Indigenous Eye Health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health
We Support the Uluru Statement From The Heart
The OCANZ Board would like to express its profound disappointment and regret at the 2023 Voice referendum result and the immediate and longer-term impacts of this outcome on the social, emotional, mental, cultural, spiritual and physical wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This statement is to reconfirm our commitment to supporting the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full (Voice, Treaty, Truth). We acknowledge and thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities for the generous invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and further commit to champion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and leadership as true allies. OCANZ stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples and will continue to strongly advocate for and contribute to a health system that is free of racism and discrimination.
OCANZ respects the diversity of opinions and perspectives in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori communities. As a health organisation we understand there are many pathways to improving health outcomes and we will continue to listen, learn, reflect, share with and work alongside in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples to develop a culturally safe and responsive optometry workforce.
Our Artwork
‘Looking at Country – Cultural Connections’
by Riki Salam (Mualgal, Kuku Yalanji, Ngai Tahu)
We are 27 Creative
Magpie lark sings in early dawn light, mist lifts as heat rises.
Deep lines carved throughout Country, mud slides in shaded
mangroves, streams nurtures new beginnings. Engravings etched in
wood send messages from place to place.
Stars guide our way and bring us to new and plentiful lands.
Tracks imprinted in desert sands, freshwater is found.
Pathways connect us all stretching across land, sea and sky.
Songs are sung in ceremony, Country is born, celebrations begin.
This artwork ‘Looking at Country – Cultural Connections’ is about looking at all different aspects and ways of looking and seeing country and how it provides for us for in many and varied ways. From time immemorial Country has sustained us across generations, we, the custodians of these lands need to continually care for and look at Country in new and different ways. As we care for Country, so Country will take care of us. Cultural pathways are connected to OCANZ which is symbolised as a meeting place and yarning circle. This central circle also reflects the iris and the almond shape reflects that of an eye. The OCANZ values are connected to the central circle and references the Southern Cross constellation significant to both Australia and Aotearoa. These values help guide the organisation to open up many and varied opportunities of entering into the ever-important work of optometry and bettering the health and well-being of First Nations People throughout Australia, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) and Aotearoa, New Zealand. The patterned pathways represent the importance of People, Culture and communities, these paths guide our way and reinforce support, stability and understanding throughout OCANZ.
About the Artist
Riki Salam, Indigenous artist was born and raised in Cairns on Yidinji Land connected to the Torres Strait and Yalanji Country on his Father’s side and Ngai Tahu, South Island of New Zealand on his Mother’s side. Riki works and produces his art in pen, ink, gouache, acrylic and on the computer. He enjoys exploring concepts of traditional culture in a contemporary format. To view more of Riki’s artworks visit weare27.com.au
Supporting Culturally Safe Optometry Education
Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework and Implementation Guide
The OCANZ Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework was developed to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, histories and ways of knowing, being and doing are embedded across all levels of optometry education.
The Framework aims to enhance the cultural safety and responsiveness of optometry education in Australia and Aotearoa and contribute to a more culturally responsive optometry workforce.
The Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework is accompanied by an Implementation Guide to assist optometry educators embed the Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework into the curriculum. The Implementation Guide articulate OCANZs expectations for implementation in Australia and Aotearoa and provides recommendations to guide successful implementation of the learning outcomes, including key statements on Indigenous Data Sovereignty and the use of generative Artificial Intelligence in teaching and assessing cultural safety learning.
Position Statement: Implementation of the OCANZ Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework and Optometry Māori Health Curriculum Framework
Education Videos
OCANZ has developed video resources to support optometry education programs model the provision of culturally safe eye care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to improve the cultural safety of optometry students.
OCANZ would like to thank Wingaru, a Supply Nation registered Aboriginal business who developed these videos.
Culturally safe communication while conducting an eye health consultation
Interpersonal racism
Supporting Culturally Safe Optometry Practice
Cultural Safety Training for overseas trained optometrists
The OCANZ Cultural Safety Training for Optometrists online program has been adapted for all overseas qualified optometrists as part of the Competency in Optometry Examination process. This program has a strong focus on applied safety in optometry practice which is both clinically- and culturally- framed.
This Cultural Safety Training Program provides foundation knowledge as part of an ongoing learning journey to provide safer, culturally responsive optometry care and is a mandatory competent of the Competency in Optometry Examination process.
Learn more about the Cultural Safety Training for Optometrists Online Training Program and access the application form below.