Institute Keeps an Eye on the Future

High school students from NSW and interstate recently experienced the world of professional optometry during a two day course conducted by the Institute for Eye Research at the University of NSW. Initiated to give gifted year 7 to 10 students an opportunity to explore their interest in eye care, the course also aims to encourage them to consider a career in the optometric field.

Part of the University NSW Scientia Programme, the two-day course is a combination of lectures, workshops, interactive exercises and DVD presentations. Course Presenter Jennie Diec, a clinical optometrist at the Institute’s International Clinical Trials Centre (ICTC), explains, “The course teaches anatomical concepts and provides practical workshops typically presented in first year optometry at university”.

Judy Kwan, a Clinical Optometrist also participating in the programme adds, “We teach them about the general structure of the eye. If we focus on a particular area we’ll demonstrate how we use instruments to examine that part of the eye and the kids get to participate in using those.” The students are also shown footage of procedures such as eye surgery, as well as fun things like optical illusions. According to Judy, “It’s all designed to add to their understanding of how the eye functions.”

Jennie Diec explains that the practical aspect of the course is particularly useful for the students. She says, “A lot of them said it was fairly easy to learn the theoretical concepts we teach, but being able to see the actual application of that and to be able to use equipment on each other and test each other – that’s something they wouldn’t be able to do without this kind of course.”

By presenting some of the practical and theoretical aspects of eye care, the course also gives the students a better basis to make the difficult study and career choices they will soon be faced with. Lisa Martyn, a Clinical Co-ordinator at the ICTC says, “It’s an opportunity to learn about optometry that they won’t get at high school”. During the course a number of the students expressed an interest in a career in eye health and Lisa observes, “I think this would have been a good insight for them.”

The course has attracted students from as far afield as Geelong in Victoria, the ACT and country NSW. Beyond the academic challenges it also gives the students an opportunity to interact with other students. Lisa adds, “They like the social aspect of it, making friends, they’re really enjoying themselves.”

The feedback from the students has been positive. Lisa says, “A lot of them said they’d like the course to be longer and they wouldn’t mind a bit more practical work as well.”

The Institute will be offering another course in July as part of the programme. For more information about upcoming courses contact the Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC) on 9385 1972/1974 or the GERRIC website: http://gerric.arts.unsw.edu.au