Australia’s iconic eyewear designer, Jono Hennessy Sceats, has made a generous donation of optical frames to the Australasian College of Optical Dispensers (ACOD), which will be used for hands-on training workshops throughout Australia and New Zealand.
James Gibbins, Director of ACOD, said the donation of more than 1,400 acetate and metal spectacle frames was “possibly the largest and most valuable donation of ophthalmic frames for training purposes of any optical college anywhere in Australia”.
I love the enthusiasm of ACOD’s directors – it’s fabulous to seeing the College doing so well
He estimated the retail value of the donation to be “well over AU$250,000”.
Mr Hennessy Sceats and his wife Louise have been ardent supporters of optical dispensers and their training for decades. He lectures ACOD students in frame fashion and design, and was a guest of honour at ACOD’s student graduation event for 2018.
Mr Hennessy Sceats said he was thrilled to support the College and it’s students.
“Dispensing has always been the final thing that makes optometry work. It’s important that the patient has the right lens, and a frame that is high quality, is comfortable and fits well. Optometrists that employ highly trained dispensers who are able to achieve this, end up having patients that stay with them for life.”
Mr Hennessy Sceats complemented ACOD on rebuilding a profession that suffered significantly in the wake of deregulation. “I love the enthusiasm of ACOD’s directors – it’s fabulous to seeing the College doing so well. ACOD now has 800 students coming through in the next two years – that’s 800 people who will have a profession for life, so it’s good for the students and their optometry practices, good for patients’ medical health, and the country’s economy”.
Mr Gibbins said ACOD will put the frames to use in its teaching programs and assessments immediately.
“They will provide students with high quality frames on which to practice and hone their dispensing skills,” he said.
