Established in late 2007, the Rural Optometry Group (ROG) ensure that rural and regional Association members have an active voice in the development of a sustainable rural and regional optometric workforce and provides expert advice to the National Board on rural and regional matters. Associate Professor Phil Anderton, an optometrist based in Manilla, NSW is the Convenor of the Rural Optometry Group. Representatives of each State and the Northern Territory are also members.
View the ROG Mission Statement.
Practicing optometry in rural and remote Australia
There are a variety of ways optometrists can work in rural and remote Australia.
The most common way is to work in an established optometry practice. These can be located by using the Find an Optometrist search tool located throughout this website. Other options include providing sessional services at regional hospitals or linking with established or emerging GP Super Clinics.
Optometry in very remote areas is usually facilitated through the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS).
Grants and Programs for Rural Optometry
Incentives available to rural optometrists and students include study grants and funding programs.
Services for Allied Rural and Remote Health (SARRAH) administers these on behalf of the Australian Government.
Rural Locum support
The Australian Government has established the Nursing & Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS) to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in rural and remote Australia to get away on leave.The Nursing & Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS)
Study Grants
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Postgraduate Scholarship Stream [formerly part of the Australian Rural and Remote Health Professional Scholarship Scheme (ARRHPS)]
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Continuing Professional Development Scholarship Stream [formerly part of the Australian Rural and Remote Health Professional Scholarship Scheme (ARRHPS)]
These are either annual or semi annual scholarships conducted by SARRAH. The Association will alert members to rounds of funding through eNews and the website.
Student Grants
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship Stream [formerly The Rural Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme (RAHUS)]
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Clinical Placement Scholarship Stream [formerly the Allied Health Clinical Placement Scholarship Scheme (AHCPSS)]
These are administered through SARRAH. The Association will alert members to funding rounds through eNews and the website.
Students
Flinders University has a rural student quota for school leaver entry into their optometry program. For further information, see the university's website.
Infrastructure Grants: National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program
The Australian Government funds the annual National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program (NRRHIP) which provides funding for buildings and equipment for rural and remote allied health professionals. The Association will alert members to rounds of funding through eNews and the website when open.
Funding rounds are currently closed.
Health Outcomes in Rural and Regional Australia
There are many sources of information with respect to the health of people in rural and regional Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australians living in regional and remote areas generally experience poorer health than their major city counterparts. View information about rural and regional health.
Continuing Education in Rural Australia
Optometrists practising in rural and regional Australia can participate in Continuing Professional Development opportunities. State Divisions websites have information on the opportunities available for CDP. Review each state division website for information relevant to each state's CPD.
SARRAH National Conference 2012
The SARRAH 2012 National Conference: Totally Wild is to be held at the Hotel Grand Chanellor, Launceston on the 20-23 September 2012 for current and future rural and remote allied health practitioners. The conference themes are contemporary and relevant. Network with colleagues from around Australia and overseas and allow the conference to inspire, challenge and focus you on Celebrating Client Centred Care, Chronic Conditions and Coordinated Care, Creating Community Capacity, Cultivating Champions, Confident Competent Clinicians, and Curious and Captivating Conversations. Click here for more information.
Information sources for rural optometrists
Websites
-
International Centre for Eyecare Education Limited (ICEE) has recently developed resources on a series of eye topics, designed to be used by visiting optometrists to provide in-service style training to up-skill primary health care staff in the following: Measuring and recording vision, Cataracts, Diabetic eye disease, Differential diagnosis of red eye and Eye injuries and emergencies.
This training has been delivered to a number of locations (Aboriginal Medical Services and remote Community Health Centres) across the NT, in conjunction with ICEE's outreach optometry program. It aims to build local capacity for improved primary eye care, includingi better early detection and stronger referral pathways. Visit here for more information about the project, funded by a Rural Health Continuing Education, Round 2 (RHCE2) Grant through the Department of Health and Ageing.
