Optometrists Association Australia is the peak professional body for Australian optometrists. The Association represents over 4000 members (93% of optometrists registered with the Optometry Board of Australia).  The Association (formerly the Australian Optometrical Association), was formed as a national body in 1918.  The Association is committed to assisting optometrists deliver quality eye and vision care services across Australia.

The Association also aims to effectively lead the profession, ensuring that optometry evolves as a respected and satisfying profession. 

Services and resources provided by the Association include: 

• representation of optometrists and their interests to government and other bodies;

• development and sharing of information regarding vision standards;

• Medicare guidelines;

• practice management;

• financial, marketing and legal services; and

• information and services to the public.

The Association is a not-for-profit organisation comprised of six state divisions, a national office and a National Board which acts as the Association's governing body.

Strategic directions

The Strategic Directions document provides a broad frame of reference to guide the development of long-term objectives and goals.

Strategic Directions Document (97kb)

It shall be the ideal, the resolve, and the duty of the members of Optometrists Association Australia:

• to keep the visual welfare of the patient upper-most at all times;

• to promote in every possible way in collaboration with the association their educational and technical proficiency to the end that their patients shall receive the benefits of all acknowledged improvements in vision care;

• to hold in professional confidence all information concerning a patient and to use such data only for the benefit of the patient;

• to advise patients whenever consultation with an optometric colleague or other professional care seems advisable;

• to see that no person shall lack for visual care;

• to conduct themselves as exemplary citizens;

• to maintain practices in keeping with professional standards;

• to never advertise or suggest that in any way their qualifications, equipment or techniques are superior;

• to maintain and promote cordial and useful mutual relationships with members of their own profession and of other professions, for the interchanging of information for the advantage of their patients.