Optometrists from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory will be given the opportunity to voice their professional needs and feelings about the profession; the current practising environment and its emerging future at a forum on Saturday 20 May.
Organised by Optometry NSW/ACT the event has been spearheaded by the division’s councillors, Luke Cahill, Mark Koszek, Heidi Hunter, Katrina Yep and Steve Zantos, Margaret Lam and Carina Trinh.
The evening will be MC’d by Margaret Lam and Carina Trinh. Attendees will have access to an expert panel, comprising Ian Bluntish, Chair of Optometry Board of Australia; Andrew Hogan, National President Optometry Australia; Andrew McKinnon, CEO of Optometry NSW/ACT; Kirsty Machon, National Acting CEO of Optometry Australia; Christine Craigie, President of Optometry NSW/ACT; and Luke Cahill, Vice President of Optometry NSW/ACT.
Optometrists are invited to submit topics for discussion ahead of the evening, which will be anonymously circulated prior to the event. The top five topics from all received will be discussed in focus group style during the evening.
Ms. Lam said the driver for this event has been two-fold: the need to plan the profession’s future direction and recognition of how far it had come.
“Optometry Australia has a rich and strong history implementing improvements to our profession, for example, ocular therapeutic prescribing changes, being a voice to optometrists in many different settings and being integral from early beginnings as a small profession struggling for recognition to what it is today.
“We hope this evening will provide a greater understanding of how optometry and Optometry Australia have grown together over time and of how much Optometry NSW/ACT and Optometry Australia does behind the scenes. Additionally the evening will provide the opportunity to share insights which will help shape the future for the profession.”
The evening will take place at Burwood Coronation Club, 86 Burwood Rd, Burwood, from 6.30 – 9.30pm on Saturday 20 May.
RSVP by Friday 12 May here. (link to www.surveymonkey.com/r/RHFR3PK )
