quality support and value to our members, elevate the role of optometry and optometrists in the healthcare system and improve overall eye health throughout the nation.”
For more details about OA’s Strategic Plan FY2024-47, download a copy here.
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