eNewsletter 18 December 2019

 

  

Fortnightly eNewsletter – 18 December 2019

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Message from the President

 

Dear Colleagues,

With holidays upon us and 2019 drawing to a close, it is timely to reflect on a what was a successful year for OA. I am immensely proud of the Council, the many committees and the volunteer members who work to make Orthoptics Australia a better organisation. 

In the early photos in ‘Rear Vision: Celebrating Australia’s Early Orthoptists’, it clear that we have come a long way since the small beginnings of 1944. As we move into 2020, the challenge is to keep improving and evolving to ensure we stay relevant, innovative and competitive.  

OA has just participated in the Financial Benchmarking Project with Associations Forum. This analysis compared industry and professional associations, highlighting specific financial performance criteria and allowed us to compare our results with 27 similar organisations. In another benchmarking exercise, we completed the Membership and Services Survey 2019 and the results will provide valuable information about membership and services offered by other Australian Associations. Both these will assist us in our decision-making and inform next steps for us in 2020.

You will notice that many CPD events have been loaded onto the website for next year already. Please take some time to explore and mark your calendars. The NSW continuing education weekend is converging on Canberra in April and early bird registration is open!

This is our last newsletter for the year. The office will be closing from 5pm on Friday, 20 December 2019 and reopening on Wednesday, 8 January 2020 at 8.30am.

I hope you all have an opportunity to share in the traditions of your community wherever you are this festive season. I wish you, your families, and loved ones a safe and happy holiday. 

Best wishes,

 
What's New
2020 Orthoptics Awareness Week (OAW) - SAVE THE DATE

Council voted in October to move the 2020 Orthoptics Awareness Week from its traditional week in March to June to include World Orthoptic Day (Monday, 1 June to Friday, 5 June 2020).  Watch this space for some exciting OAW 2020 announcements... 
 
Several positive reasons for the change include;

  • Leveraging off the promotional material created and provided by IOA for WOD
  • Most other IOA countries celebrate during WOD week
  • We have more time lead time to submit the media articles to Insight magazine etc. March OAW has deadlines in December which have been harder to meet with conference etc.

 

"Squint Club" Hits Adelaide in 2020

The Australian and New Zealand Strabismus Society (ANZSS) is hosting the annual 'Squint Club' Meeting in Adelaide, on 28 and 29 February, 2020.

This will be a jammed packed two days, full of live cases and interesting strabismus-based cases, including a session on botox use! Guest speakers are ophthalmologist Dr Gill Adams and orthoptist Ms Leena Patel, from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. 

Register now to secure your place!

Please note that it's the beginning of 'Mad March' and the Fringe Festival in Adelaide, accommodation will book out quickly, so get in now! 

There is also a prize for the best paper by an Orthoptist or Orthoptics Student, who is an Orthoptics Australia Member. Discounts to the conference are offered to OA Members as well!  

Abstract submission is open now and closes Wednesday, 15 January 2020.   Details of how to submit an abstract are found on the flyer which is available here. 

Please direct any questions to Kathleen Poon on 0402 891 804 or at kathpoon@bigpond.com.

 

Victoria End of Year Celebration

On Friday, 6 December, OA Victorian orthoptists, final year students and sponsors Peter, David, Matt and Jelena, came to celebrate another wonderful year at The National in Richmond. 

It was great to see so many familiar and new faces. The night was filled with socialising, networking and a game or two of table tennis! 

OA Vic would like to thank all its members and sponsors for their support in 2019 and wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

 

NDIS Planning Interim Report Released

This report makes a number of recommendations to improve the operation of the NDIS planning process in the immediate term. The committee will give further consideration to issues associated with the planning process in the coming months, and proposes to present a final report to the Parliament in 2020. 

Further information here...

 

NDIA Public Data Release

The latest data is intended to help broaden understanding for the wider community as to how the NDIS has benefited participants, as well as identify any areas for continued focus. Access the data and insights below.

Further information here...

 

Women Speaking Workshop - Catherine McGrath Media - April 3rd, Canberra

Are you attending the NSW continuing education weekend in Canberra?  This professional level/public speaking workshop precedes the NSW meeting and is led by Catherine McGrath. Catherine is passionate about helping women develop speaking skills. She has been a journalist for 25 years, worked for the ABC, SBS and has been a bureau chief in Canberra. She works with corporate and government leaders around the country.

Further information here...

 

VisAbility - Strong Eyes, Strong Communities In Action

Below is a link to an interesting article in Link Magazine by VisAbility which features one of their clients in the Pilbara, WA. It highlights the importance, and VisAbility’s support of, Strong Eyes, Strong Communities. It also reinforces the need for remote service provision, particularly AT training, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Story available here...

