Aussie recruiters say OOs still in demand

Optical recruiters have questioned the Australian government's decision to axe optometry from the country's skilled occupations list (SOL).

Local industry bodies requested the removal on the basis of an oversupply of optometrists and more university courses in the country. But recruiters in Australia observed little evidence of oversupply, reporting the opposite in less alluring destinations.

Jason Holland, recruiter for Optical Superstore, said: 'The bottom line is we have a mal-distribution problem. There are enough optoms, just in the wrong locations.'

The 2011 SOL took effect this month (News 15.07.11) and was made up of 192 occupations. Removal from the list dealt a blow to individual optometrists hoping to move, but Specsavers expects no impact on its Relocation Down Under programme. It has opened 257 joint-venture practices in Australia since 2008, bolstered by the recruitment of optometrists and dispensing opticians from the UK.