Organisers of the Australian Vision Convention (AVC) 2011 say this year’s event, held from 28 April to 1 May (the week after Easter); will place more of a focus on optometry and less reliance on ophthalmology, with local optometrists featuring in the plenary sessions.
The revamped AVC brand has shifted from the traditional congress brand ‘Queensland Vision’ in a bid to recognise that the friendly congress belongs to all Australian and New Zealand practitioners, with the move tipped to attract even greater numbers of delegates this year.
Innovations to AVC 2011 include:
- two cardiopulmonary resuscitation sessions with St John Ambulance
- dual stream plenary sessions giving delegates a wider choice of lectures
- a ‘rapid fire’ session highlighting six groundbreaking research projects, chaired by Queensland University of Technology’s Professor Nathan Efron
- shorter session days to enable delegates to spend more time in Australia’s largest optometric exhibition.
Headed by Ohio-based optometry Dr. Mile Brujic, the comprehensive program will feature five of his lectures – three focussed on contact lenses; while bionic eye breakthrough researcher Associate Professor Michael Ibbotson will summarise the Australian National University research program’s developments.
Delegates may attend one of the two contrasting plenary sessions on the Saturday of the conference. The dual stream sessions allow delegates to enjoy a wider variety of presentations.
Key speakers will include: Dr. Ioanne Anderson, Dr. Tony Hanks OAM, Dr. Mile Brujic, Adjunct Prof. Jan Lovie-Kitchin, Associate Prof. Michael Ibbotson, Ms. Kate Johnson, Prof. Nathan Efron, Mr. Nichalas Nuttall, Dr. Graham Lee and Ms. Julie Newport.
AVC 2011 will feature four full days of clinical sessions; a 70-strong Exhibition Hall; three complimentary breakfast sessions; 40 CPD points; all congress meals; complimentary Essilor Cocktail Party, CIBA Vision gala dinner at the famous Dreamworld; creche and hosted shopping/tourist tour for other family members.
AVC 2011, hosted by the Optometry Association Australia (OAA) Queensland/Northern Territory division, will be held from 28 April to 1 May at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland. To register go to: http://www.optometrists.asn.au/UpcomingEvents/AustralianVisionConvention/tabid/687/language/en-AU/Default.aspx.
