Optometry Digital Literacy Toolkit

Business intelligence

Your optometry course contains a number of opportunities to learn about the business-related aspects of working in an optometry clinic.

This part of the optometry digital literacy toolkit aims to highlight some of the information resources you may find helpful in understanding this component of your study and future career.

Understanding the optometry industry in Australia will be a useful starting point for thinking about the context you’ll be working in. Below are some suggested sources for optometry-related information:

• Passport
  Publishes access to information and analysis on industries, including eyewear in Australia, as well as companies in those industries. Passport also provides excellent market research via its Consumer tool.
• IBISWorld
  Provides information and analysis on Australian industries, including optometry and optical dispensing.
• D&B Hoovers 
  Provides information on industries and companies, including private companies.
• Factiva
  Access to business and industry news reports from around the world, categorised by industry, region, subject, company and more.
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
  Find information about companies and industries.

These sources will help with finding information about Australian populations, both current and forecast:

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
  Well known for its census data, which is accessible by different geographies including suburb and postcode. The ABS can also be used to access population projections.
• .id Consulting’s demographic resources
  Used by any Australian local councils and other regional authorities provide detailed, publicly available profiles of local areas.
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
  Source of information about health and healthcare in Australia, including information about specific local health areas.

Beyond providing good customer service, business also has legal, marketing, financial and staffing aspects to consider. These sources will help you with information in those areas:

• Business Victoria
  Designed to be a one-stop comprehensive portal designed to help you start, run and grow your business. It has a wealth of information including sections on:
  • setting up a business
  • creating a marketing plan
  • financial sustainability
  • staffing
• Visual Communication
  ​​​​​​​Toolkit may assist with tips and tools related visual marketing of your business.

Finally, you may be interested in reading case studies of optometry and eyewear companies.
The Warc database is an excellent source for this, with a particular focus on marketing-related case studies.

Further Help

The Optometry Digital Literacy Toolkit was developed by Deakin University Library.
Please get in touch if you have any questions or feedback.