July 2024
The Optical Dispensing industry is integral to visual health and contributes to fashion and technology due to its incorporation of innovative designs and smart technologies. The market is expected to continue its growth trajectory driven by trends in digital device usage and the growing demand for functional yet fashionable eyewear. This highlights the need for training that keeps pace with these advancements.
Several core and elective units in the qualification have become outdated since the last update in 2015. This comprehensive review will align them with evolving technological advancements and changing industry standards.
Our review will focus on updating qualifications to reflect current industry practices, improve career pathways, and enhance the safety and quality of training to meet today's industry requirements and anticipate future challenges.
A project Technical Committee is being established to provide expert advice. Its members will be selected for their individual expertise relevant to the diverse aspects of the project.
Project fact sheet
View the Terms of Reference and Technical Committee members.
We are committed to developing training products that meet industry standards and contribute to improving workforce readiness by identifying gaps and opportunities in optical dispensing skills development.
Our Optical Dispensing Functional Analysis Report provides a clear and detailed overview of the diverse roles, functions and skills required across optical dispensing services, including retail practices, clinical settings, and allied support roles. It outlines key competencies required to meet industry demands and supports workforce development by exploring nationally endorsed training pathways for optical dispensing professionals.
Functional Analysis Report
Methodology
To ensure accuracy and relevance, the functional analysis research process included desktop research and interviews. Desktop research involved reviewing job advertisements, organisational structures, industry reports and government labour market data to understand workforce skill requirements in optical dispensing and to identify emerging trends in customer service, product knowledge and clinical support.
For the interviews, we engaged with employers, peak bodies, registered training organisations and subject matter experts in optical dispensing to gather practical insights into roles, functions, sub-functions, skills and knowledge requirements. These conversations helped us identify the specific tasks, challenges and competencies employers prioritise in optical dispensing workplaces from assessing vision needs and fitting eyewear to providing advice on lenses, frames and compliance with safety standards.
We also gained a deeper understanding of employer expectations and current and future workforce needs, enabling us to define functions and sub-functions that guide workforce development and inform training product solutions tailored to the optical dispensing sector.
November 2024
Consultations were held between November 2024 and January 2025.
We collected feedback through workshops, surveys, site visits, e-mails and subject matter experts (SME) meetings. Workshops were held online and face to face around Australia, engaging multiple stakeholders in metro and regional areas, allowing diverse stakeholder perspectives to be captured.
Targeted interviews, public workshops and site visits were conducted with stakeholders providing valuable perspectives on the qualification review. Face-to-face workshops and site visits were held in Perth (4/11/24), Adelaide (6/11/24), Alice Springs (8/11/24), Darwin (11/11/24), Cairns (13/11/24), Brisbane (14/11/24), Newcastle (25/11/24), Sydney (26/11/24), Albury Wodonga (28/11/24), Melbourne (2/12/24), Canberra (4/12/24), and Hobart (11/12/24). Stakeholders were also provided with the opportunity to participate in online workshops (19/11/24, 13/12/24 and 17/12/24) and to submit feedback via survey. The survey for this project closed on Friday 10 January 2025.
There where 27 people who attended in person workshops and 29 attended online workshops. We held 5 site visits and received surveys with feedback from 16 participants.
We would like to thank all participants who provided their feedback and contributed to the development of the draft training products. Here's what you told us.
Public consultation feedback
The draft training product documentation for this project is available to download.
Draft Training Product Documentation*
* Note: these documents are our initial draft proposed training products from 2024. For finalised updated products, refer to the Finalisation & Submission tab.
Overview of the Occupation and Purpose of Qualification Updates
This project review focused on updating qualifications to reflect current industry practices, improve career pathways and enhance the safety and quality of training to meet today's industry requirements and anticipate future challenges.
Optical Dispensers play a vital role in supporting eye health by interpreting ophthalmic prescriptions, advising clients on suitable optical appliances, conducting precise measurements, adjusting and fitting frames and lenses, and providing ongoing aftercare. Their work spans retail, community health and specialist practice settings, combining technical expertise with strong customer service and client education.
The qualifications have been updated to ensure they remain current, relevant and fit-for-purpose, reflecting:
- technological advances in lenses, frames, and digital dispensing systems
- evolving consumer expectations for personalised and culturally responsive service
- workforce requirements for graduates who are immediately job ready
- alignment with national standards and industry best practice.
Qualifications and Units Reviewed
The review encompassed the following qualification:
- HLT47815 Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing to cover advanced competencies including complex dispensing tasks, supervision and mentoring.
Units reviewed included core competencies in:
- optical appliance fitting, adjustment, and maintenance
- lens and frame selection
- optical measurements and prescription interpretation
- contact lens fitting and maintenance
- low vision aid dispensing
- customer consultation and communication
- workplace health, safety, and regulatory compliance
- digital and diagnostic equipment use
- supervisory and mentoring skills.
Summary of Consultations
We extend our sincere thanks to all individuals who generously contributed their time and expertise to this project. At its commencement, a Technical Committee of 7 members was established with representation from Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. In November 2024 and January 2025, an additional 2 members joined the Committee for NSW. The Committee comprised registered training organisations (RTOs), peak industry body representatives and employers, all of whom provided ongoing guidance, industry insight and valuable input throughout the project.
Consultations were conducted between Monday 4 November 2024 and Friday 10 January 2025 using a mix of workshops, surveys, site visits, email submissions and meetings with subject matter experts (SMEs).
Online workshops were conducted on 19 November, 13 December and 17 December 2024. Stakeholders were also invited to provide input via surveys and written submissions. Participants included employers, professional associations, training providers, regulators, and practitioners from both metropolitan and regional settings. This extensive consultation ensured that diverse industry perspectives informed the review.
Key Outcomes of the Review
1. Training product templates
- Qualification and skill sets were subsequently updated to align with the 2025 template requirements.
2. HLT47825 Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing
- The total number of units required to achieve the qualification reduced from 14 to 12.
- Elective units reduced from 5 to 3.
3. Two new skill sets developed
- HLTSS00086 Optical Assistant Skill Set
- HLTSS00087 Edging and Fitting Skill Set
4. HLTOPD002 Dispense Optical Appliances strategically divided into two distinct units:
- HLTOPD007 Dispense single vision optical appliances
- HLTOPD008 Dispense advanced optical appliances
5. All units had edits to Performance Criteria (PC) and Knowledge Evidence (KE) for enhanced clarity.
6. Some units had minor changes to their assessment conditions.
Consultation
- 5 site visits
- 10 meetings took place: 7 face-to-face and 3 online
- 3 technical committee meetings including 1 full day online workshop
- 72 informed stakeholders engaged in the review and development of training package components
All feedback has been recorded and responded to in the consultation log. A summary of feedback from the Consultation stage and how it has been considered and addressed is included below.
Documents Submitted to the Assurance Body
Qualification
Units of Competency
Skill Sets
Companion Volume Implementation Guide
Supporting documents
- Training Product Submission Form – outlines the project activities, outcomes, and the training products proposed for endorsement.
- List of Training products for submission – details the specific training products submitted for endorsement.
- Consultation log – records stakeholder engagement and feedback, providing evidence to support the submission.
- Anti-Discrimination Assessment – documents the measures and considerations undertaken to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination requirements throughout the project.
June - July 2025
Please check back later for further information.