Indigenous Eye Health
Our Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Eye Health
The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across the lands, waters and seas that we work, live and learn on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and thank them for their continuing custodianship and ongoing contribution to society. OCANZ respects all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their customs and beliefs.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands where our office is located.
Kāhore taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini.
We cannot succeed without the support of those around us.
‘Looking at Country – Cultural Connections’
by Riki Salam (Mualgal, Kuku Yalanji, Ngai Tahu)
We are 27 Creative
Māori art design
by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu)
Te Wheke Moko Design Studio
We commit to a health system free of racism and discrimination by contributing to the development of a culturally safe optometry workforce. We support equitable access and outcomes to eye care services for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples, without stigma, racism and fear, and the right to equitable outcomes from care. Our aim is to ensure that optometrists entering the workforce (from university and overseas) are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally safe care. We further support the equitable representation of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples in the profession through equitable access / admissions to culturally safe learning, training and employment.
We aim to achieve this by:
- Including the knowledges and perspectives of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples across OCANZ accreditation and assessment functions.
- Ensuring that our standards for optometry programs require education providers to include learning outcomes for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health and develop an entry-level optometry workforce that is cognisant of, sensitive and responsive to the needs and strengths of First Nations peoples.
- Supporting education and training which increases optometrists understanding of their own culture and cultural values and its impact on the delivery of eye care services.
- Supporting education and training to increase Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples participation in the profession to at least population parity.