16 December 2025
The General Optical Council (GOC) is looking to recruit two new council associates – with one vacancy for an optometrist and the other for a dispensing optician or contact lens optician.
A statement from the GOC explained that the council associate scheme, which was introduced in 2021, helps to expand the range of perspectives and opinions that are represented at council meetings.
Council associates gain first-hand experience of board and committee governance by attending all council meetings and meetings of the optical regulator’s audit, risk and finance committee.
“Throughout their term, associates will be supported with development workshops, regular check-ins with their dedicated mentor, and ongoing assistance from the governance team,” the GOC highlighted.
The GOC highlighted a commitment to bringing the membership of its panels and committees further in line with its registrant base.
Applications from registrants from ethnic minority backgrounds and those who identify as disabled are particularly welcomed for the council associate positions – as these groups are currently under-represented.
The deadline for applications for the council associate positions is 18 January 2026.
Those interested in the vacancies can contact the GOC by email, quoting reference GOC06/25 on all correspondence.
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hilaryandmichael17 December 2025
The goodwill between our optical negotiators and the department of health is 100% one sided ie there is no good will whatsoever from HM Governments side. Their representatives hold a gun to our heads over fees and they absolutely know it taking the view of “like it or lump it” over the GOS sight test remuneration. The fact remains that without the goodwill and diligence of Optometrists which is so often stretched to breaking point by commercial pressures put on Optoms in some environments, secondary care in ophthalmology, would utterly collapse under the weight of GP’s unnecessary referrals. If Messrs Clarke and Fowler had not imposed impossible competitive pressures on our profession in 1989, we may have had some leverage to be able to threaten “ a work to rule” approach on referring to the HES when necessary and that is why there is no good will in fee negotiation with NHS England. They have us over a barrel and they jolly well know it!
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