Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	No
Duration	3.5 years accelerated full time program delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1
CRICOS course code	083228D Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course code	D302
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7/9.
The course is only available to students on a full-time basis. This is a 3.5 year accelerated full time program delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1. Please refer to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Registration-Requirements.aspx for English language skills required for AHPRA registration Please refer to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Registration-Requirements.aspx for English language skills required for AHPRA registration

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Graduate with a professional qualification in optometry in just three and a half years with Deakin's Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry. With occupation growth expected to reach 15.1% by 2026^{^} you will gain the discipline-specific knowledge and skills to be work-ready and eligible to apply for registration as a practising optometrist in Australia and New Zealand. This program has a strong emphasis on understanding the visual health issues impacting regional and rural Australia, and the health gap between members of these communities and those living in urban centres.

You will develop crucial skills in the clinical assessment, treatment and management of eye and vision disorders, with strong foundations in evidence-based and reflective practice, inter-professional collaborative practice and practice management. You will complete a variety of short-term industry placements and spend the final six months of the course as a student resident to graduate work-ready.

Want to graduate job ready as a qualified optometrist?

Deakin offers Australia’s first accelerated optometry course, which means you can graduate and begin your career sooner.

You will investigate the structure and function of the visual system while learning about various visual health issues and their wider impact on the local and international community. Gain crucial skills in the clinical assessment, treatment and management of eye and vision disorders, as well as forming a strong understanding of the ethical, legal and professional standards of practice. You will cover a broad spectrum of industry-relevant study areas that prepare you for work as a professional optometrist, including:

the key principles of optics
clinical optics and treating eye and vision disorders
ocular function and structure
the science of vision
the business of optometry.

Your clinical placement rotations take place in both metropolitan and regional or rural settings, where you will consolidate your knowledge and skills under the supervision of qualified optometrists. As a student resident you will learn in one of a range of clinical optometric and medical settings.

As well as preparing you to diagnose and manage ocular conditions, this unique combined degree has a strong emphasis on the underlying social and environmental factors that contribute to the health gap between regional communities and urban populations, ensuring you graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the field of optometry. On successful completion of this accredited course, you can apply for registration to practise as an optometrist in Australia and New Zealand.

^2021 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government National Skills Commission

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and on-line interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

On successfully completing this course, you can apply for registration to practise as an optometrist in Australia. Deakin optometry has been awarded accreditations by the Optometry Board of Australia, following assessment by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ). You will also be eligible to apply for registration to practise as an optometrist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and to Medicare as a service provider. This will enable you to pursue employment opportunities throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Career opportunities

Deakin optometry graduates are well prepared for employment in a diverse range of work settings, including:

clinics
corporate and community settings
health services
hospitals
non-government organisations
private practice
research institutes
state and local governments
tertiary education institutions.

Career opportunities for qualified optometrists include:

practice ownership
private and public eye care
research and education
recognised specialties within optometry such as:
- myopia control
- dry eye management
- low vision
- paediatric vision.

As well as pursuing a career in optometry, this course could lead you towards a number of other rewarding careers, including:

ophthalmic practice business owner
spectacle retailer
not-for-profit campaigner
visual simulator designer.

Participation requirements

The course has been developed to provide students with opportunities to practice optometry (under supervision) in a variety of contexts. In keeping the Deakin Optometry’s commitment to improving rural eyecare delivery, students will spend at least three months of their extended residential placement in a regional, rural or remote location to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these communities when attempting to access eye care.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Students are required to complete units in Trimester 3.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Requirements for Clinical Placements and Registration

Inherent requirements

Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed in the document, BVisSci and MOptom Inherent Requirements (pdf).

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.

Police record check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about the National Police Record Check.

Immunisations

Prior to commencing clinical placements students are expected to have a current immunisation status. Information will be provided to Applicants once they enrol in the course. The Faculty will guide you through this process.

Code of Conduct

Prior to commencing students are expected to sign the Student Code of Conduct.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Alternative exits

Bachelor of Vision Science (H310)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply advanced integrated optometric knowledge to evaluate clinical information, utilising expert skills and judgement to independently perform optometric examinations, establish diagnoses and design appropriate management plans within a robust practice management system.
Communication	Employ a range of communication strategies to interpret theoretical positions, methodologies and conclusions, and explain and justify professional and clinical decisions to other health professionals, peers and colleagues (specialist and non-specialist audiences). Employ a range of communication strategies that take into account individual diversity to effectively communicate information regarding informed consent, diagnoses and management plans to patients, carers and other health-care professionals.
Digital literacy	Choose appropriate technologies to effectively find, use and disseminate clinical and research findings; demonstrate skills in applying new technologies in clinical settings to implement examination plans and manage patient records.
Critical thinking	Apply expert knowledge to critically analyse and synthesise complex optometric information and theories to address research questions and new situations in professional practice.
Problem solving	Apply an advanced body of knowledge in order to define and frame clinical optometric problems and apply evidence based strategies to solve such problems. Apply business and practice management skills to identify areas of optometric business in need of improvement and strategies to improve and maintain a safe and efficient/compliant optometric practice.
Self-management	Operate in a professional, reflective and ethical manner, being cognisant of the accountability and responsibilities that come with professional optometric practice, thereby employing a structured and efficient approach to professional practice.
Teamwork	Operate as an independent optometric professional, capable of demonstrating leadership in practice management and collaboration with other health professionals in providing high quality optometric care for patients.
Global citizenship	Model behaviour consistent with professional and ethical standards of the profession, being sensitive to cultural and social diversity and the issues impacting on eye and vision care in regional and rural communities, adopting a global perspective to evidence-based practice and advocacy.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry students must attain 40 credit points. This is an accelerated three and a half year course delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1. All the units in the course are core (these are compulsory).

