Our Organisation
RANZCO is the professional body for Ophthalmologists and, as such, is the body responsible for creating and maintaining standards in ophthalmologist training and practice. It organizes the examination system and sets the curriculum. It maintains a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system. It organizes a scientific congress, produces clinical guidelines and the scientific journal “Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (CEO)”. It promotes study and research in ophthalmology. RANZCO also exists to educate the general public in all matters relating to vision and the health of the human eye.
As a higher educational institution, the College:
- Trains future Australian and New Zealand specialists via its postgraduate Vocational Training Program
- Assists specialists to maintain their skills and knowledge through a comprehensive continuing medical education program, including the annual Scientific Congress.
- 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,publication of the scientific 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, Ophthalmologists' Exchange and newsletter, RANZCO News.
- 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 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 to the training of specialists to lifelong 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.
