Advantage Program
The member Advantage Program provides members of the Association with access to special offers and discounts with a wide range products and services. From banking, insurance, legal and financial advice to credit card products, website software packages and travel club membership, Association members receive generous discounts they otherwise would not be entitled to. The Association partners have been carefully chosen as being among the best in their industry, where possible specialising in the profession of optometry. Visit www.optometrists.asn.au for more information.
Advice to the community
The Association provides advice on optometry, vision and eye care to members of the public, including government departments, private bodies and companies, health agencies and other professions.
Advice to members
Optometrists Association Australia provides advice to members on practice management and other professional matters. It aims to ensure optometrists understand and honour the Medicare undertaking. The Association also provides free telephone human resources, industrial relations and general work place advice to all members.
Audio Visual Equipment
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the use of its audio visual equipment for presentations, workshops, seminars etc. Equipment: Laptop, Data Projector and screen. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Awards
The Association recognises the contribution that optometrists make to the advancement of the profession by making a number of awards including:
- HB Colin Medal for research
- J Lloyd Hewett Award for publications in Clinical and Experimental Optometry
- Wenbourne Award for advancing optometry politically
- The Hon Bill Hayden AC Queensland Optometrist of the Year Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory optometrist
- Professor Sydney BJ Skertchley Award - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a non-optometrist.
- OAA Qld/NT Media Medal - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a media professional or media agency.
- Hamlyn R Brier Clinical Optometry Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory clinical achiever.
- Peter J Montgomery Award for Social Justice for a practitioner dedicated to social justice issues.
Optometry Board of Australia
The Association maintains a close relationship with the Optometry Board of Australia.
Bookshop
The Association, National Office, runs a mail-order bookshop that provides members with clinical and research optometry books at discounted prices.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD is an essential part of optometry, both to maintain and improve the standard of care provided to patients and to advance the interests of optometrists. The annual requirement for Optometrists Association Australia members is 40 CPD points. Members may average their points over a two calendar year period, so at the end of each year you should have earned at least 80 points during the previous 24 months.
Directory of optometrists
OAA periodically publishes or arranges for the publication of a directory of Australian optometrists.
Education and research
The Association regularly liaises with the schools and plans future training needs. Optometrists Association Australia is the principal provider of continuing professional education for optometrists in Australia. It holds regular local and overseas conferences and seminars across the country and maintains a list of relevant overseas congresses.
The QLD/NT Division holds two major CPD events annually. Australian Vision Convention is held on the weekend after Easter each year on Queensland’s Gold Coast. North Queensland Vision is held in mid June in Cairns, Far North Queensland. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Industry liaison
Optometrists Association Australia works co-operatively with other industry bodies such as the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association and the Contact Lens Industry Council.
International role
Optometrists Association Australia is a member of the World Council of Optometry and the Asia-Pacific Council of Optometry. The Association is in regular communication with many overseas optometric associations and participates in exchange visits with some associations. Optometrists Association Australia is an in-kind supporter of the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), an organisation providing eye care in developing countries.
The Association has arranged and promoted aid trips by optometrists to economically underdeveloped countries with eye care needs.
Optometry House
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with free hire of Optometry House, located 58 St Pauls Terrace (Cnr Rogers St) Spring Hill, Brisbane. Facilities include: boardroom, workshop room (max. 40 seated). For more information or bookings please email info@optomsqld.com
Planning for the profession
The Association conducts regular studies monitoring the work force to ensure the profession's continued viability. It has developed, implemented and continues to expand and update its Strategic Plan. Optometrists Association Australia maintains a bank of statistics and a library of information that are used in the association's promotion of optometry. They are available to members to use in the management of their practices.
Practice management
The Association produces a quarterly magazine, Practice that deals directly with practice management concerns.
A subsidiary of the Association, ProVision, gives members independent practice support in a full range of marketing and management issues.
Presentation Assistance
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with a range of powerpoint presentations, display materials and a model eye for loan. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Professional Indemnity Insurance
All members of the Association are automatically provided with indemnity insurance. The maximum for any one claim and for all claims in the aggregate is $10 million, per member.
