Optometry Australia has responded swiftly to early results from a survey of over 500 optometrists practising in Australia, updating its position statement on Appropriate Workplace Conditions for Clinical Optometrists.
The study, commissioned by Optometry Australia and led by Professor Nicola Anstice (Flinders University), found that job demands for optometrists far exceed available resources and urgent action needs to be taken to redesign workplaces.
Participants were (± standard deviation) age 36 ± 11 years; 61% were female; and 61% worked in the corporate environment, 25% worked in independent practices, and 15% worked as locums.
The study… found that job demands for optometrists far exceed available resources and urgent action needs to be taken to redesign workplaces
It found that the majority of optometrists (75%) agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to provide high quality patient care, aligned with current evidence-based practice and responsive to the individual needs of their patients. Yet despite this, there was “significant moral distress among optometrists at work”, with many optometrists feeling disempowered to voice their opinions in the workplace and unable to take part in the decision-making process.
While participants expressed satisfaction with support from colleagues (90%), the geographic location of their practice (68%) and active participation in ocular disease co-management (61%), they expressed dissatisfaction with limited career options (77%), income (75%) and professional isolation (34%).
In the Executive Summary, Prof Anstice et al. reported on appointment times, allocated time for administrative tasks, career options and more, stating:
• Appointment times: median (and interquartile range (IQR) appointment time for initial consultation 30 minutes (IQR 20-30 minutes). Median time allocated for follow up appointments 20 minutes (IQR 15-30 minutes). One in 25 optometrists are not allocated any time for follow up appointments, and these patients are seen between scheduled patients.
• Most optometrists not formally allocated any time for administrative task (median 0 minutes per week, IQR 0-30 minutes per week).
In a question asking participants to provide any other comments or insights, 30% responded, citing fear of job losses due to the increasing number of optometry graduates, salary stagnation, the pressure of financially driven key performance indicators (KPIs), lack of clinical autonomy, and work overload.
In a statement, Optometry Australia said the findings confirm “many anecdotal reports from members regarding workplace standards and systems”.
“Optometry Australia has shared the survey results and updated position statement with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and several of the nation’s largest optometry employers. We are calling on these stakeholders to collaborate with us in driving much-needed reform,” the Association said.
Workplace Imbalance to be Addressed
Optometry Australia has also made a formal submission to the Federal Government’s Occupation Shortage List (OSL) survey, highlighting concerns about a significant imbalance between optometry workforce supply and demand.
As of 2023, with 6,977 registered optometrists, Australia’s optometry workforce per capita is higher than many comparable countries, albeit with the country suffering from workforce maldistribution with particularly high concentrations in metropolitan and larger regional areas.
To address these workforce challenges, Optometry Australia said it is:
• Actively opposing the establishment of new optometry schools and advocating against unnecessary increases in graduate numbers;
• Advancing workforce planning initiatives, including drafting a response to the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy consultation, and commissioning an updated workforce projections study to better understand future needs and challenges;
• Promoting expanded optometry roles through its Advanced Practice Recognition Program, supporting members in working to their full clinical scope and advocating for better recognition of optometrists’ skills within the broader healthcare system;
• Driving policy change to increase demand for optometric services, including pushing for more frequent access to Medicare item 10910 and advocating for the integration of optometrists into hospital and public health systems;
• Engaging directly with decision-makers, including the health regulator, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), and major optometry employers, to ensure workforce conditions are improved as per our recently released position statement; and
• Launching targeted public awareness campaigns, such as the upcoming Myopia Awareness Campaign, aimed at identifying unmet need in order to increase community engagement with optometry services and ensuring Australians access timely eye care.
