Orientation and mobility training is all about helping you build your ability by enhancing your mobility skills.
Often, Orientation and Mobility is a starting point if you are experiencing vision loss. This service is available to you throughout your life and can be easily adapted as your needs change.
Regardless of your age or level of vision, we all share the desire to move safely and independently through the world.
Mobility is part of every single aspect of life and can easily be taken for granted. From being able to get on a train, to travel to work each day, to simply being able to walk to the end of your driveway, there is nothing we do that doesn’t involve some element of Orientation and Mobility.
We’re here to help you whether you’ve experienced long-term low vision, recent changes in vision, or you’re gradually losing sight.
During your first program, your instructor will teach you the basics you need to travel safely and independently. You can then contact us at any time throughout your life for assistance if you need to refresh your skills or learn any new travel routes.
If your vision changes over time, we will work with you to help you adapt the skills and equipment you have already, or practice any other skills you might not have needed to use previously.
All our Orientation and Mobility programs are built specifically around your individual needs, with each program personalised for every client.
Depending on the specific skills you hope to learn, you might receive training at home, get out and about to apply your training in the community, learn alongside family members or co-workers, or join us for programs on site.
It’s all about helping you to experience and enjoy your surroundings.
Undertaking Orientation and Mobility training will help you master the concepts and abilities you need to be able to move through your environment safely and confidently, which is crucial to maximising your independence. It can help you with things like:
“You wouldn’t think that such a simple thing like a cane could make such a difference, but it’s given me a lot of the freedom I thought I’d lost. I allowed my world to shrink and the cane’s opened it up again. “
At Guide Dogs Queensland, we are proud to celebrate the recent accomplishments of two of our dedicated Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists, Daniel Ellison and Jessica McLeod, who have both successfully completed the extensive training and certification process to become Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS). This achievement reflects their hard work and dedication to the field and marks an important milestone in their professional journey.
The COMS certification is awarded by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), an international certification body based in the United States. This body ensures that O&M professionals possess a comprehensive baseline of knowledge across the 12 key domains we instruct in, including mobility techniques, environmental awareness, and adaptive strategies to support individuals with low vision and blindness.
The path to becoming a COMS is rigorous and requires a Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility. At the University of New South Wales (UNSW), this qualification is currently offered as a post-graduate diploma. Following the completion of this degree, candidates must undergo a minimum of 350 hours of supervised training in real-world settings. After fulfilling these requirements, candidates can then register to sit for the COMS exam. Upon passing the exam, individuals earn the COMS certification, officially recognising them as qualified professionals in the field.
In Australia, an additional step is required for O&M specialists to practice within our local context: registration with the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA). After receiving their COMS certification, O&M professionals must register with OMAA to earn the title of ROMSA (Registered Orientation and Mobility Specialist of Australasia). This ensures professionals are recognised in both international and regional contexts and are committed to maintaining the high standards of the profession.
At Guide Dogs Queensland, we are proud to lead the way as Queensland’s peak body for people with low vision or blindness, setting the standards in the sector by training and employing qualified O&M professionals. With COMS-certified specialists on our team, we ensure every client benefits from best-practice techniques and best-practice care, delivering the highest level of service and support.
In February 2025, during our monthly BBQ, CEO Jock Beveridge had the pleasure of presenting Daniel Ellison and Jessica McLeod with their COMS certificates, marking the conclusion of years of study, training, and professional dedication. We congratulate them both on their achievement and look forward to seeing them continue to excel in their roles as highly qualified O&M specialists.
Their success brings the total number of COMS professionals at Guide Dogs Queensland to nine, strengthening our team and elevating the level of expertise within our organisation. Their certification underscores the importance of specialised training in this field and the commitment of O&M specialists to providing quality support to individuals with low vision and blindness.
Our Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) have the recommended professional qualification to provide the best guidance and support. This dedication reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in mobility services—ensuring every Queenslander we work with can move through their world safely and confidently.
In addition to celebrating the achievements of Daniel and Jessica, we are also excited about a significant development for the broader O&M industry. As of mid-March 2025, O&M services are now recognised as a standalone item under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Previously, O&M services were categorised under other therapies, but this new recognition allows O&M professionals to operate more independently and directly with the NDIS.
This is a monumental step for the O&M profession, as it provides greater visibility and support for O&M services within the NDIS framework. It ensures that individuals with low vision and blindness can access O&M services directly, with the assurance that qualified professionals, such as our COMS-certified team, are providing the highest standard of care and expertise.
We are immensely proud of Daniel Ellison and Jessica McLeod for their recent achievements, and we are excited for the continued growth and recognition of the O&M profession. As we move forward, we remain committed to delivering top-tier training and certification, ensuring that our team of specialists is equipped to support individuals with low vision and blindness in navigating their environments safely and confidently.
With the recognition of O&M services as a separate item under NDIS, the future looks bright for both our team and the field of Orientation and Mobility as a whole.
Congratulations again to Daniel and Jessica, and to all the professionals working tirelessly to enhance the lives of people with low vision and blindness.
Our Orientation and Mobility Specialists will assess how your level of vision affects your mobility and then help you find the way ahead.
We’re here to help you achieve the things you want to, like teaching you the skills you need to get around your home and community safely and independently.
Simply get in touch with our friendly Client Services team using the form below to chat further about how we can help you.
Ph: 07 3500 9060
Email: clients@guidedogsqld.com.au
