With many big plans already underway, Optometry Queensland/Northern Territory (OQNT) is excited to welcome the new year and the opportunities it brings.
At OQNT our members are at the forefront of all that we do, and we’re honoured to continue to help you deliver the very best in primary eye health and vision care to your patients. With this in mind, in 2021 we have several initiatives in place to support and advance the optometry profession.
our Smart Eye Start program, encouraging parents to prioritise a comprehensive eye exam… is going from strength to strength
SMART EYE START PROGRAM
We are delighted to report that our Smart Eye Start program, encouraging parents to prioritise a comprehensive eye exam with a member optometrist before going into Prep and Year 7, is going from strength to strength.
With new members signing up to the program regularly, we wouldn’t be able to achieve this success without your support – so thank you for helping us deliver these critical early detection messages.
MEMBER HUB MEETINGS
Our Member Hub Meetings are a wonderful opportunity for us to get together and share updates, which are particularly important off the back of COVID-19 restrictions.
We look forward to recommencing our full calendar of face-to-face Member Hub Meetings this year, so we can continue to connect with members throughout Queensland and Northern Territory, and offer a forum to discuss each region’s specific needs. We hope to see you in your region soon.
AUSTRALIAN VISION CONVENTION 27–28 MARCH, 2021
There are now just a few weeks to go until our annual Australian Vision Convention (AVC) takes place at Sea World Resort Conference Centre on the Gold Coast – and it’s not too late to register. We do recommend getting in quickly though as there are limited registrations available.
This year we’re particularly excited about some new developments at AVC. Offering delegates a complete CPD solution, we’ve redesigned the clinical program so you can acquire 100% of your annual CPD hours through AVC 2021 alone. We know how busy you are and hope this makes things that little bit easier for you while you continue to advance your optometry career.
Program changes include the introduction of nine plenary lecture themes, additional interactive workshops, and a four-month period during which you can access session recordings on-demand. Plus, for the first time, delegates can attend AVC virtually with full access to all sessions, including the breakfast lectures and interactive workshops – giving more members the freedom to access the complete clinical program. For those delegates who do attend face-to-face, we will have strict COVID-safe measures in place to ensure your safety.
The themes covered in this year’s unique clinical program include contact lenses, ocular oncology, paediatrics, macular disease, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology and ocular therapeutics. With over 40 industry leading speakers presenting evidence-based content with real-world applications, AVC 2021 is one not to miss.
Highlights of the clinical program include Mark Hinds presenting Taming the presbyope in contact lenses, Dr Lindsay McGrath presenting on Tumours of the anterior uvea and Nasolacrimal disease and management, A/Prof Colin Chan presenting on Therapeutic management of unusual keratitis presentations and Therapeutic management of dry eye disease, Celia Bloxsom’s interactive workshop covering Orthokeratology basics and Prof Christopher Layton’s interactive workshop, Scleral indentation in optometry.
The sunny Gold Coast is a holiday-maker’s haven so why not make it a family getaway? Bring the family along to explore Sea World and the rest of the coast and soak up some sun together. We love to support our delegates and will be providing all members attending with a complimentary Kids Club (for ages four to 12) service during their stay. The service is also available to nonmembers for a small fee.
To view the AVC 2021 full clinical program and register, visit: www.optometryqldnt. org.au/avc.
Cathryn Baker is the Chief Executive Officer of Optometry Queensland /Northern Territory.
