Education, networking and social activities are all on the agenda as ADOA gets underway to support its members in 2015.
ADOA Victoria
ADOA Victoria held its AGM in November 2014 at the Orrong Hotel in Armadale. We have two new additions to our committee with Steve Mascall, who is an instructor in Optical Dispensing at Deacon University in Geelong and Peter Townsend, who works for the Eyes On Group of optometry practices in Melbourne.
I was elected President and Leigh Robinson of RMIT was elected Vice President.
Continuing Education February
ADOA Victoria will start the year of education on Monday 16 February with a presentation from Brendan O’Keefe, who has been making frames in Melbourne for about 20 years. Please register for the event with our Secretariat Don Blanksby on (AUS) 03 95363127.
Support Your Association
With a number of health funds demanding that optical dispensers be members of their professional body in order to receive a provider number, it is important that the optical dispensing associations continue to provide a focal point for those with our qualification. Without this, the qualification risks losing legitimacy in the marketplace, which would be tragic for both the consumer and optical dispensers. So, if you are not already a member, join up and help us to at least maintain the structure that we have in place!
Murray O’Brien is the President of ADOA Victoria.
ADOA NSW
Martin Kokbek
I hope you had a joyous time over the festive season and that you’re ready for a full year focusing on dispenser education and recognition.
Doesn’t time fly? It seems like an age ago when in December, ADOA and TAFE Randwick hosted a small gathering of industry representatives, sponsors and TAFE management to thank them for their generous support for optical dispensing throughout 2014 and to launch ADOA’s plans for 2015.
Back then, I made a comment in mivision, which I’d like to take the opportunity to expand on now. I said, “we implemented new requirements so that optical dispensers must have a professional association membership in order to practise”. While it is not compulsory for an optical dispenser to have professional association membership to practise, it is important to be aware that without a professional association membership, some health funds will not recognise the optical dispenser as an ancillary provider.
Education and Events
As you’d expect, ADOA has a packed 2015 calendar, commencing this month with an educational evening hosted by Opticare on Friday 13 February. Details can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/adoa.ltd) and website (www.adoa.com.au).
Our three major events for 2015 will be the Optical Dispensing Graduation Dinner, ODMA 2015 and SA Blue Sky Congress in November.
Once again, the Optical Dispensing Graduation Dinner will be hosted at Darling Harbour in early June, with the Vivid fireworks spectacular as its back drop. This event should not be missed by any graduating optical dispenser – it is the perfect way to celebrate and be recognised for your efforts. Even if you are not graduating, you are invited to come along and support the achievements of our most recent cohort of optical dispensers.
ADOA is looking forward to participating in ODMA 2015, which for the second time will be held in Queensland. This biennial event is a valuable opportunity to explore the latest products and technologies.
The 2015 SA Blue Sky Congress will take place in Adelaide in November. Last year was the first year a joint congress was held for optometry and dispensing and it was an enormous success – in fact I’d go so far to say that Blue Sky has already become a ‘must’ for all dispensers.
There is lots more happening in between these major events, so stay tuned…
Martin Kocbek is the President of ADOA NSW.
