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Glaucoma Australia has been recognised by UTS Orthoptics as providing outstanding opportunities for clinical education. The charity was presented with an award for the NGO that has offered the most clinical placements sessions in 2021/22 to UTS Orthoptics students. The collaboration between UTS Orthoptics and Glaucoma Australia has provided numerous orthoptist students with a unique and valuable opportunity to put their clinical skills to practice.
Glaucoma Australia's Loreto Obias accepted the award on behalf of the organisation’s Senior Patient Educator, Sapna Nand. Around ninety people – orthoptists, lecturers, final year students and supporters from the ophthalmic industry – gathered at the UTS Graduate School of Health to celebrate the key facilitators of student education. Dr Amanda French, a senior orthoptics lecturer at UTS, was pleased to report the number of clinical placement hours offered to students has continued to increase after a brief decline during COVID-19 – with Glaucoma Australia offering more clinical placements than any other NGO.
Clinical placement sessions are an important part of an orthoptist student’s education and development as they provide the student with the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience. Whilst completing their required clinical placement hours, students gain considerable exposure to patients and therefore are able to put their skills to use during these interactions.
Importantly, Glaucoma Australia’s clinical volunteers help assist the organisation’s patient educators by providing valuable phone support to over 400 glaucoma patients who have been referred to its support service. The students are trained by orthoptist Sapna Nand, who provides the volunteers with the skills and information they need to provide appropriate advice and support.
If you are interested in being a clinical volunteer at Glaucoma Australia, please email sapna@glaucoma.org.au
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