In response to experiences and concerns raised by its Queensland members, Optometry Australia is strengthening referral pathways and improving health professional communication.
Queensland is a vast and diverse state, and the challenges affecting optometrists vary considerably between metropolitan, regional, and rural communities. Access to ophthalmology services, referral processes, workforce pressures, and opportunities for collaborative care vary across the regions. For this reason, the issues raised by our members through practice visits, regional events, phone calls, and individual enquiries play an important role in shaping Optometry Australia’s (OA’s) priorities and helping us identify where advocacy and engagement efforts may have the biggest impact.
Members regularly identify practical barriers that can significantly affect patient care. Recent examples include uncertainty about where to direct a referral, difficulty identifying the appropriate hospital contact, limited access to public ophthalmology services, and lack of clarity about which conditions are accepted through a particular referral pathway. Our focus is increasingly on taking these issues forward through collaborative advocacy and working with key stakeholders to identify practical solutions.
Across Queensland, OA has continued to strengthen relationships with hospital services, Queensland Health stakeholders, Primary Health Networks, general practitioners (GPs), ophthalmologists, and other health professionals. By improving understanding of the issues affecting community optometrists, OA can more effectively demonstrate how optometrists can contribute to more connected and efficient models of care. Raising awareness of optometrists’ skills in diagnosing and managing eye disease, therapeutic prescribing, urgent eye care, chronic disease monitoring, and care before and after surgery, can create new opportunities for collaboration.
Attendee responses highlighted the value of practical, case-based education and networking opportunities in building stronger connections between GPs and optometrists
Education Opportunities
Education is central to this work. OA recently held a general practitioner education event in Townsville, in collaboration with local optometrists working in the public hospital. The event focused on common eye presentations in general practice, referral urgency, and when optometrists can assist. Attendee responses highlighted the value of practical, case-based education and networking opportunities in building stronger connections between GPs and optometrists. It also reinforced the importance of concise clinical correspondence, accessible professional contacts, and a shared understanding of each profession’s role in the patient journey.
Building on this work, OA has been collaborating with the North Queensland Primary Health Network on a proposed interactive education initiative for GPs, with a focus on optometry. The session is intended to provide practical experience in assessing eye conditions and recognising urgent presentations, while highlighting when referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist is appropriate. These types of events provide an important opportunity to demonstrate the value of optometrists in supporting GPs, particularly in regional communities where timely access to specialist services may be challenging. When GPs have a clearer understanding of the services available through community optometrists, patients can be directed to the right care more efficiently.
The value of bringing professions together has also been demonstrated through the Optometry Australia Regional Series. At our Rockhampton event in May, a general practice liaison officer joined local optometrists to discuss hospital referral processes and communication with health services. A visiting outreach ophthalmologist involved in regional eye care also attended, creating an opportunity for direct discussion about local service delivery, referral expectations, and how communication between optometrists and ophthalmologists could be improved.
These discussions bring local concerns to the attention of key stakeholders and create opportunities to develop practical solutions and improve mutual understanding. Greater clarity around local patient care pathways can help reduce duplication, avoid unnecessary redirection between services, and ensure patients reach the most appropriate care sooner.
OA has also been communicating with ophthalmology outpatient departments across Queensland to clarify local referral pathways. In some regions, optometrists have reported inconsistent information about which patients are appropriate for public ophthalmology services or how particular conditions will be triaged. By collating this feedback and taking it directly to the relevant services, we can work towards clearer and more consistent guidance for members.
Get in Touch
OA’s role is to ensure that the experiences shared by Queensland members inform meaningful conversations with decision makers and contribute to efforts to improve systems, processes, and patient care, where opportunities exist. Every regional visit, member enquiry, and stakeholder meeting helps us identify where systems can be improved and the skills of optometrists can be most effectively utilised. I strongly encourage Optometry Australia members to reach out at any time to share their experiences, concerns or ideas, ensuring that our advocacy efforts reflect the experiences and priorities of members across Queensland.
Prajna Vidyasagar is the State Lead, Queensland at Optometry Australia.
