Tasmania and South Australia pack a punch when it comes to driving the direction of the nation’s optometric profession.
OA Tas
Geoff Squibb
The 12th annual Tasmanian Lifestyle Congress (TLC) will be held from 2–4 September, and has moved from the Old Woolstore to the more spacious Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart. This year TLC will celebrate the centenary of the formation of a single Tasmanian organisation in 1916. From 1908 until 1916 two organisations existed in Tasmania, one in the north and one in the south of the State. Perhaps it was the success in 1913 of negotiating the first Act of Parliament in the British Commonwealth to regulate optometry that eventually brought about the amalgamation. The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Ald. Sue Hickey will hold a reception at the historic Hobart Town Hall on Friday afternoon prior to the Congress’ proper program getting underway.
TLC will again feature the Australian Low Vision Seminar on the Saturday morning, this year with the prominent New Zealand low vision expert Naomi Meltzer as guest lecturer. Ms. Meltzer will be joined by popular Tasmanian Low Vision practitioner Paul Graveson. Optometry NSW/ACT councillor Margaret Lam will deliver this year’s Keith Mackriell lecture – “Update on Keratoconus Management with Contact Lenses”. Several optometry lecturers and ophthalmologists, including Associate Professor Ban Bui, Professor Joanne Wood, Dr. Simon Chen, Dr. Paul McCartney and Dr. Andrew Jones, are included on the program. Other speakers include Indigenous Eye Health Fellow Mitchel Anjou, Melbourne Glaucoma Clinic lead optometrist Graham Lakkis, National Professional Services Manager Luke Arundel and Launceston optometrist Josh Clark.
Sydney optometrist Narelle Hine will be the speaker at the CooperVision contact lens breakfast on Sunday morning. CooperVision will also once again sponsor the Congress dinner. Approximately 20 exhibitors, including equipment suppliers, will provide a comprehensive trade expo.
Further details and the registration form are currently available on optomery.org.au, by clicking on the map of Tasmania and then TLC.
OA SA
Libby Boschen
In 2006 SA Blue Sky Congress hit the optometry conference map with a bang and a lot of laughter (how could we possibly forget our version of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and our introductory airline theme!). Since then it has gained a reputation across Australia for sensational education (quality and relevance) and innovation.
There’s always something new at SA Blue Sky Congress as we strive to deliver a conference that ticks all the boxes for both delegates and trade supporters. We were first with an on-site, free crèche. In 2015, it was first again to take the use of keypads and enhanced adult learning methods to a whole new level with the very popular formative assessment (to get you thinking and reflecting), which will be back again with Dr. Blair Lonsberry in 2016. Then let’s not forget first for brain food, stretch and breathe breaks, magic and LAUGHTER!!!
We all know that laughter is the best medicine; laughter improves learning and delegates remember more for longer. Our delegates love our themes and look what we’ve brought you over the years: Blue Sky Airways, Star Trek, Pandamonium, Monkey Business, James Bond 007, 1960s, Shakespeare and The Roaring 20s.
What next?
The speakers we have brought you have been some of the best in the world: Drs. Ron Melton and Randall Thomas, and Drs. Jim Thimons, Murray Fingeret, Paul Chous, Richard Madonna, John McGreal, Lou Catania and Nate Lighthizer, in addition to our Australian gems. Typically 60 per cent of our delegates come from states other than South Australia, but in 2015 when we recorded our highest number of delegates ever, our SA members rose to the challenge and matched their interstate colleagues in numbers. Who will hold the balance at SA Blue Sky Congress later this year?
On 25–26 November 2016, SA Blue Sky Congress will celebrate its 10th birthday with another sensational program for both optometrists and optical dispensers. Go to www.optometry.org.au/SA for details. Places are strictly limited by our new venue, so register early.
