Introduction

The following is an excerpt from the college website.

The College's mission is the improvement of the already high standard of eye care in Australia and New Zealand. In pursuit of this mission, the College provides a variety of services centered on our core roles as a higher educational institution and learned society.

As a higher educational institution, the College:

Trains future Australian and New Zealand specialists via our postgraduate vocational training program
Assists specialists to maintain their skills and knowledge through a professional development continuing medical education program, including the annual Scientific Congress, available to all ophthalmologists
Designs and delivers education and training to other eye care professionals including GPs and optometrists to improve their capacity to meet eye care needs.

As a learned society, the College:

Promotes the science and practice of ophthalmology and the vision sciences through a range of scientific, clinical and professional services. These include support for research, dissemination of research results including publication of the College's learned journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology and the development of clinical guidelines and policy statements
Provides information and library services to keep members and other interested parties informed of developments affecting eye care as well as College activities. These services include the College library, website, magazine and newsletter
Provides external relations and government policy services covering relationships between the College and other stakeholders, as well as provision of policy advice to governments on health policy and eye care issues.

The College also provides community services intended to improve eye care within Australia and New Zealand, as well as services delivered on behalf of Government. This include provision of information to the community on practical measures to improve the quality of eye care, as well as advice on current eye care issues, such as the dangers posed to sight by commonly used products including equipment and toys. The College participates in programs intended to improve eye care within groups with particular problems such as our indigenous peoples and those living in rural and regional areas. The College provides advice to government agencies on the qualifications and experience of overseas-trained specialists wishing to practise in Australia or New Zealand.

Collectively, the College's various services cover the total spectrum of eye care delivery from the promotion of scientific research through the training of specialists to life long support for service delivery. By combining support for eye care delivery with services targeting community education and the policy and institutional framework within which eye care takes place, the College aims to fulfil its mission of the improvement of eye care in Australia and New Zealand.

Governance Structure of the College & Trainee Representation

The College is governed by a board of directors, advised by a representative council. Senior trainees are nominated to participate in meetings of College Council, regional Qualification and Education committee (QEC) meetings, and federal QEC meetings. Advanced trainees and younger Fellows participate in the development of curriculum standards. Younger fellows are represented on College Council.

Training

The College runs a five-year full time training program. The program is divided into two years basic training, two years advanced training and a final year to consolidate skills and knowledge.

Rotations

The College requires trainees to undertake rotations in different hospitals during their training program. The College accredits training posts within training networks against College standards. The network determines the rotational pattern for each trainee, and manages any terms and conditions associated with practical arrangements. No rural rotation is required. The College does not assist trainees in organising their rotations. The College has accredited rural posts in networks in South Australia, NSW, Queensland, Victoria and NZ. Practical arrangements are supported as above for hospital rotations.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The college does recognise prior learning. An appointee to a first year accredited training post may apply for exemption from examinations in any of optics, physiology or anatomy if the applicant passed the subject in the (former) Part I exam within the preceding five years.

Flexibility in Training

Part time and interrupted training are approved on a case by case basis.

Assessment

Basic sciences and basic ophthalmic competencies and knowledge are tested in the first two years and a written and clinical exam for advanced pathology takes place in the third year. The Advanced Clinical Examination takes place in the fourth year.

Costs

Contact details

The College is based in Sydney.

Address:
94-84 Chalmers Street
Surrey Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9690 1001
Fax: (02) 9690 1321
Email: ranzco@ranzco.edu
Website: www.ranzco.edu