College responds to the GOC Standards of Practice review

Summary

The College has commented on GOC proposed changes to its Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and Standards for Optical Students, with consequential changes made to the Standards for Optical Businesses. We welcomed this revision that should bring the standards up to date, as well as the addition of new standards to address negative behaviours, including sexual harassment, in the workplace. 

Our response aims at ensuring that the revised standards are fit for purpose and reflect changes to practice, allow registrants to innovate and use their skills in all eye care pathways, and are able to continue to broaden their scope of practice through training and education. We also recommended aligning the implementation dates for the three sets of Standards, so they all come into effect once the full revision of the Standards for optical businesses is completed, as this would otherwise add a disproportionate burden for registrants who would not have the support business owners and employers are required to provide.