Serving as an appointed committee member is a personally and professionally rewarding way of ensuring safe, high-quality vision care for Ontario patients. If you are a Registered Optician interested in using your knowledge and skill in the interest of public protection, consider getting involved in the COO as an Appointed (non-Board) member. Appointments are for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2023, ending December 31, 2024. Compensation, including reasonable expenses, is provided.
Appointed Members serve on College Committees
As members of College committees, appointed members act in the public interest to make decisions on cases relating to registration, investigations, quality assurance and discipline. Appointed members also make recommendations to the board on policy decisions, and support the implementation of committee and board decisions. Appointed members commit to attending meetings, maintaining confidentiality, preparing for meetings by reviewing materials and undergoing training. As an appointed member, you can expect to attend 4 in-person Board meetings and approximately 12-16 committee meetings per year, which may mean arranging your schedule to meet the time commitment.
Eligibility Requirements, Values and Attributes of Appointed Members
To be eligible for appointment, you must be registered and in good standing with the College and meet the eligibility requirements for Appointed Members as set out in Article 12.2 of the College's By-laws and the Appointed Committee Member Policy.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, appointed members must possess the following core competencies:
Applicants may have the following experience, skills and knowledge, or be willing to learn them during the appointment:
• Cultural Safety and Humility: Appreciation and respect for unique perspectives, cultural contexts, power imbalances, and biases in deliberation and decision-making.
• Diplomacy: Clearly articulate a perspective, engage in respectful, and sometimes difficult discussions with the committee, while consistently reinforcing a culture of trust.
• Health Professions Regulation: Understand the role of health profession regulators, the mandate to protect the public, applicable legislation, and the core work of the College.
• System Thinking: Knowledge of the complex system in which the College works, the stakeholders within that system, and the potential impacts of College decisions.
• Technological Competence: Use technology to work effectively and uphold security and privacy.
• Governance: Understand the role of appointed members and good governance principles.
• Organizational Decision Making: Understand the policy development and decision-making process. Base decisions on objective principles informed by evidence and best practices.
• Risk management/oversight: Identify, communicate, and mitigate safety, operational, financial and strategic risks potentially arising from committee decision making.
As an Appointed Member, you will participate in Board training. The type of training commonly offered includes:
An information session was held for interested applicants. To watch the information session please click here.
To apply, please email your submission to crobertson@collegeofopticians.ca.
Please submit:
• A completed Eligibility Checklist,
• A resume, and
• A letter of interest
• Three references
A telephone interview will be held for selected candidates. Candidates will be asked questions relating to how they meet the required competencies above.