The final touches are being put on O=MEGA23, which will run alongside the 4th World Optometry Conference in Melbourne from 8–10 September 2023.
Amanda Trotman, acting CEO of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA), is encouraging all members of the optometric industry to invest in attending the event, which will “bring together liked-minded people with shared interests and goals globally under one roof ”.
It is an opportunity to get away from your routine and immerse yourself in industry topics and new ideas that will encourage you to look at your career or business from a new perspective
“Investing in live event attendance is important for all the roles within an optical practice, those caring for patients, those dispensing, those running the business, and those serving front of house,” Ms Trotman said.
“Enabling the whole team to get up-to-date with the latest offerings, and research, hearing educational content specific to their roles and realising where their contributions fit into the overall success of a practice, are valuable outcomes that will prove to provide a return on the investment made, in both time and money to attend.”
Ms Trotman said taking time out of a practice should not be considered a luxury, but rather a necessity to remain competitive in today’s challenging and fast-changing environment. It can also be an effective way for employers to motivate, encourage, and reward team members.
“It is an opportunity to get away from your routine and immerse yourself in industry topics and new ideas that will encourage you to look at your career or business from a new perspective…you never know who you might meet or what you might hear that could open up a whole new world of opportunity.”
To leverage attendance, Ms Trotman recommends planning ahead by scheduling priority sessions to attend, and suppliers and peers to meet, which can be done via the conference app.
“Reading speaker bios and considering a question or two to ask is another great tip. Most conference organisers are happy to help facilitate either a quick chat with a speaker or you can use the conference app. You can even request certain panel sessions (in advance of the event) if you feel the agenda is missing some key topics.”
Ms Trotman said post-event, the knowledge gained can be used as topics of conversation when engaging with patients.
O=MEGA23/WCO4 Program
The bi-annual O=MEGA event is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, while the World Congress of Optometry is an international event hosted in a different city across the world, also on a bi-annual basis. This partnership is a unique alignment and rare opportunity to combine a national and international audience to create the largest optometry conference in the country.
This one event will incorporate:
• Multiple streams of CPD-compliant clinical content,
• Access to an array of national and international speakers,
• Poster sessions with authors available for discussion,
• Masterclass streams in practice management and dispensing,
• A 9,000 sqm trade fair displaying all the latest product and service offerings,
• Product demonstrations and promotions,
• Social networking events,
• Award presentations,
• Optional social tours and industry relevant
site visits, and
• The chance to visit Melbourne and a conference centre that is a leader in sustainability.
Melbourne optometrist Timothy Lo, an Optometry Victoria South Australia board member, said a key focus of the conference will be innovative research that can be applied in the clinical practice, and a core theme of the event is collaboration.
“The breadth and depth of the program is something we are getting very excited about. The goal is to provide optometrists around the globe and Australia with the opportunity to interact with a host of key speakers and international researchers, and see how their work is relevant on the global stage,” he said.
In collaboration with Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and speakers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the program will also incorporate Indigenous and cultural diversity sessions in a new format.
To find out more visit: www.omega-event.org.