The expanding scope of the Aotearoa New Zealand optometric workforce

In July 2022, Aotearoa New Zealand reformed its national health system, and the 20 former District Health Boards were replaced with a single national agency, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. A key objective of this reform is to improve the utilisation of community health services, strengthening community services to reduce the burden on public hospitals. Te Whatu Ora reports that a third of ophthalmology public hospital appointments exceed the maximum four-month wait, with one in five people waiting 50% longer than recommended for their treatment.Citation2 As the ageing population will further increase demand, the reform suggests greater involvement of optometrists, orthoptists, and nurse practitioners, offering alternatives to the traditional medical model of care. Optometrists are well placed to meet this need, as autonomous and independent eye healthcare professionals who are spread across the country.Citation3 However, communications with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) highlight a lack of awareness of optometrists’ roles from public health officials, ophthalmologists,Citation4 other allied health, and even optometrists themselves. Therefore, this communication serves to update the sector on the current scope of optometric practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, to help facilitate the health reforms.