Postgraduate Diploma in Eye Care
Program structure
The PGDEC is suitable for a motivated nurse, or health extension officer (with a minimum of one year’s work experience) who wishes to provide specialised eye care services, and who has the support of their employer.
The PGDEC is a one-year, full time programme. Its curriculum is based on World Health Organisation recommendations and is designed to ensure graduates have appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide high quality eye care services in PNG. It is based on the type of work PNG’s eye care personnel are required to perform, with the equipment they have available, and in the circumstances and health systems in which they are required to perform it.
The range of knowledge and skills developed by the students during this course will enable them to provide diagnosis and non-surgical treatment and management of eye conditions and vision problems as well as the refraction and prescription of spectacles.
YEAR 1 (semester 1)
Essential Eye Care |
|
Refraction 1 |
|
Operating Theatre |
|
Clinical Experience |
YEAR 1 (semester 2)
Refraction 2 |
|
Clinical Rotations |
|
Professional Eye Care |
|
Diagnose and manage common eye conditions – Essential Eye Care (EC501)
- Applied ocular anatomy and physiology, ophthalmic history taking, examination and performing diagnostic tests.
Provide basic refraction services – Refraction 1 (EC502)
- Spherical and Presbyopic correction determination and appropriate prescribing and dispensing of spectacles.
Provide ophthalmic operating theatre assistance – Operating Theatre (EC503)
- Handling, care and maintenance of surgical instruments and equipment, infection control, operating theatre protocol.
Provide basic clinical services – Clinical Experience (EC509)
- Examining patients with simple eye conditions, under supervision, to consolidate the learning of the first two units
Provide advanced refraction services – Refraction 2 (EC507)
- Astigmatic correction determination and appropriate prescribing and dispensing of custom made spectacles.
Provide advanced clinical services – Clinical Rotations (EC511)
- Examining patients, under supervision, in the Modilion Hospital Eye Clinic will provide extensive practical clinical experience of a wide range of eye conditions and eye diseases together with appropriate treatment and management.
Provide professional eye care services – Professional Eye Care (EC508)
- This includes Quality Management, Health Promotion, Community Eye Care, and Professional Competencies (basic computer skills).
The satisfactory completion all the seven (7) units is required for graduation.
 |
Entry requirements
• A nursing or health extension qualification permitting registration in Papua New Guinea
AND
• Minimum of 1 year work experience in a health related field
AND
• Matriculation up to grade 12 is also required
Special Entry may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for those who do not satisfy the above requirements for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma program.
Graduates must be committed to at least two years of eye care service delivery following graduation, and be prepared to undergo activity and outcome surveillance during that time. They are also encouraged to participate in continuing education, to maintain and improve their skills and knowledge.
An important condition of acceptance is that the employer of the applicant must provide an assurance in writing that the graduate will be facilitated to provide eye care in Papua New Guinea, preferably in the public sector, for a period equivalent to the length of training undertaken.
The course was designed by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, which coordinates a large, multi-year eye health program with its partners in PNG, focusing on training eye care workers and equipping eye clinics to prevent and treat blindness. FHFNZ and its local partner FHF-PNG manage the eye clinic at Modilon General Hospital where the clinical components of the course take place. Some candidates may be considered for a scholarship from FHFNZ, which covers tuition and certain other DWU related expenses.
More information
For more information, please email
Dr John Farmer, B.Sc Optom, M.Optom (Res), Cert Ocular Therapeutics.
Head of Department, Eye Care
Faculty of Health Sciences
Email: jfarmer@dwu.ac.pg
Tel: (675) 424.1834 or (675) 422-2919
Fax: (675) 422-0616
To download an application, please click here: Application Form 2012
