Year 11 Career Education

Report
Description of the Work
Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
Examining patients' eyes and setting tests to determine the nature and extent of vision
problems and abnormalities.
Assessing ocular health and visual function by measuring visual acuity and refractive error,
and testing the function of visual pathways, visual fields, eye movements, freedom of vision
and intraocular pressure, and performing other tests using special eye test equipment.
Detecting, diagnosing and managing eye disease, referring patients to, and receiving referrals
from other health providers, and prescribing medications for the treatment of eye disease.
Diagnosing eye movement disorders and defects of binocular function.
Prescribing lenses, contact lenses and low vision aids, and checking suitability and comfort.
Prescribing exercises to coordinate movement and focusing of eyes.
Managing programs for eye movement disorders, and instructing and counselling patients in
the use of corrective techniques and eye exercises.
Advising on visual health matters such as contact lens care, vision care for the elderly, optics,
visual ergonomics, and occupational and industrial eye safety.
Conducting preventative screening programs.
Conducting rehabilitation programs for the visually impaired.

Civil Engineer:
Determining construction methods, materials and quality standards, and drafting and
interpreting specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures.
Organising and directing site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and
equipment, and establishing detailed programs for the coordination of site activities.
Obtaining soil and rock samples at different depths across sites and testing samples to
determine strength, compressibility and other factors that affect the behaviour of soil and
rock when a structure is imposed and determining the safe loading for the soil.
Studying architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs,
and preparing detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control.
Monitoring changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and
negotiating variations to designs.
Analysing structural systems for both static and dynamic loads.
Designing structures to ensure they do not collapse, bend, twist or vibrate in undesirable
ways.
Assessing present and future travel flow patterns taking into account population increase and
needs change.
Designing the physical aspects of transportation systems such as highways, railroads, urban
transit, air transportation, logistical supply systems and their terminals.

The Effect of Technology

Optometrist/ Orthoptists:
Due to an increase in technology developments, it is helping optometrists or orthoptists to
effective assess the patient’s eyes. It makes the work simpler and easier to do. However, the
technology can take over the industry, and reduce the number of workers in the industry.
There is low employment rate for being an optometrist in the future.
Civil Engineering:
With the use of technology, engineers can work on their projects digitally, making work
simpler to do. Technology helps them to design, and create a project, and can monitoring
changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and negotiating
variations to designs. In the future, there is a chance of having lower employment for
engineers, due to the advancement of technology.

Working Conditions and Environment

Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
This job is done indoors in private clinics or hospitals. They have to be hygienic when
handling with patient’s eyes. Some hospitals and private clinics has uniforms, but they have
to wear formal clothes.

Civil Engineer:
This job is done indoors and outdoors, where they have to see construction sites, and do other
work indoors. They need to wear helmet, closed in leather shoe, and other safety gears in the
construction site. In the office, they need to wear formal clothes.

The Wages/ Salaries for that Work

Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
On average $84, 000 per year. Extra pay for overtime.

Civil Engineer:
On average $72,000 per year. Extra pay for overtime.

The Skills required for Specific Tasks within the Work/ Career and Transferable
competencies/ skills that apply to the work.
Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
Communication Skills
Professional Attitude
Attention for detail
Dexterity
Organisational Skills
Direct skills working with hands

Civil Engineer:
Technical Skills -Should have a good knowledge in mathematics and physics
Project Management
Communication Skills
Creativity
Critical Thinking

Education or Training Qualifications required for the Work/ Career

-Mathematics/ Ext1
-Physics
-Chemistry
-English Advanced
-UMAT
-ATAR: 96-99
Specialisations available at:
-Graduate diploma of Optometry (UNSW)
-Bachelor of clinical Optometry/ Vision Science (UNSW)
-Master of Orthoptics (UTS)
-Doctor of Optometry (UNSW)
-Master (coursework) of graduate Optometry (UNSW)
-Graduate diploma of community eye health (UNSW)
-Master (Coursework) of community eye health (UNSW)

Civil Engineer:
Mathematics
Mathematics Extension 1
Physics
Specialisations available:
-Bachelor of Civil Engineering
-Civil Engineering Honours
-Civil Engineering Masters

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Work/ Career

Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
Adv- More demand
- Money- More Pay
- Normal Hours- No night shifts unless emergency
Disadv- Poor Economics
- No Career mobility
- No Financial mobility
- Insurance
- Monotony
- Need Patients
Civil Engineer:
Adv- Central figures in community development
- High demand
- Excellent pay
- Wide range of fields in civil engineering
- Strong technical competence with creative designing
- Get opportunity to work on different sites and travel new places
Disadv- Hard work
- Extreme Pressure
- Work environment (dusty, remote areas etc.)
- Increased scrutiny
- Growth in communities
- Risk involved

Your own personal Suitability for the work/ career

Optometrist/ Orthoptist:
-I am capable of doing this job, as I have good communication skills, professional attitude,
attention for detail, dexterity and organisational skills.
Civil Engineer:
-I am capable of doing this job, as I have good technical skills, project management skills,
communication skills, creativity and critical Thinking