eNewsletter 19January 2022

 

  

Monthly eNewsletter – 19 January 2022

Message from the President

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year! I do hope you managed to have a relaxing break after a busy 2021. So much has changed since our last newsletter in December. Australia has come through COVID-19 reasonably well compared with many other countries, but now we are dealing with new challenges from broken supply chains, insufficient supply of rapid antigen tests and staff shortages which no doubt are impacting you all. However, one thing we have all learnt over the past two years is to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances. I particularly want to thank the OA conference team and the continuing education committee who have been incredible! As you know the upcoming Orthoptics Australia Conference will now be held as a fully virtual event and I encourage you to support them by keeping abreast of the latest information outlined below and registering soon.

In December we made a submission to Queensland Health on the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 in relation to changes to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 regarding expanding access to The Viewer for certain allied health professionals including orthoptists to a variety of Queensland Health clinical and administrative systems through the Health Provider Portal. We are waiting to see if the Bill is passed and hope we are successful. We have also written to the Minister for Immigration along with RANZCO and ASO to support the addition of Orthoptist as an occupation to the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) to ensure the growing workforce needs are met across metropolitan and regional Australia.

Our work with AHPA and Vision 2020 Australia is only just coming back on board for the new year. A major focus will be the Vision 2020 Federal Election Campaign including the key priorities for the Eye Health and Vision Care sector. Of particular interest to us is a national framework for children’s vision screening and as part of the advocacy strategy there will be a delegation of representatives assisting with lobbying if the framework gains support from the federal government. Many thanks to Marion for her ongoing work in this area.

Best wishes,
What's New

 

Workforces authorised to participate in Victoria's COVID-19 vaccination program

As you would be aware, the Department of Health (the department) has authorised a number of workforces to prepare and/or administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Victoria through short-term Public Health Emergency Orders (PHEOs).  View authorised workforces paper here. 

The following short-term PHEOs are due to expire in February 2022 and is proposed that these PHEOs are extended, without amendment, for a maximum period of six months. No additional workforces are being considered for emergency authorisation at this time.:

  1. Public Health Emergency Order – Authorisation for preparation and administration – COVID-19 VACCINE (introduced 21 February 2021 and extended to 19 August 2021)
  2. Public Health Emergency Order – Authorisation for preparation and administration – COVID-19 VACCINE (surge workforce) (introduced 1 September 2021 and extended for 6 months)

Allied Health Professionals Australia | HR Advice Online

We are delighted to share with you that we have appointed HR Advice Online as our HR service provider and member benefit partner.

HR Advice Online offers personal, friendly and straightforward HR advice, training and tools for organisations and practices, with a special interest in allied health.

For some initial information, please refer to an overview of the benefits – or you can sign up immediately for your organisation’s ‘Freemium’ membership access by visiting the special AHPA landing page.

Advice for establishing a private practice 

OA has prepared a manual for support and advice to orthoptists in private practice and for those considering private orthoptic practice. This document is presented as a guide only and orthoptists considering private practice are advised to seek individual legal, financial and insurance advice. 

The document is available to download on the OA website under ‘Resources, Workforce Resources. Many thanks to the Professional Advisory Committee for their work on this.

Private Practice Manual

Survey - Victoria Branch Orthoptic Continuing Education Series 

Thank you to members who participated in the 2021 Victoria Branch Orthoptic Continuing Education Series, a joint initiative with Orthoptics Australia, The Royal Childrens Hospital, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, La Trobe University and the Alfred Hospital. We are grateful for the efforts of all our speakers, who have worked with us to provide this learning opportunity, and thank you to you, the participants, for supporting these events again in 2021.

We ask you to please take the time to complete a post-event survey, which can be accessed via the link below:

Complete survey

By completing this feedback survey, you will assist in planning for future events and will help to ensure that the needs of orthoptists are being met. 

Vision 2020 

The Vision 2020 Australia webinar “Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey” (2nd National Eye Health Survey) with Prof Paul Mitchell AO has had to be rescheduled due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 omicron outbreak in NSW. The invitation details, including new registration link, are listed below. This is a member only event, hosted by Vision 2020 The Right to Sight Australia

NEW DATE and TIME:  Monday 31 January 2022, 1:00 – 2:00pm AEDT

RSVP by 28 January 2022 by registering via this link:

Vision 2020 Webinar Registration - Zoom

Job Vacancies

Orthoptist - Vision Australia, Coffs Harbour. Apply here

The key purpose of this position is for Orthoptists to utilise their specialist knowledge and skills to provide assessment; training;  intervention strategies; and service coordination, to enable clients to maximise the use of their residual vision and to assist in  achieving equity and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Orthoptic services are provided to clients of all ages,  carers and families. 

