What an amazing year it has been for postgraduate learning at SOVS. We ran our last offering of the Master of Optometry (MOptom) in 2024, and students enrolled enjoyed coming to campus weekly for their research skills training as part of the Research Project course (OPTM7218). They had their final presentation for OPTM7218 in August. The afternoon was concluded with lunch for the students at the UNSW Lounge.
Our Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility students had the exciting opportunity to engage in their intensive training on campus at UNSW Sydney in February. Students were able to engage in hands-on training in using a mobility cane (i.e., white cane) facilitated by our excellent COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist) education-focussed staff (Mr Matthew Walker and Ms Felicity Gates). In 2024, we also piloted a VR experience that was engineered to provide students with feedback on their ability to use a virtual cane. The activity was engaging, and we are considering ways to enhance this activity for 2025 and beyond. Thank you also to the Program Authorities, A/Prof Sieu Khuu and Dr Sharon Oberstein, for their contributions to the ongoing success of this postgraduate coursework offering.
In 2024, we continued to offer our new short courses; Evidence Based Myopia Management: Drs Nayuta Yoshioka and Pauline Kang; Dry Eye Disease Diagnosis and Management: A/Prof Maria Markoulli, Prof Isabelle Jalbert and Dr Regine Chapman-Davis (Optometrist); and Advanced Paediatric Eye Care – APEC: A/Prof Ann Webber and Dr Amanda Lea (Optometrist). These short courses collectively saw a total of 469 student enrolments to date (since they were established in 2023).
You can find out more about our short courses here via these links:
This year, we continued to run our Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics (GradCertOcTher) under the leadership of Rene Cheung and Dr Angelica Ly. Successful completion of the GradCertOcTher allows qualified optometrists to become therapeutically endorsed. This year we there were 12 students in total who enrolled who are on schedule to complete the program and graduate in 2025!
Next year, we will run our new Graduate Certificate in Vision Impairment for the very first time (commencing Term 1, 2025). This program is open to all students who hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. The program aims to provide the knowledge and expertise for graduates to work more effectively with people who have low vision or who are blind and the people who support them. Find out more about this exciting multidisciplinary program here:
https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/postgraduate/graduate-certificate-in-vision-impairment
