A staggering 98.4 per cent of Australia’s 4,400 practicing optometrists have applied to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to renew their registration with the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA).
This is the first time that optometrists practicing in Australia have been required to re-register with the OBA since compulsory registration was introduced.
Before the transition, the expectation was that 5 per cent wouldn’t renew. Colin Waldron, the Chair of the OBA said the Board is “delighted by the excellent
renewal rate of optometrists” after what has been an extensive communication drive to ensure optometrists were aware of the need to re-register.
“There were only 1.6 per cent of optometrists who did not renew their registration, and reasons for this may include retirement, moving overseas or family leave. I wish
them the best of luck in their future endeavors and thank them for their contribution to the profession.
This is the first time that optometrists practicing in Australia have been required to re-register with the OBA since compulsory registration was introduced
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped the Board spread the ‘renew on time’ message, and remind optometrists that they need to inform AHPRA if their contact details change. Having up to date contact information means AHPRA can send registration renewals to optometrists and other
important information.”
Health practitioners have either been registered to practice until 30 November 2012 or their application is still in assessment. The OBA has stated that practitioners awaiting confirmation of their re-registration are able to practice while their application is assessed.