In order to equip and resource other optometrists who provide visiting services to deliver in-service training, PDF versions of the training resources (student handbook, power point presentation, teacher's guide and activity sheets) can be provided. Please contact Amy Nicholls at ICEE if you would like to have a copy sent to you and don't forget to indicate which topic(s) you require. Email: a.nicholls@icee.org or call (08) 8942 5444
Journals
ROG membership of the National Rural Health Alliance
The ROG was granted membership of the National Rural Health Alliance (Alliance) in September 2010. The Alliance includes 32 Member Bodies, representing health professionals, service providers, consumers, educators and researchers working in rural and regional Australia. The main aim of the Alliance is for good health and wellbeing in rural and remote Australia, with the specific goal of equal health for all Australians by 2020. The ROG’s membership represents the first time eye health has been represented in this Alliance and will maximise optometry’s rural voice through this Membership. With membership comes a seat on the NRHA’s Council. The Convenor of the ROG, Phil Anderton is also a member of the NRHA Board.
ROG Priorities
The ROG's main role is to advocate on behalf of all rural and regionally based optometrists. The ROG has developed submissions to the Office of Rural Health, based in the Department of Health and Ageing.
An initial submission was provided in 2008 and further elaborated in early 2009. It included proposals for assistance to rural and regional optometrists (locum support, rural retention payments) and encouragement to students (scholarships, rural-based clinical placements, HECS reimbursement program) to practice in rural and regional Australia.
If you have some ideas in this regard, please contact Genevieve Quilty, National Policy Manager on 02 6263 5920 or g.quilty@optometrists.asn.au.
The ROG's half yearly newsletter Rural and ATSI Optometry News reports on rural and regional optometry issues. View the latest edition.
Visiting Optometrists Scheme
Since 1975 the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) has supported optometric outreach services to isolated communities which would not otherwise have ready access to primary eye care. The Department of Health and Ageing administer the VOS.
In February 2009 the Australian Government announced additional funding to increase the number of VOS circuits in Indigenous communities as part of a broader announcement with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye and ear health. Visiting circuits funded by this new money have now commenced. 106 rural and remote Aboriginal communities will receive optometry services under the expanded VOS.
The VOS program is under review by the Department of Health and Ageing. The Association has made a comprehensive submission to the review process which can be found here. The submission above all sought for the program to continue as a rural health program.
The new Expression of Interest processes for the next round of VOS are yet to be announced and the Association will be in touch with members with information as soon as it becomes available.
Established in late 2007, the Rural Optometry Group (ROG) ensure that rural and regional Association members have an active voice in the development of a sustainable rural and regional optometric workforce and provides expert advice to the National Board on rural and regional matters. Associate Professor Phil Anderton, an optometrist based in Manilla, NSW is the Convenor of the Rural Optometry Group. Representatives of each State and the Northern Territory are also members.
View the ROG Mission Statement.
Practicing optometry in rural and remote Australia
There are a variety of ways optometrists can work in rural and remote Australia.
The most common way is to work in an established optometry practice. These can be located by using the Find an Optometrist search tool located throughout this website. Other options include providing sessional services at regional hospitals or linking with established or emerging GP Super Clinics.
Optometry in very remote areas is usually facilitated through the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS).
Grants and Programs for Rural Optometry
Incentives available to rural optometrists and students include study grants and funding programs.
Services for Allied Rural and Remote Health (SARRAH) administers these on behalf of the Australian Government.
Rural Locum support
The Australian Government has established the Nursing & Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS) to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in rural and remote Australia to get away on leave.The Nursing & Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS)
Study Grants
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Postgraduate Scholarship Stream [formerly part of the Australian Rural and Remote Health Professional Scholarship Scheme (ARRHPS)]
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Continuing Professional Development Scholarship Stream [formerly part of the Australian Rural and Remote Health Professional Scholarship Scheme (ARRHPS)]
These are either annual or semi annual scholarships conducted by SARRAH. The Association will alert members to rounds of funding through eNews and the website.
Student Grants
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship Stream [formerly The Rural Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme (RAHUS)]
-
The NAHSSS Allied Health Clinical Placement Scholarship Stream [formerly the Allied Health Clinical Placement Scholarship Scheme (AHCPSS)]
These are administered through SARRAH. The Association will alert members to funding rounds through eNews and the website.
Students
Flinders University has a rural student quota for school leaver entry into their optometry program. For further information, see the university's website.
Infrastructure Grants: National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program
The Australian Government funds the annual National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program (NRRHIP) which provides funding for buildings and equipment for rural and remote allied health professionals. The Association will alert members to rounds of funding through eNews and the website when open.
