The Association of British Dispensing Opticians’ (ABDO) three-year Fellowship Dispensing Diploma (FBDO) course is now available to all optical dispensers in Australia. Initiated by Specsavers, the course commences in Australia in the first week of September and will be delivered in two one-week blocks of face-to-face training with an ABDO educator for each year of study. Participants will complete ABDO- examinations in Australia.
“The FBDO Level 6 dispensing diploma is a really important build on our Cert IV engagement as it exceeds the standards of dispensing practice currently taught within Australia and New Zealand,” said Richard Couch, Specsavers Head of Ophthalmic Lenses and Dispensing Advancement. “It is fundamentally important to growing and expanding the scope of optical dispensing practice within Specsavers stores and will greatly enhance our ability to provide better eye care and eyewear to our millions of customers.
Until now, Australian and New Zealand dispensing students could only complete the three-year diploma via correspondence and had to travel to Malaysia or the UK to complete their examinations.
“As a business we have recognised the need to provide more substantial support to Australian and New Zealand FBDO students to help them refine essential skills vital to their course progression. Importantly, this will improve the quality of their in-store dispensing and, therefore, our patients’ experience.”
The program was piloted in September 2018 with three Specsavers optical dispensers and two dispensing students from Deakin University. The first course was run in February and a second FBDO Block Release workshop will take place this month (May).
The course is open to both Specsavers and non-Specsavers optical dispensers, with non-Specsavers dispensers invited to apply via the ABDO College website.