Publications
The association publishes and supplies its members with a range of regular publications including:
- Clinical and Experimental Optometry . A peer-reviewed bi-monthly scientific journal.
- Australian Optometry, a monthly newspaper.
- AO Magazine , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper, incorporating four feature magazines: Ophthalmic Equipment, Ophthalmic Lenses, Contact Lenses and Spectacle Frames.
- Practice , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper dealing with practice business management.
- SEE , the newsletter of the Queensland/Northern Territory Division
The Association periodically publishes special booklets that assist members in the clinical management of their patients. Publications include Contact Lens Data Book and Ocular Side Effects of Drugs.
Public relations
Optometrists Association Australia regularly develops public awareness and information programs aimed at raising the profile of and expanding the public's understanding of optometry. Through annual campaigns such as UV Protection, Children's Vision, Good Vision for Life, World Sight Day and many others, the Association targets various stakeholders throughout the year. The Qld/NT Division hold Optometry Week each year during July.
Relations with other professions and groups
Optometrists Association Australia maintains ongoing relations with other professional organisations, particularly those in the health care field. Meetings are regularly held with medical, pharmacy and paramedical organisations. The Association has materials to assist optometrists in establishing relationships with local general medical practitioners and has close associations with sports medicine and low vision groups. The Association has developed close working relationships with Diabetes Australia and Vision 2020, two critical groups dealing directly with the prevention of vision conditions among high risk groups.
Representation
Optometrists Association Australia represents optometry in dealings with the government and political parties to enhance the profession's position in the delivery of primary eye care. The Association negotiates on behalf of optometry with a variety of Commonwealth Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to ensure that optometry services are comprehensively provided to the community and that optometrists' fees are adequate remuneration for the services provided.
Standards
Optometrists Association Australia is constantly developing and reviewing standards of practice, which are available to members, educators and legislators. In the interests of high quality practice, the Association has developed a code of ethics, entry level and therapeutic competencies for the profession and practice guidelines. Optometrists Association Australia is a member of Standards Australia and is represented on several committees responsible for standards relating to optical appliances.
Website Information
There are a number of Optometrists Association Australia websites – listed below:
Advantage Program
The member Advantage Program provides members of the Association with access to special offers and discounts with a wide range products and services. From banking, insurance, legal and financial advice to credit card products, website software packages and travel club membership, Association members receive generous discounts they otherwise would not be entitled to. The Association partners have been carefully chosen as being among the best in their industry, where possible specialising in the profession of optometry. Visit www.optometrists.asn.au for more information.
Advice to the community
The Association provides advice on optometry, vision and eye care to members of the public, including government departments, private bodies and companies, health agencies and other professions.
Advice to members
Optometrists Association Australia provides advice to members on practice management and other professional matters. It aims to ensure optometrists understand and honour the Medicare undertaking. The Association also provides free telephone human resources, industrial relations and general work place advice to all members.
Audio Visual Equipment
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the use of its audio visual equipment for presentations, workshops, seminars etc. Equipment: Laptop, Data Projector and screen. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Awards
The Association recognises the contribution that optometrists make to the advancement of the profession by making a number of awards including:
- HB Colin Medal for research
- J Lloyd Hewett Award for publications in Clinical and Experimental Optometry
- Wenbourne Award for advancing optometry politically
- The Hon Bill Hayden AC Queensland Optometrist of the Year Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory optometrist
- Professor Sydney BJ Skertchley Award - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a non-optometrist.
- OAA Qld/NT Media Medal - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a media professional or media agency.
- Hamlyn R Brier Clinical Optometry Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory clinical achiever.
- Peter J Montgomery Award for Social Justice for a practitioner dedicated to social justice issues.
Optometry Board of Australia
The Association maintains a close relationship with the Optometry Board of Australia.
Bookshop
The Association, National Office, runs a mail-order bookshop that provides members with clinical and research optometry books at discounted prices.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD is an essential part of optometry, both to maintain and improve the standard of care provided to patients and to advance the interests of optometrists. The annual requirement for Optometrists Association Australia members is 40 CPD points. Members may average their points over a two calendar year period, so at the end of each year you should have earned at least 80 points during the previous 24 months.
Directory of optometrists
OAA periodically publishes or arranges for the publication of a directory of Australian optometrists.
