Implementation of the optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health curriculum framework.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

There is now an Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) accreditation requirement for Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand optometry programs to ensure students can provide culturally safe care for First Nations Peoples. To assist programs, OCANZ developed the

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to evaluate early progress towards the implementation.

METHODS

All seven Australian optometry programs were invited to complete a modified version of the OCANZ curriculum mapping tool. Where available, online unit outlines were reviewed to verify and supplement the data. Curriculum maps were synthesised using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

None of the five participating programs had a standalone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health unit; instead, programs were integrating content into core units. Only 25% of the units with relevant content had a directly related learning outcome. All programs had at least some content that was either directly or indirectly related to each of the

CONCLUSION

Progress has been made in implementing the