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Career outcomes
Overview
Doctor of Optometry graduates will be inspired to become industry-leading practitioners and world-class care providers after their time at the University of Melbourne.
Driven by unmatched resources, renowned teaching staff and evidence-based practices, graduates from this course are prepared to pursue a career that is constantly challenging and evolving.
Amazing career opportunities
As a graduate of the Doctor of Optometry, you can take advantage of high employment rates, no matter the pathway you choose to pursue.
Most graduates of this course find employment through their final year of clinical placement. With an outstanding reputation for excellence in the field of optometry, the University of Melbourne has a vibrant placement relationship with private and corporate practices alike.
While many students choose to become community-based practitioners post-graduation, there are other career opportunities open in the field of optometry, including:
- Further academic research
- Public health
- Public health policy.
If you have rural or community-focused practice in mind, this degree will provide you with plenty of opportunities to pursue some of the most interesting and remote placements.
An internationally recognised qualification
Graduates from the Doctor of Optometry emerge as strong leaders in their field. The Doctor of Optometry is the entry practice degree for registration as an optometrist in Australia, as well as New Zealand.
Students can also take advantage of potential international placements. Previous students have travelled to a range of international locations, including New York, South Africa, India, Nepal and Vanuatu.
Read about Erica's experience:
Erica Barclay
I’m an optometrist at the Australian College of Optometry. I really enjoy the combination of helping people and using the scientific knowledge I gained through my studies.
I’m often working with new Australians who may not have English as a first language, and I’ve found the skills I learned on externship in South Africa in my final year have really helped.
Spending two weeks on a Phelophepa health train delivering healthcare to rural and disadvantaged townships, meant I had to learn to communicate with people when we didn’t speak the same language. I’m more confident now seeing patients where it may be more difficult to communicate - I have other ways of getting the message across.
There are lots of speciality clinics to get involved at the College, like paediatrics, advanced contact lenses or glaucoma management with the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. I’m looking forward to finding out more, when the time is right.
The College also does a lot of outreach here in Australia, for example with people living in rural areas, Indigenous communities and homeless communities. I’d like to get involved. I did an outreach program in Sri Lanka before my final year of study and it really gave me a taste for that kind of work.
The teachers definitely pushed us in the early years of the course, particularly when it came to our clinical skills. While it was challenging at the time I can see how much it benefitted us now I’m in the workplace.
Optometry is a relatively small profession, so I still see my old supervisors and other students lots. It’s a really nice aspect of working in this field.
Graduate pathways
Once you've completed your undergraduate degree, you can go on to gain employment or begin a graduate degree and work towards a professional qualification such as law, engineering or medicine. Or you could join our graduate research community and contribute to our world-changing research.
Your graduate degree will be internationally recognised, and set you apart from those who study a traditional Australian single or double degree.
Explore the graduate pathways available once you complete your undergraduate degree here.