1:30min
Optometry Australia (OA) is supporting members in strengthening the delivery of culturally safe eye care by subsidising 50% of the cost of enrolling in the Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) Training Community program which is set to be launched in May.
To support participation, OA will subsidise training for up to 20 members, selected through an expression-of-interest process.
The initiative coincides with National Close the Gap Day on Thursday, 19 March, recognising the ongoing inequities in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
The IAHA Training Community program is a practical, evidence-based course designed to help health professionals develop culturally responsive approaches to care.
Through the training, optometrists and their teams can build the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to create more culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
Members interested in undertaking the training are invited to submit a short (150 to 200-word) reflection outlining why they would like to participate and what they hope the training will bring to their clinical practice.
Participants will be selected based on merit and are asked to send their EOI to national@optometry.org.au by close of business Friday 17 April 2026.
Access to culturally safe services is an important factor in addressing inequities in eye health outcomes. Participants in the training will gain practical strategies to:
- Strengthen culturally responsive communication
- Build trust and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients
- Create culturally safe clinical environments
- Improve patient engagement and continuity of care
By supporting optometrists to build these capabilities, OA aims to contribute to improved eye health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Members can learn more about the Community Training program through IAHA and explore OA’s ongoing advocacy work to improve eye health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.