The optical dispensing industry plays a crucial role in Australia's healthcare sector, significantly impacting public health by delivering essential eyecare services.

Our 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 that keeps pace with these advancements.

Several core and elective units in the qualification have become outdated since the last update in 2015. This comprehensive review will align them with evolving technological advancements and changing industry standards.

Our 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 is being established to provide expert advice. Its members will be selected for their individual expertise relevant to the diverse aspects of the project.

Project fact sheet

August 2024

We will undertake numerous information gathering activities to prepare drafts of units of competency, qualifications and skill sets for national stakeholder consultations.

These include:

  • a Technical Committee meeting to source stakeholders to consult on qualifications content, for insight on communication and consultation strategies, and to provide technical knowledge on the skills required to meet desired vocational outcomes
  • 16 one-on-one interviews to determine the skills required in organisations, the career pathways for workers and the foreseeable changes in the sector. Interviews will be conducted with small, medium and large employers, TAFEs and registered training organisations to understand what has prevented them from delivering the qualification and how to assist with future training delivery
  • a virtual functional analysis workshop for industry stakeholders around Australian jurisdictions to determine skill commonalities and differences, which will assist in determining core and elective components of the draft qualifications
  • desktop research to gather publicly available information on industry standards, working conditions and employer recruitment selection criteria.
November 2024

We will undertake 8 in-person and 3 online workshops across all states and territories.

Details of consultation dates and activities will be published as the project progresses. Please check back later for further information. 

February 2025

Please check back later for further information. 

June 2025

Please check back later for further information. 

How to get involved

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Project updates

Contact details

Training Product Project Manager, Evan Cooper: [email protected]

Project Coordinator, Alyssa Warland: [email protected]

Annual Training Product Development Plan

Download Annual Training Product Development Plan

Project timeline

  • Project Overview

    Establish a Technical Committee to provide expert advice for the project.

  • 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.