Ethics and Ethical Standards for Optometrists

Ethics and Ethical Standards for Optometrists is a CPD course designed for optometrists practising in Australia who want to strengthen ethical decision-making, professional integrity, and safe patient care. It is particularly relevant for practitioners facing notifications, complaints, or fitness to practise processes through Ahpra and the Optometry Board of Australia, but is equally valuable for those seeking to embed high ethical standards into everyday optometry practice.

The course explores the core ethical principles underpinning optometric care, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and professional integrity. Participants will examine how these principles apply in real-world situations such as recognising and managing ocular disease, ensuring timely and appropriate referral, maintaining accurate clinical records, and communicating diagnoses and risks clearly to patients. Common ethical concerns in optometry — including missed or delayed diagnoses, inadequate documentation, misleading communication, and conflicts between commercial pressures and patient care — are addressed alongside their professional and regulatory implications.

Through practical case-based learning, reflective exercises, and structured guidance, participants will develop the skills to navigate ethical dilemmas confidently, respond appropriately to concerns or complaints, and demonstrate insight, reflection, and remediation where required. By the end of this course, optometrists will be better equipped to meet professional expectations, maintain public trust, and sustain safe, ethical practice aligned with Australian regulatory standards.