Education and research
The Association regularly liaises with the schools and plans future training needs. Optometrists Association Australia is the principal provider of continuing professional education for optometrists in Australia. It holds regular local and overseas conferences and seminars across the country and maintains a list of relevant overseas congresses.
The QLD/NT Division holds two major CPD events annually. Australian Vision Convention is held on the weekend after Easter each year on Queensland’s Gold Coast. North Queensland Vision is held in mid June in Cairns, Far North Queensland. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Industry liaison
Optometrists Association Australia works co-operatively with other industry bodies such as the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association and the Contact Lens Industry Council.
International role
Optometrists Association Australia is a member of the World Council of Optometry and the Asia-Pacific Council of Optometry. The Association is in regular communication with many overseas optometric associations and participates in exchange visits with some associations. Optometrists Association Australia is an in-kind supporter of the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), an organisation providing eye care in developing countries.
The Association has arranged and promoted aid trips by optometrists to economically underdeveloped countries with eye care needs.
Optometry House
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with free hire of Optometry House, located 58 St Pauls Terrace (Cnr Rogers St) Spring Hill, Brisbane. Facilities include: boardroom, workshop room (max. 40 seated). For more information or bookings please email info@optomsqld.com
Planning for the profession
The Association conducts regular studies monitoring the work force to ensure the profession's continued viability. It has developed, implemented and continues to expand and update its Strategic Plan. Optometrists Association Australia maintains a bank of statistics and a library of information that are used in the association's promotion of optometry. They are available to members to use in the management of their practices.
Practice management
The Association produces a quarterly magazine, Practice that deals directly with practice management concerns.
A subsidiary of the Association, ProVision, gives members independent practice support in a full range of marketing and management issues.
Presentation Assistance
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with a range of powerpoint presentations, display materials and a model eye for loan. For more information please email info@optomsqld.com
Professional Indemnity Insurance
All members of the Association are automatically provided with indemnity insurance. The maximum for any one claim and for all claims in the aggregate is $10 million, per member.
Publications
The association publishes and supplies its members with a range of regular publications including:
- Clinical and Experimental Optometry . A peer-reviewed bi-monthly scientific journal.
- Australian Optometry, a monthly newspaper.
- AO Magazine , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper, incorporating four feature magazines: Ophthalmic Equipment, Ophthalmic Lenses, Contact Lenses and Spectacle Frames.
- Practice , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper dealing with practice business management.
- SEE , the newsletter of the Queensland/Northern Territory Division
The Association periodically publishes special booklets that assist members in the clinical management of their patients. Publications include Contact Lens Data Book and Ocular Side Effects of Drugs.
Public relations
Optometrists Association Australia regularly develops public awareness and information programs aimed at raising the profile of and expanding the public's understanding of optometry. Through annual campaigns such as UV Protection, Children's Vision, Good Vision for Life, World Sight Day and many others, the Association targets various stakeholders throughout the year. The Qld/NT Division hold Optometry Week each year during July.
Relations with other professions and groups
Optometrists Association Australia maintains ongoing relations with other professional organisations, particularly those in the health care field. Meetings are regularly held with medical, pharmacy and paramedical organisations. The Association has materials to assist optometrists in establishing relationships with local general medical practitioners and has close associations with sports medicine and low vision groups. The Association has developed close working relationships with Diabetes Australia and Vision 2020, two critical groups dealing directly with the prevention of vision conditions among high risk groups.
Representation
Optometrists Association Australia represents optometry in dealings with the government and political parties to enhance the profession's position in the delivery of primary eye care. The Association negotiates on behalf of optometry with a variety of Commonwealth Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to ensure that optometry services are comprehensively provided to the community and that optometrists' fees are adequate remuneration for the services provided.
Standards
Optometrists Association Australia is constantly developing and reviewing standards of practice, which are available to members, educators and legislators. In the interests of high quality practice, the Association has developed a code of ethics, entry level and therapeutic competencies for the profession and practice guidelines. Optometrists Association Australia is a member of Standards Australia and is represented on several committees responsible for standards relating to optical appliances.
Website Information
There are a number of Optometrists Association Australia websites – listed below: