Optometry Victoria South Australia (OV/SA) has launched a new resource aimed at successfully recruiting strong front-of-house staff
The member resource has been developed in response to concerns about the challenges faced in recruiting front-of-house staff within the current job market, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19-related factors resulting in workforce shortages.
Last year, OV/SA conducted a comprehensive survey among its members to assess the extent of the issue and help determine the association’s role and capacity in finding solutions.
Ilsa Hampton, CEO of OV/SA said: “We know that these roles are critical to the success of a practice, and that there are challenges in finding the right people for these positions. We also recognise that the term ‘retail’ doesn’t cut it in reflecting the important work that front-of-house staff do in our practices.”
We know that these roles are critical to the success of a practice, and that there are challenges in finding the right people
The recruitment materials provide guidance and tips for effective hiring strategies. The resource contains insights on targeted recruitment efforts, onboarding and managing staff, and using language that better reflects the nature of front-of-house roles. The recruitment materials also address how business owners can leverage potential government grants to support recruitment, establish direct contacts with important stakeholders and provide detailed direction for implementation.
The challenge of recruitment within the optometry sector is further corroborated by the recent creation of Provision’s Optometry Recruitment Kit.
“We’re pleased to find that OV/SA’s resource complements the kit released by Provision,” Ms Hampton said.
“Front-of-house staff make a vital contribution to community eye health as the first port of call for patients, supporting them to access the help they need before and after their optometry appointment. Shortages of these staff make some practices question their viability.
