Part A: Information for Applicants

applications close 11:59pm, 30th September 2022
Section 1: Course information
The Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry (BVSMO) produces graduates with knowledge of the biological and physical bases of vision and with entry level skills in the practice of optometry. Throughout the course, students develop skills that equip them for lifelong learning and prepare them for research training. They will gain an understanding of visual health issues, impacting on communities in both regional and rural Australia, particularly those contributing to the health gap between these communities and urban population centres. The course is an accelerated program that takes advantage of Deakin's trimester system enabling Deakin Optometry students to fast-track entry into the profession in 3.5 years. The course comprises 40 credit points over 3.5 years, within 10 sequential trimesters of study.
Up to three (3) places in the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry (D302) program will be offered to Indigenous Australian applicants who apply through the Indigenous Entry Stream.
Section 2: Entry Requirements
Applicants for the Deakin University BVSMO must: be an Indigenous Australian AND provide confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity from their community; AND have completed one or both of the following requirements within ten (10) years of the commencement date of the BVSMO course: A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent (including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL); OR Have successfully completed at least one year of study at Certificate IV or higher in any discipline. Applicants who have not completed the above in the last ten years: All Faculty of Health undergraduate courses require a STAT MC where the applicant has not completed senior secondary education (or equivalent) in the last ten years (from commencement date of the course applied for). The STAT is not required if the applicant has undertaken any tertiary study (minimum Certificate IV) within the last ten years (from commencement date of the course applied for).
Section 3: Inherent requirements
Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed in the document BVSMO Inherent Requirements (pdf). Other inherent requirements include:
Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. For more information see: http://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/how-to-apply/your-offer-and-enrolment-options and http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au
Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. For more information see: http://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/how-to-apply/your-offer-and-enrolment-options and https://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
Immunisations Prior to commencing professional placements students are expected to have a current immunisation status. Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The Faculty will guide you through this process.
Section 4: information regarding VTAC
Please be aware that there are restrictions regarding direct applications for courses that are currently offered through VTAC for Trimester 1, 2023. If you are currently enrolled in Year 12 in 2022, applications for Trimester 1 are made through VTAC. If you are not currently enrolled in Year 12, you can apply directly to Deakin for Trimester 1. If you wish to apply for more than one course or institution, applications for Trimester 1 are made through VTAC. Please note that this entry stream is only available to non-Year 12 applicants as a direct application via this form.
Section 5: Completing and Submitting Your Application
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 11:59PM, 30th September 2022.
To confirm receipt of your electronic application, complete “Part B: Application for 2022 Entry” and submit it via email to the School of Medicine Admission and Placements Team at som-selection@deakin.edu.au. We will be unable to process your application unless the following has been provided as listed in “Part B: Application for 2021 Entry – Section 10: Checklist”. Sighting of original documents may be requested upon successful application. Please ensure all paperwork has been submitted together and includes the following; confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity, a copy of your most recent academic transcript(s) and your resume.
Please ensure that you keep a copy of your application for your records.
Section 6: Communication regarding your application
Please provide a current email address that you regularly check. Deakin University’s main contact is through email for your application. If you have a query regarding your application, please email or phone Ms. Jodi Phillips on the details below.
Enquiries should be directed to:
The Indigenous Health Team School of Medicine P: (03) 5227 8031 E: ihmer@deakin.edu.au
Section 7: PRIVACY STATEMENT
Deakin University is collecting your personal information for the primary purpose of assessing your application. The University will also use this information to register you in Deakin’s student management system, for planning and quality assurance purposes and to notify you about further opportunities and activities of Deakin that may be of interest to you. This information will primarily be used to assess your eligibility for admission into Deakin and selection for specific courses. If your application is successful, your information will be used to offer you a place on a course and to administer your acceptance or refusal of that place. As part of the selection process, Deakin will disclose your personal information to the extent necessary to verify your qualifications or experience. On admission into Deakin, the personal information collected in the application process will form part of your student record and will be managed in accordance with Deakin's Privacy Policy. You are not required to provide the information requested, however if the information is not provided, Deakin may not be able to assess your application. Deakin manages personal information it holds, including requests by individuals for access to their personal information, in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Deakin’s Privacy Policy may be viewed at the Deakin Policy Library – https://policy.deakin.edu.au/ For further information on privacy at Deakin please contact +61 3 5227 8524 or email privacy@deakin.edu.au

Part B: Application for Entry

Section 1: Personal Details
Title:	Surname:
(Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.)
Given Name(s):	Preferred Name:
Other Names:
Date of Birth:	Gender:	☐ Male	☐ Female	☐ Gender netural
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Residential Address:
Number & Street Name
Suburb/Town	State	Post Code
Is this the same as your postal address? (If no, please provide below)	☐ Yes	☐ No
Postal Address:
Number & Street Name
Suburb/Town	State	Post Code
Phone:
Home (Include Area Code)	Work (Include Area Code)	Mobile
Email:
Indigenous Identity
☐ I am Aboriginal	☐ I am Torres Strait Islander
AND
☐ I am accepted as such by the community in which I currently live.
OR
☐ I am accepted as such by the community in which I lived previously for _____ years.
Please include a signed and sealed Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity document from the Aboriginal community organisation where you live or where your family is from. Please provide an electronic copy as per “Part B: Application for 2021 Entry” .
Country of Birth and Citizenship
Country of Birth:
☐ I am an Australian citizen.	☐ I am an Australian Permanent Resident.

