The optical dispensing industry plays a crucial role in Australia's healthcare sector, significantly impacting public health through the provision of essential eyecare services.

The review of HLT47815 Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing will ensure the sector remains vibrant, relevant and well-equipped to contribute effectively to Australia’s healthcare and economic needs.

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July 2024

The Optical Dispensing industry is integral to visual health and contributes to fashion and technology due to its incorporation of innovative designs and smart technologies. The market is expected to continue its growth trajectory driven by trends in digital device usage and the growing demand for functional yet fashionable eyewear. This highlights the need for training which keeps pace with these advancements.

Several core and elective units within the qualification have become outdated since the last update in 2015, necessitating a comprehensive review to align them with evolving technological advancements and changing industry standards.

A thorough review of Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing is essential to ensure the sector remains vibrant, relevant and well-equipped to contribute effectively to Australia’s healthcare and economic needs.

This review will focus on updating qualifications to reflect current industry practices, improve career pathways, and enhance the safety and quality of training to meet today's industry requirements and anticipate future challenges.

A project Technical Committee (TC) is currently being established to provide expert advice for this project. Technical Committee members are selected based on their individual expertise relevant to the diverse aspects of the project.

Project fact sheet

August 2024

Numerous information gathering activities will be undertaken to prepare drafts of units of competency, qualifications and skill sets for the national stakeholder consultations.

These include:

  • a Technical Committee meeting to source stakeholder names to consult on qualifications content, for insight on communication and consultation strategies, and to provide technical knowledge into the skills required to meet the desired vocational outcome of the qualifications.
  • 16 one-on-one interviews will be undertaken to determine the skills required in organisations, the career pathways for workers and the focused changes in their sector in the foreseeable future. These will include small, medium and large employers, TAFEs and RTOs to understand what has previously prevented them having the qualification on scope and what would assist with future training delivery.
  • A virtual functional analysis workshop will bring together industry stakeholders from all Australian jurisdictions to determine what are the skill commonalities and differences. This information will assist in the determination of the core and elective components of the draft qualifications.
  • Desktop research will be used to gather publicly available information into industry standards, working conditions and employer’s recruitment key selection criteria.
November 2024

Please check back later for further information. 

February 2025

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June 2025

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Consultation 

The project will undertake a total of 8 in-person and 3 virtual workshops across all states and territories.

Details of consultation dates and activities will be published as the project progresses. 

How to get involved

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Project updates

Contact details

Evan Cooper – Training Product Project Manager 

[email protected]

Alyssa Warland – Project Coordinator 

[email protected]

Annual Training Product Development Plan

Download Annual Training Product Development Plan

Project timeline

  • Project Overview

  • Development

    Functional analysis undertaken via 16 employer interviews and a virtual functional analysis workshop.

    Develop draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.

     
  • Consultation

    Delivery of 8 face-to-face and 3 virtual workshops.

    Workshops will be held in all states and territories.

     

     
  • Finalisation and Submission

    Final draft materials will be submitted to Skills Senior Responsible Officers and any feedback will be addressed prior to submission to the Skills Ministers for endorsement. 

     

     
  • Endorsement and Implementation

    Endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units of competency will be uploaded onto the VET National Training Register. Companion volume updated to reflect changes to the Training Package, identified pathways information and mapping information.  

    Delivery of 3 virtual professional development workshops to highlight the features of the new qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.