 

eNewsletter Contributions

As an OA member, you recieve the benefit of being kept up-to-date with all things Orthoptics! If you have a story you would like to share, please forward the content, links and any photographs to office@orthoptics.org.au so it can be included in our next eNewsletter.

 
 
ADVERTISE HERE - contact us to find out how!
2020 OA Annual Conference - SAVE THE DATE events-icon.png

20/20 is perfect vision to match the perfect Queensland climate in October.  The beautiful Jacaranda trees will be blooming – symbolising wisdom, rebirth and wealth. Fun fact – if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head, it is said to bring you good luck! The conference venue, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, is nestled in the heart of Brisbane’s South Bank cultural precinct on the corner of  Merivale & Glenelg Streets. 

The education program will deliver the latest research and updates in  paediatrics, as well as acknowledging the diversity of the orthoptics profession by incorporating a broad range of sessions. No annual conference would be complete without providing ample time for you to network with colleagues  including the ever popular welcome drinks and gala dinner.

Embrace the future of orthoptics and join us in 2020 for what promises to be another successful conference. Save the dates now and stay tuned for further information!

 

Orthoptics Australia - Your Society - Your Conference!
 
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OA VIC Branch Continuing Education Series #1 - SAVE THE DATE!

Topic:  Nystagmus - presented by Dr Anu Mathew

Date:  Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Venue:  Royal Childrens Hospital

 

OA QLD Branch Orthoptic Education Day – SAVE THE DATE!

Date: Saturday, 21 March 2020
Venue: Queensland Children’s Hospital

 

OA VIC Branch Upskill Workshop - SAVE THE DATE!

Topic:  IOL Calculations and Case Studies

Date:  Saturday, 21 March 2020
Venue:  Laser Sight East Melbourne, 2/100 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne

 

OA NSW Branch Continuing Education Weekend - CONVERGING ON CANBERRA!

Join us as we converge on our nation’s capital city for a weekend of learning!  Be prepared for exciting sessions filled with current research, quality presentations, workshops and interactive case study discussion and gain AOB accredited CPD points. It is also a fantastic opportunity to network with industry and catch up with old friends and colleagues at the official dinner.

Dates: 4 April & 5 April 2020
Venue: The East Hotel - 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston ACT
Registration Fees: Refer to the website for various fees 
CPD Points: Saturday and Sunday – 8 CPD Points
                      Saturday only – 5 CPD Points
                      Sunday only – 3 CPD Points

Further Information and Registration here...

 

OA VIC Branch Continuing Education Series #2 - SAVE THE DATE!

Topic:  Amblyopia and Strabismus Managements - presented by Dr Shivanand Sheth

Date:  Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Venue:  Royal Childrens Hospital

 

OA QLD Branch Orthoptic Education Day – SAVE THE DATE!

Date: Saturday, 25 July 2020
Venue: Queensland Children’s Hospital

 

OA VIC Branch July Scientific Meeting – SAVE THE DATE!

Date: Saturday, 25 July 2020
Venue: RACV Goldfields Creswick -1500 Midland Hwy, Creswick VIC

 

For further information and to register for all available OA meetings/events, please go to: ‘Education & CPD’, ‘Event Calendar’.
 
 
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IOA Congress Liverpool - 20 - 23 June 2020

The 2020 Burian Lecture is being presented by Professor Helen Davis.

The theme of the 2020 Burian Lecture will be, how my research carried out at the University of Sheffield has been integrated into clinical practice. The focus of this work has been the investigation of binocular single vision and in particular stereopsis. It has provided further understanding and evidence for testing binocular vision and methods of clinical application. I will share my experience of designing a new test, the FD2, and the challenges that can bring. By considering the literature on current clinical assessment of stereoacuity, the talk will include discussion of test design and what should be considered when administering and interpreting the results from clinical tests.

Register here.
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Job Vacancies

Need a change? Job vacancies are regularly added to the OA website.

To see more details regarding all vacancies, go to the OA website, 'Resources', 'Job Vacancies', or

View here...

 

OA Online Shop

All OA members have access to the OA online shop.   This is where you can purchase your copy of the very popular book "Rear Vision: Celebrating Australia's early orthoptists".

OA Online Shop...

 

Journal Club

All members now have access to the journal club articles and questions online. Each month a new article (2 CPD pts/article) is uploaded to the website. To gain access, login with your username and password, go to membership tab, choose 'My OA Groups' and click on Journal Club. Read the article, answer the questions and keep a record for your CPD points'. Please contact the OA office at office@orthoptics.org.au if you require any assistance accessing the online educational content.