Funding rounds are currently closed.
Health Outcomes in Rural and Regional Australia
There are many sources of information with respect to the health of people in rural and regional Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australians living in regional and remote areas generally experience poorer health than their major city counterparts. View information about rural and regional health.
Continuing Education in Rural Australia
Optometrists practising in rural and regional Australia can participate in Continuing Professional Development opportunities. State Divisions websites have information on the opportunities available for CDP. Review each state division website for information relevant to each state's CPD.
SARRAH National Conference 2012
The SARRAH 2012 National Conference: Totally Wild is to be held at the Hotel Grand Chanellor, Launceston on the 20-23 September 2012 for current and future rural and remote allied health practitioners. The conference themes are contemporary and relevant. Network with colleagues from around Australia and overseas and allow the conference to inspire, challenge and focus you on Celebrating Client Centred Care, Chronic Conditions and Coordinated Care, Creating Community Capacity, Cultivating Champions, Confident Competent Clinicians, and Curious and Captivating Conversations. Click here for more information.
Information sources for rural optometrists
Websites
-
International Centre for Eyecare Education Limited (ICEE) has recently developed resources on a series of eye topics, designed to be used by visiting optometrists to provide in-service style training to up-skill primary health care staff in the following: Measuring and recording vision, Cataracts, Diabetic eye disease, Differential diagnosis of red eye and Eye injuries and emergencies.
This training has been delivered to a number of locations (Aboriginal Medical Services and remote Community Health Centres) across the NT, in conjunction with ICEE's outreach optometry program. It aims to build local capacity for improved primary eye care, includingi better early detection and stronger referral pathways. Visit here for more information about the project, funded by a Rural Health Continuing Education, Round 2 (RHCE2) Grant through the Department of Health and Ageing.
In order to equip and resource other optometrists who provide visiting services to deliver in-service training, PDF versions of the training resources (student handbook, power point presentation, teacher's guide and activity sheets) can be provided. Please contact Amy Nicholls at ICEE if you would like to have a copy sent to you and don't forget to indicate which topic(s) you require. Email: a.nicholls@icee.org or call (08) 8942 5444
Journals
ROG membership of the National Rural Health Alliance
The ROG was granted membership of the National Rural Health Alliance (Alliance) in September 2010. The Alliance includes 32 Member Bodies, representing health professionals, service providers, consumers, educators and researchers working in rural and regional Australia. The main aim of the Alliance is for good health and wellbeing in rural and remote Australia, with the specific goal of equal health for all Australians by 2020. The ROG’s membership represents the first time eye health has been represented in this Alliance and will maximise optometry’s rural voice through this Membership. With membership comes a seat on the NRHA’s Council. The Convenor of the ROG, Phil Anderton is also a member of the NRHA Board.
ROG Priorities
The ROG's main role is to advocate on behalf of all rural and regionally based optometrists. The ROG has developed submissions to the Office of Rural Health, based in the Department of Health and Ageing.
An initial submission was provided in 2008 and further elaborated in early 2009. It included proposals for assistance to rural and regional optometrists (locum support, rural retention payments) and encouragement to students (scholarships, rural-based clinical placements, HECS reimbursement program) to practice in rural and regional Australia.
If you have some ideas in this regard, please contact Genevieve Quilty, National Policy Manager on 02 6263 5920 or g.quilty@optometrists.asn.au.
The ROG's half yearly newsletter Rural and ATSI Optometry News reports on rural and regional optometry issues. View the latest edition.
Visiting Optometrists Scheme
Since 1975 the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) has supported optometric outreach services to isolated communities which would not otherwise have ready access to primary eye care. The Department of Health and Ageing administer the VOS.
In February 2009 the Australian Government announced additional funding to increase the number of VOS circuits in Indigenous communities as part of a broader announcement with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye and ear health. Visiting circuits funded by this new money have now commenced. 106 rural and remote Aboriginal communities will receive optometry services under the expanded VOS.
The VOS program is under review by the Department of Health and Ageing. The Association has made a comprehensive submission to the review process which can be found here. The submission above all sought for the program to continue as a rural health program.
The new Expression of Interest processes for the next round of VOS are yet to be announced and the Association will be in touch with members with information as soon as it becomes available.