For postgraduate coursework, this year has been a year of learning together; not just online, but also through many interactive and fun face-to-face experiences in classes run on campus at UNSW Sydney.
Students enrolled in the Master of Optometry (MOptom) enjoyed coming to campus weekly from June 2023, as we opened the majority of our (formerly online) courses for multimodal and in-person delivery modes. These postgraduate students participated in classes for Introduction to Community Eye Care (taught by Dr Rajendra Gyawali), Advanced Contact Lens Studies (taught by Dr Vinod Maseedupally) and the Research Project (taught by A/Prof Juno Kim).
Below are some photos of students who participated in our postgraduate coursework class on research methods and statistics held at the Square House during Term 3 as part of the Research Project course (OPTM7218).
The Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility is a successful one-year postgraduate offering that is in its third year running here at SOVS. The program attracts students from across Australia who participate in classes through a blend of remote learning activities.
Students can undertake placements for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in their home state (where possible), which makes this program unique in the way it caters for student diversity and the learning/working needs of busy professionals.
An on-campus experience is required for four to five weeks during Term 2, where students must travel to Sydney to participate in intensive practical skills training sessions.
Here are some photos of students and instructors working together on the effective use of canes.
In 2023, we have also had exciting new developments to support lifelong learning at UNSW with the introduction of short courses offered through the School and UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health. These are short bite-sized courses that ran over a few weeks at a time, and which are recognised for CPD hours.
Our Evidence Based Myopia Management short course was coordinated by Dr Nayuta Yoshioka. This hugely popular short course was sponsored by the Asia Optometric Congress (AOC) and had a total of 164 students registered in 2023.
Our short course on Dry Eye Disease received sponsorship from CSL Seqirus and Lumenis and was taught by A/Prof Maria Markoulli registering a total of 53 students in 2023.
Both courses received extremely positive reviews from students.
The next short course to be offered will be Advanced Paediatric Eye Care which is due to commence on 5th February 2024 and is coordinated by Associate Professor Ann Webber.
The popular Dry Eye Disease: Diagnose and Management short course will run once again in March 2024.
You can find out more about our short courses on the UNSW Medicine and Health website here
In 2024, we will be closing our MOptom program, but continue to run our Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics (GradCertOcTher).
Successful completion of the GradCertOcTher allows qualified optometrists to become therapeutically endorsed. You can find out more about this program in the handbook