College of Optometrists

9 March 2011 Return to news listings

Following first-class reviews from students, staff and participating professionals, the Careers in Optics Working Group is delighted to announce that the New Dimension workshops will be made available to schools nationwide during 2011. The interactive sessions, which 100% of students declared ‘fun and engaging’ in their feedback, give students the chance to explore the workings of the eyes and brain, learn more about eye health and consider a career in optometry and optics.  Following the workshops 77% of students said they were now more aware of the importance of eye health and 55% “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they would recommend optometry and optics as a good career choice.

New Dimension Ambassadors, the optometrists and dispensing opticians who will deliver the sessions, are central to the workshops’ success.  Not only do they facilitate the sessions, but also make sure that students gain a real understanding of what a career within optometry or dispensing optics involves and the rewards it can bring as a career. This ground-breaking initiative is putting optometrists and dispensing opticians at the heart of encouraging students into the profession; finding the brightest students of today and making them the colleagues of tomorrow.

Professionally, being an Ambassador also brings benefits; delivering workshops is an excellent way to improve communication skills with a wide variety of audiences, particularly those often seen as hard to reach. It also allows professionals to develop closer links with the community they serve as healthcare providers. Following the pilot workshops, not only could 100% of students explain the difference between an optometrist and a dispensing optician seven weeks after their experience, but every single student was also able to recall which organisation their Ambassador represented.

New Dimension has made a big impact on awareness of, interest in and enthusiasm for optometry and optics among students – and YOU could be part of bringing this exciting scheme to young people across the UK. If you are interested, then please contact newdimension@college-optometrists.org.  An information session will be held at Optrafair on Sunday 10 April at 16:00.  To book visit www.otlive.co.uk or alternatively register for the first training session to be held at Optrafair on Monday 11 April at 13:30.  Further events will take place throughout April and May 2011.

The Careers in Optics initiative is a cross sector initiative driven by the College of Optometrists, the Association of Optometrists, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Specsavers, Boots, Vision Express, the British Universities Committee for Optometry, the Sight Care Group, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and Optometry Wales.