Optometry - Flinders University

Help people protect and care for one of our most precious gifts: eyesight.

What does a career in Optometry look like?

Optometrists provide a wide range of services including testing vision, prescribing glasses and contact lenses, assessing and treating vision problems, and diagnosing and managing eye disease and complex eye conditions.

As an AHPRA-registered optometrist, you’ll work with patients young and old, undertaking routine eye tests, diagnosing conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma, treating eye and vision health issues such as acute infections and inflammation, and diagnosing and referring conditions that need ophthalmological care such as retinal tears, detachments, and the effects of diabetes.

⬆︎
15.2%
Employment Growth, Optometrists and Orthoptists.

(National Skills Commission, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026).

No.3 in SA
in Health Services & Support for full-time employment, learner engagement

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate))

No. 1 SA university
for overall educational experience and full-time employment.

_{(The Good Universities Guide 2022 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only)}

Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia’s largest industry and is projected to have strong employment growth through to November 2026.

(National Skills Commission 2022).

Study Options

Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science) / Master of Optometry

Your potential occupations

Ophthalmic industry consultant
Pharmaceutical industry consultant
Clinical optometrist
Outreach optometry coordinator
Paediatric optometrist
Public health optometrist
Research optometrist

Your potential employers

Independent optometry practice
Corporate optometry companies
Vision rehabilitation/low vision clinics
Hospitals
Government organisations
Community health centres
Outreach services or programs
Universities
Research centres
Optical companies
Pharmaceutical companies

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Why study at Flinders?

Connect with industry leaders

Flinders enjoys placement partnerships with many exceptional organisations such as Luxottica, Specsavers, See Differently, Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service, Baptist Care SA, Migrant and Refugee Service in SA, Australian College of Optometry, and many independent optometrists and ophthalmologists.
More than 400 hours of work placement are built into the Master of Optometry course with at least one rural or remote placement, providing valuable practical experience and connection to industry.
Opportunities for unique learning experiences with overseas placements in vulnerable communities in Nepal, Southern India and China.

Enjoy a supportive, student-centred learning environment

Our academics have a personal approach to learning and the relationships we have with our students and graduates are highly supportive and long-lasting.
Our teaching specialists in the Master of Optometry are all working clinicians and we have dedicated experts in the field of electrophysiology, myopia, ocular biomarkers and imaging, public health, contact lenses and paediatrics.

Become a sought after, multi-skilled and career-ready graduate

Students will build a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical understanding to ensure they are career-ready at graduation.
Our Optometry program features unique learning topics including ophthalmology, communication for the consulting room, and a business intensive module.

Learn in state-of-the-art facilities

Flinders offers an advanced optometry laboratory and equipment such as Pentacam, Optos, and VR Magic, a virtual reality training suite for clinical skills that are embedded throughout the degrees.
Health2Go is a purpose-built facility providing the community access to a range of affordable, high quality health services including student-led optometry services. We give you the opportunity to work with clients alongside professional clinicians to gain real-life experience.

Be equipped with the knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice

Many of our teaching staff are also active researchers and members of the Caring Futures Institute, publishing in leading eye research journals.
We ensure our programs always have the latest evidence-based learning outcomes.

Hear from our students

“

For me, the highlight of studying Optometry was the placement opportunities. I felt they were crucial to my development becoming a practice-ready optometrist.

Luke Higgins, Optometry graduate

”

Get inspired

A career in Optometry.

Optometry graduate Alex Coffey-Oates shares her career journey and discusses her passion for Indigenous and Torrens Strait Islander eye health.

Optometry at Flinders

Learn about Optometry at Flinders with Senior Lecturer Dr Jeremiah Lim.

State-of-the-art facilities at Flinders Health2Go

Explore our Health2Go clinic, where our students receive hands-on training.

Optometry placement inspires career clarity

For fifth year Optometry student Aliza Benchmo, a work placement in remote South Australia provided clarity on what she wanted her career to look like.

Teaching staff

Our incredible teaching and research staff are experts in their professions and well-connected to industry.

Academic Lead: Professor Nicola Anstice

Nicola completed her PhD in Optometry from the University of Auckland in 2010. Her research interests focus on myopia control with soft contact lenses and children’s vision screening. Nicola holds registration as a therapeutically endorsed optometrist in both Australia and New Zealand.

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Jason Booth

Jason joined Flinders in 2014 and has helped maintain the authenticity of the work integrated learning experiences for students both on and off campus to ensure they are taught clinical diagnostic thinking skills.

Jason’s first role as an optometry graduate was in Broken Hill. He has since worked in community practice in many locations over the years.

Placement Education Coordinator: Jacqueline Warren

Jacqueline graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2012 and commenced working as a lecturer at Flinders in 2016. She has a keen interest in improving timely access to eye health care in Australia, having recently developed an innovative model of care to start seeing public ophthalmology patients in the student-led optometry clinics at Health2Go. Recently accepted in the World Council of Optometry program in leadership and advocacy, Jacqueline aims to continue to advocate for better eye health outcomes for patients and diverse placement experiences for students. If you are interested in being a placement supervisor for a final year optometry student, please contact Jacqueline via email or phone.

Student Experience Coordinator: Dr Mallika Prem Senthil

Mallika is an ophthalmologist with extensive clinical, teaching and research experience in both universities and health sectors. She worked as a consultant ophthalmologist in India between 2000 and 2004 and then moved to Malaysia, joining the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Malaysia Sarawak as a Senior Lecturer as well as a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Sarawak General Hospital.

Over nine years in Malaysia, Mallika achieved numerous academic and professional service excellence awards. She also embarked on various clinical and academic research projects.

In 2014, she was invited to undertake a doctoral study at Flinders and was offered two prestigious Australian scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Are there jobs in Optometry?

Yes. According to the National Skills Commission (2021 employment growth projections for the five years to 2026), employment growth for optometrists and orthoptists is 15.10%.

Will I be able to register with the relevant registering body for my profession/group at the end of the course?

This degree is accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand. Graduates will be eligible to register as optometrists.

Can this course be studied online?

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry requires full-time study and is not offered externally or on a part-time basis.

Will I attend optometry placements during my course?

Yes, students are required to complete clinical placements in year 5 of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry. The final year is considered an internship designed to transition our graduates into the workforce.

What if I don’t meet the GPA requirements to progress through to the Master of Optometry?

If you are unable to maintain the Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements to progress to the Master of Optometry, you will be awarded a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science).

How will COVID-19 restrictions affect my study at Flinders University?

The current pandemic situation (COVID-19) will affect many aspects of your study, from topic availability on campus to how your classes are delivered. For detailed information about the impact of COVID-19 on your study please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page.

How do I apply?