GOC calls for applications for council associate role

The General Optical Council (GOC) is seeking applications for two council associate roles, with applications closing on 3 March.

The role, which was first launched in 2021, aims to bring new perspectives to GOC council meetings, while also providing early career professionals with board experience. For this intake, at least one of the two vacant roles will be assigned to a dispensing optician.

Council associates attend GOC council meetings and gain further governance experience through attending GOC’s Audit, Risk, and Finance Committee.

They are supported by a dedicated mentor during the course of their term and take part in development workshops.

Fully qualified optometrists and dispensing opticians interested in learning more about the work of the GOC and gaining experience on a board are invited to apply.

Outgoing council associate, Rukaiya Anwar, served in the role for 18 months.

“Since joining the GOC as a council associate on 31 December 2021, I have been encouraged and supported to contribute to discussions within a safe and welcoming space. Equally, all input by colleagues is considered and thoughts are respected and valued, allowing for collective decision-making,” she said.

“The council associate programme has been instrumental in opening up the discussions to individuals like myself, who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to take part until much later on in their careers,” Anwar added.

Commenting on the vacancies, Dr Peter Hampson, AOP clinical and professional director, said: “This is a great opportunity for early-career practitioners to gain first-hand experience of the governance structures at the GOC and its work, as well as to actively feed into debate and reflect your own experiences in practice. We encourage optometrist and dispensing optician members to put themselves forward.”

A candidate pack can be accessed online to find out more details about the role and how to apply.