Being able to assist the training and development of eye care students in the Pacific is a much-loved and well-supported part of Specsavers’ long-standing partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
Previously, optometrists were sent to Fiji where they trained and mentored nurses and health extension officers with scholarships from The Foundation to study a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Eye Care. This year, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, physical outreaches can’t take place. In lieu of this, we are pleased to announce Lunchtime Outreaches, which give optometrists an opportunity to maintain this important aid to the students from afar through a series online training sessions.
There are opportunities for six optometrists and six year 2 graduate optometrists to partner together and host six 30-minute Zoom training sessions with The Foundation’s eye health students based in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Each webinar will see the host presenting an interesting clinical case study from their practice, giving information and retinal images of the case study, management process and discussion points (example case study).
The Lunchtime outreach dates are:
| Opportunity | Date and time |
| Papua New Guinea Week 1 | 21 August, 2.30-3.30pm AEST/12.30-1.30pm NZT* |
| Papua New Guinea Week 2 | 28 August, 2.30-3.30pm AEST/12.30-1.30pm NZT* |
| Papua New Guinea Week 3 | 4 September, 2.30-3.30pm AEST/12.30-1.30pm NZT* |
| Fiji Week 1 | Friday 2 October, 12.30-1.30pm AEST/10.30-11.30am NZT* |
| Fiji Week 2 | Friday 9 October, 12.30-1.30pm AEST/10.30-11.30am NZT* |
| Fiji Week 3 | Friday 16 October, 12.30-1.30pm AEST/10.30-11.30am NZT* |
* Two optometrists will present for 30 minutes each
Applications are open now and close at 9am on Monday 10 August. Successful applicants will be announced on Tuesday 11 August.
About The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ’s training work in Fiji
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ runs the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI), located in Suva, Fiji. The PEI is the Pacific region’s first training facility for eye health professionals. Postgraduate students are trained specifically to provide eye care in Pacific conditions. They gain a solid academic basis for their practice and considerable supervised practical experience in an environment similar to the clinics in their own countries. Learning is undertaken with the guidance of well-respected eye care professionals from around the world. PEI’s innovative programs are founded on current, active learning principles. PEI prides itself on providing a supportive environment for students.
About The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ’s work in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea should have at least 80 eye doctors, yet currently there are only 12. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is committed to working to help meet the critical shortage, which is why it set up eye nurse training in partnership with Divine Word University in 2007 and why it now manages the Modilon Eye Clinic at Modilon General Hospital in Madang Province. This has seen 86 graduates complete the training to date.