Section 2: Education
Please attach official academic transcript(s) for the completed degree or showing your results so far. If the degree includes credit given for previous studies, you should include official academic transcript(s) from the relevant institution(s), listing those studies.
Secondary Education
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 2: Education – Secondary”
Qualification/Year Level	Name of School/Institution	State	Year Completed	ATAR Score/Result
Post-Secondary Education
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 2: Education – Post-Secondary”
Country	Qualification	Name of Institution	First Year Enrolled	Last Year Enrolled	Level of Completion
Have you ever been under exclusion from any university?	☐ Yes	☐ No
Are you now or have you ever been enrolled in an optometry degree program in an Australian university?	☐ Yes	☐ No
Have you previously been offered a place in any of the Australian optometry degree programs?	☐ Yes	☐ No
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please attach a brief explanation headed: “Section 2: Education”

Section 3: employment/work experience
Please attach a copy of your resumé/curriculum vitae (CV).
Please list employment and/or work experience that is relevant to your application.
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 3: Employment/Work Experience”
Position held	Employer	Main duties/ responsibilities	Full-time/part-time/casual	Length of employment/ experience

Section 4: motivation and interest in optometry
Why do you want to study Optometry? Why do you want to study at Deakin University?
Please write a statement between 250 and 500 words about why you are interested in studying optometry and how you hope to use your optometry degree in the future. We are interested in learning about what skills, qualities and achievements influenced your decision and the kinds of life experiences, personal achievements that give you the preparation and determination to succeed.
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 4: Motivation and Interest in Optometry”

Section 5: Connection to Community
What do you know about eye health and/or other health issues within your community?
Please write a statement between 250 and 500 words about eye health and/or other health issues within your community.
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 5: Connection to Community”

Section 6: Communication and Problem Solving
Think of a time when you had a problem with a colleague/co-worker/friend. What was the problem? How did you communicate with this person to resolve the problem? What steps will you take to prevent this from happening in the future?
Please write a statement between 250 and 500 words about your communication and problem solving skills.
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 6: Communication and Problem Solving”

Section 7: Learning A Skill
Identify a skill you have achieved How did you achieve it? What obstacles did you encounter in your learning? How did you overcome these obstacles?
Please write a statement between 250 and 500 words about learning a skill while faced with obstacles.
If you need more space, please attach extra pages headed: “Section 7: Learning a Skill”

Section 8: Academic or employment referees
Your Referees cannot be family members
Please provide signed references from two referees who know you well through work and/or academic study headed: “Section 8: Academic or Employment Referees”.
Please provide the referees’ details below.
Referee 1
Name:	Relationship to you:
Address:
Number & Street Name
Suburb/Town	State	Post Code
Phone:
Landline (Include Area Code)	Mobile
Email:
Referee 2
Name:	Relationship to you:
Address:
Number & Street Name
Suburb/Town	State	Post Code
Phone:
Landline (Include Area Code)	Mobile
Email:

Section 9: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Referee
Your referee cannot be a family member
Please provide a signed reference from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person headed: “Section 9: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Referee”.Please ensure you provide an electronic copy as per your application.
This reference needs to outline your community involvement. Please provide the referee’s details below.
Name:	Relationship to you:
Address:
Number & Street Name
Suburb/Town	State	Post Code
Phone:
Landline (Include Area Code)	Mobile
Email:

Section 10: Checklist
Please provide all supporting documents for your application. All supporting documents must be provided electronically. Please note that Deakin University may require original documents to be sighted upon successful interview.
If your name has changed, please make sure that the name used in your application form is also included on all of your supporting documents.
As a reminder:
Certified copies confirming your Date of Birth and Name for Section 1	☐ Yes	☐ No
Certified copy of your Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity for Section 1	☐ Yes	☐ No
Original Academic Transcripts (photocopies or unofficial computer printouts will not be accepted) for Section 2	☐ Yes	☐ No
Resumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Section 3	☐ Yes	☐ No
Additional pages that address Sections 4 to 7	☐ Yes	☐ No
Total number of additional pages attached that address Sections 4 to 7:
Two Academic and/or Employment Referees’ Statements for Section 8	☐ Yes	☐ No
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Referee’s Statement for Section 9	☐ Yes	☐ No
Signed the declaration and agreement statement at Section 11 **NB: Electronic signature is acceptable.	☐ Yes	☐ No
Please see page 2 for instructions on submitting your application.

Section 11: DECLARATION and Agreement Statement
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, the information I have supplied in this application and the documentation supporting it is correct and complete. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
I authorise Deakin University to obtain relevant information about me to support this application from educational and other sources as required.
I will provide original documentation as required and acknowledge the provision of incorrect information or documentation or the withholding of relevant information or documentation relating to this application may result in cancellation of any offer of enrolment or actual enrolment by Deakin University.
Where records of prior study have been provided in support of my application, I authorise Deakin University to conduct a search and retrieval of my academic record from my previous institution/s to verify the information contained in my application.
I agree to abide by the Statutes, Rules and Regulations of the University.
I have read and understood the sections of the Course Guide relating to the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry program, and the admission procedures, fees, refund policy and privacy policies.
I have read and understood the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry Inherent Requirements.
I acknowledge that if my application is successful, I may be required to supply further documentary evidence to substantiate information supplied in this application.
I have read, understand and agree to the Declaration and Agreement Statement.
Signature of Applicant:	Date:
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 11:59PM, 30th September 2022