Students must pass all first year units, or be granted Recognition of Prior Learning for these units, before proceeding to second year.

Due to the integrated nature of the curriculum and assessment, and the requirements of the external accrediting body, from Year 2 onwards, students must pass all units in a given trimester prior to proceeding to the next trimester. Any student who fails to meet this requirement will need to intermit until the next offering of the unit, which will usually be in a period of two trimesters.

To support student reintegration to the course after a period of intermission, students will be required to demonstrate that they have maintained skills and knowledge at a level required to practice safely. To support students in doing this, non-award units will be offered in the trimester preceding re-entry to the course. Please contact your course advisor for assistance.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Units

Students must enrol in the Waurn Ponds (Geelong) offering of all units

Year 1 - Trimester 1

HAI010

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

SLE010

Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

HBS107

Understanding Health

HBS108

Health Information and Data

HMO101

Principles of Optics

SLE111

Cells and Genes

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HMO102

Science of Vision 1

HMO103

Clinical Optics

HMO104

Ocular Structure

And

SLE155

Chemistry for the Professional Sciences ^

SLE133

Chemistry in Our World (offered in Trimester 1 and Trimester 2)

^ Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent)

Year 1 - Trimester 3

HMO105

The Business of Optometry

HMO201

Science of Vision 2

HMO202

Ocular Function

MAA103

Accounting for Decision Making

Year 2 - Trimester 1

HMO203

Health and Vision Sciences 1

HMO204

Principles and Practice of Optometry 1

Year 2 - Trimester 2

HMO303

Health and Vision Sciences 2

HMO304

Principles and Practice of Optometry 2

Year 2 - Trimester 3

HMO305

Health and Vision Sciences 3

HMO306

Principles and Practice of Optometry 3

Year 3 - Trimester 1

HMO701

Advanced Optometric Studies 1

Year 3 - Trimester 2

HMO702

Advanced Optometric Studies 2

Year 3 - Trimester 3

HMO703

Community Optometry 1

Year 4 - Trimester 1

HMO704

Community Optometry 2

Work experience

Clinical placements are an integral part of the program. You will undertake a variety of short-term industry placements and spend the final six months of the course as a ‘student resident’ in one of a range of clinical optometric and medical settings. These extensive rotations take place in both metropolitan and regional or rural settings, and will enable you to consolidate your knowledge and skills in supported environments under the supervision of qualified optometrists.

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

The course includes an extensive practical placement component (cost incurred by the student) including a Clinical Residential Placement in the last six months of the course. Students will also need to purchase personal optometric diagnostic (costing approximately $3500) in Year 2 of the program.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Third party arrangements

There is an arrangement with the Australian College of Optometry, Barwon Health, Lorne Community Hospital and approximately 200 optometry practices across Australia and New Zealand to provide clinical training to our students.

The Dean of the School of Medicine signs the agreements with the ACO and Barwon Health. A member of the Optometry Executive signs the individual agreements and the practice accreditation documents (see below) and these are stored by the School of Medicine Student Experience Team.

Nature of third party arrangements

These partners allow our students access to clinical optometric training (pre-clinical and clinical) by providing opportunities to:

Observe optometric and ophthalmological consultations and

Undertake optometric consultations under the guidance and supervision of optometrists and ophthalmologist

Quality assurance arrangements

Supervisors that are responsible for providing summative and formative feedback are offered compulsory supervisor training modules (approx. 5 hours duration).

Practices offering student placements must pass an initial audit and sites are audited on a rolling basis (approximately 20% per annum)

Deakin staff liaise with supervisors (primarily via education officers at the ACO and Barwon Health and via telephone contact with individual optometrist practitioners in private practice).

Other learning experiences

Work experience

Research and research-related study

A Research component (Honours equivalent) is scaffolded throughout the BVisSc/MOptom course. In HMO305 Health and Vision Sciences 3, 30% of the 2 credit point unit is devoted to an expanded literature review and in HMO701 Advanced Optometric Studies 1 and HMO702 Advanced Optometric Studies 2 this research is continued in the form of a research project with protocol writing, data collection, analysis and presentation (written and oral). In HMO306 Principles and Practice of Optometry 3, HMO703 Community Optometry 1 and HMO704 Community Optometry 2 independent Research-based case reports assess clinical research skills.