5991 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1Y6 - 902.425.7928 - registrar@nscdo.org
who we are
The Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians is the health regulatory body for all Opticians in Nova Scotia. The College is responsible for regulating Opticians in the public interest through registration, licensing, continuing education, and the establishment of a professional code of conduct in accordance with the Dispensing Opticians Act of Nova Scotia.
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our missionRegulating and improving the practice of Opticians to ensure quality professional care for the consumers of Nova Scotia. |
objectives
In order that the public interest may be served and protected, the objectives of the College are: to regulate the practice of optical dispensing through registration, licensing and the establishment of a professional conduct process in accordance with this Act and the regulations; establish, maintain and develop standards of professional practice among its members; establish, maintain and develop standards of professional ethics and a code of conduct for its members; and administer this Act and perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are imposed or conferred on the Board by or under any Act.
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EDIRA Position Statement “The Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians is committed to creating a respectful, equitable, and inclusive workplace environment that fosters an experience of belonging, is representative of Nova Scotia’s diversity, and promotes culturally aware, safe, and equitable treatment of the publics they serve. We recognize that equity-deserving groups, particularly those with significant cultural histories within Nova Scotia, have experienced health disparities, poorer health statuses, and valid distrust in the healthcare system. Our journey toward eliminating racism and oppression in our health system starts by acknowledging these truths. But it doesn’t end there. As a contributor to regulating a health profession, we are holding ourselves accountable by deepening our commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and accessibility to help improve health outcomes and ensure all Nova Scotians the high quality of care they deserve. We exist to protect the public by overseeing and licensing qualified Dispensing Opticians, that are committed to growth and deepening their skills and knowledge to provide culturally responsive and respectful care.“ |
EQUITY | Distinct from the notion of “equality” where everyone receives the same supports or resources, equity is concerned with leveling the playing field. It assumes that some people or groups are able to access more resources than oth- ers. Equity implies that everyone receives the resources and opportunities they need to flourish (Egan & Restall, 2022). |
DIVERSITY | The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes both visible and invisible, within a group, organization or society. |
INCLUSION | The achievement of a work environment in which all individuals feel a sense of belonging, are treated fairly, are respected and free to achieve their full potential (while being free to contribute fully to the organization’s success). |
RECONCILIATION | Building a renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect and partnership. This requires a process of healing relationships that requires public truth sharing, apology, and commemoration that acknowledges and redresses past harm. |
ACCESSIBILITY | Is the practice of proactively designing and constructing environments, products, services, and policies to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate. It's more than just physical access or mobility, and it involves being flexible and responsive to the needs of people with disabilities (Accessibility Act, 2017). |