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Women in optics on the increase
The number of female practitioners entering the optical sector
is on the rise, according to a new equality and diversity
monitoring report published by the GOC.
The survey additionally found that the number of practitioners
of an Asian ethnic origin within the professions is growing.
The results are published in the GOC's 2009 equality and
diversity monitoring report. This is the first time the Council has
published such a report.
Last year, equality and diversity monitoring forms were included
in retention packs sent to all registered optometrists and
dispensing opticians, and all student registrants. The requested
information covered ethnicity, age, gender and disability
details.
In total, 12,157 out of 17,870 full registrants returned their
monitoring forms - a response rate of nearly 70 percent. Responses
were also received from 1,162 of 4,512 student registrants.
GOC chief executive and registrar, Dian Taylor, said: "We are
really pleased with the excellent response we've had from
registrants for the data-gathering process in its first year. This
allows us to have a high degree of confidence in our data. Getting
monitoring right will provide valuable information about trends in
the optical professions. Over time, we will be able to build a rich
and detailed picture of developments in the professions. We are
actively encouraging all our registrants to participate in the
monitoring in the future."
Other findings from report include: there are higher proportions
of female dispensing opticians than optometrists, and optometrists
are significantly younger on average than dispensing opticians. The
report also includes preliminary analysis of general data for
registrants who were the subject of a fitness to practise complaint
in 2009.
Dian Taylor added: "The information we have received over the
last year demonstrates the importance of gathering equality and
diversity data, and this will help us identify any unintended
barriers that might exist in the optical professions for particular
groups of people. We can then take action to remove those barriers.
It can also highlight areas where more public information or
professional training might be required."
In 2010, the GOC will be sending monitoring forms to all
registrants who have not already responded, and to new registrants.
In the future, the GOC plans to collect a broader range of equality
and diversity data, including sexual orientation, gender identity,
and religion and political beliefs. This will reflect the
requirements of the planned Equality Duty legislation.
The full 2009 equality and diversity monitoring report is
available to download from the GOC's website,
www.optical.org