In this specialised combined degree, you will learn about visual health issues and their impact on communities. You will investigate the structure and function of the visual system, gain skills in clinical assessment, and gain an understanding of management approaches, and ethical, legal, and professional standards of practice. The course will train you in the detection, treatment, and management of eye and vision disorders, and you will graduate with a recognised qualification in optometry. Optometrists are primary eye care practitioners who are involved in assessing the health and function of the eyes and visual system and the diagnosis and management of a wide range of ocular conditions. As a graduate of this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and to Medicare as a service provider. Related careers include ophthalmic practice business owner, spectacle retailer, not-for-profit campaigner, and visual simulator designer. Course structure To complete the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry students must attain 40 credit points. This is an accelerated three and a half year course delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1. All the units in the course are core (these are compulsory). Students must pass all first year units, or be granted credit for prior learning for these units, before proceeding to second year. Due to the integrated nature of the curriculum and assessment, and the requirements of the external accrediting body, from Year 2 onwards, students must pass all units in a given trimester prior to proceeding to the next trimester. Any student who fails to meet this requirement will need to intermit until the next offering of the unit, which will usually be in a period of two trimesters. Duration 3.5 years accelerated full time program delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1 Graduate outcomes Career outcomes Optometrists are primary eye care practitioners who are involved in assessing the health and function of the eyes and visual system and the diagnosis and management of a wide range of ocular conditions, Optometrists work in a variety of health care settings, with the great majority working in a private practice environment – which itself can be very diverse. On a given day, an Australian optometrist may perform a primary visual assessment, manage a newly identified eye disease, prescribe a prescription medicine, or prescribe, fit and dispense optical aids. At the same time, many optometrists are business owners and retailers. Professional recognition Students who successfully complete D302 Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry can apply for registration to practise as an optometrist in Australia. Deakin Optometry has been awarded ‘accreditation with conditions’ by the Optometry Board of Australia, following assessment by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ). Graduates of D302 Bachelor of Vision Science/ Master of Optometry will therefore be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and to Medicare as service providers, making them able to pursue employment opportunities throughout Australia and New Zealand. Course learning outcomes Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.