Optometry Board of Australia sets fee for 2023

20 Sep 2023

The Optometry Board of Australia (the Board) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have announced an increase in the annual registration fee for optometrists for 2023/24.

The registration fee for optometrists will limit the increase below indexation by 3 per cent to $347 from 20 September. This will cover the registration period from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024.

‘Optometrists are not immune to the current economic challenges. The Board recognises this and has worked to keep fees as low as possible while ensuring we can perform our vital role to keep the public safe,’ Optometry Board Presiding Member Stuart Aamodt said.

Registration fees fund our work

Registration fees fund the work of the National Boards and Ahpra to keep the public safe by:

• managing applications for registration, including complex applications from internationally qualified practitioners
• developing professional standards that guide the profession and set expectations
• investigating and managing concerns about registered health practitioners, including taking immediate action and referring matters to tribunals
• criminal prosecutions for breaches in advertising and use of title
• accrediting and approving programs of study that lead to registration and endorsement
• funding the work of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland and the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman.

The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme is self-funded with each Board responsible for meeting the full costs of regulating their profession.

The fees for each National Board must also reflect the risk and complexity of the individual professions, as well as the resources needed to address them. The National Boards work closely with Ahpra to keep fees as low as possible while continuing to meet regulatory obligations and the expectations of the public and practitioners. The National Boards and Ahpra receive no government funding.

For more information

• Read the media release from Ahpra and the National Boards on the Ahpra website
• Visit the fees page of the Board website
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9125 3010 (overseas callers)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200 or media@ahpra.gov.au