Clinical Research Coordinator - Orthoptist Centre for Eye Research Australia, Retinal Gene Therapy Unit. Apply here

A position has become available in the Retinal Gene Therapy Unit. You will be part of an experienced team who conduct leading research into gene therapy for retinal disorders, such as macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases.

Assisting Trial Coordinators, Researchers and Principal Investigators to conduct the Victorian Evolution of Inherited Retinal Disease: Natural History Registry (VENTURE) Study. Assisting with the identification and recruitment of participants into the natural history study, including scheduling of patient appointments. Performing trial participant assessments as required by study protocols including subjective refractions, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other imaging scans, perimetry etc.

Clinical Operations Manager - Orthoptist Centre for Eye Research Australia, Retinal Gene Therapy Unit. Apply here

A position has become available in the Retinal Gene Therapy Unit. You will be part of an experienced team who conduct leading research into gene therapy for retinal disorders, such as macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases.

Assisting Trial Coordinators, Researchers and Principal Investigators to set up operations and procedures including but not limited to trial specific documents, that ensures a high-quality output and efficient time input across clinical trials undertaken by the unit. Foster positive relationships and build capacity with key stakeholders (including industry sponsors of clinical trials), potential candidates for research (and their families), support services and other units within CERA. Perform trial participants assessments as required by study protocols including subjective refractions, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other imaging scans, perimetry etc.

SA Health, Woman's and Children's Health Network - Orthoptist Casual Pool 2022. Apply here 

Join the orthoptic casual pool at Women’s and Children’s Hospital! Outpatient clinics run Monday – Friday, with shifts offered between 8.50am – 5.30pm, note that community screening clinics may require earlier start times due to travel to offsite clinics.

Job Vacancies page 

As per our announcement in December, the upcoming Orthoptics Australia Conference will now be held as a fully virtual event to ensure that it is safe and accessible for all members, speakers, sponsors and staff. Registration will be available by the end of this week and we will be in touch directly with options for those who had already registered for the Brisbane conference.

The Committee is currently adjusting the program to a two-day virtual format and it will be released as soon as possible. The virtual content will also be available on demand for two months post-conference for you to watch (or watch again) at your convenience. Please visit the website to find out more about our featured speakers including Dr Dinesh Palipana, Professor Hugh Taylor, Associate Professor Ashish Agar, Clinical Associate Professor Heather Mack and Professor Fiona Rowe.

More information

Orthoptics Australia: Your Association - Your Conference!

               

Virtual IOA Congress 2022

After careful consideration, the IOA has decided that, due to the persistent worldwide impact and remaining uncertainty around the COVID-19 crisis, the 14th IOA congress will be a fully virtual event. We're excited to get back together online from June 9-11th 2022 for 3 days of learning and networking. 
Visit the IOA Congress Website

We are happy to now be able to receive Scientific abstract submissions.  It is a tight turnaround time where abstracts will be accepted between December 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022.

Abstracts are being accepted for:
- Oral presentation for the Congress plenary sessions
- Education session
- Poster presentations

Submit your abstract here!

Registration
IOA 2022 registration is now open.
Rates are available for the virtual attendance, you will find them on our website. 

Register here

Thank you for your continuous support. Join us for the IOA 2022 Virtual Congress.
We look forward to seeing you all online in June!
 

Read the latest articles
OA Education Opportunities - January 2022 education-icon.png


Continuing Education update

In 2022 the OA Continuing Education Committee presents Clinical Conversations - a new continuing education offering that will feature educational discussions about interesting case studies, rare ocular conditions, published researched papers and current research. 

These online events will occur monthly and are open to members (free) and non-members. 

Also returning in 2022 will be the self-directed Journal Club which involves members reading a paper each month and answering questions to achieve cpd points. 

#1 OA220120 OA Clinical Conversations - That Interesting Case 

Presenter information: Christina Peterson has been practicing Orthoptics for over 20 years, with experience in both the public and private sector. She spent 15 years working at St Vincent’s Public hospital, and also had the opportunity to work for the Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard Medical School), where she was involved working with patients who had complex strabismus, low vision, developmental delay and traumatic brain injury. Further to this Christina taught orthoptics at UTS for almost 5 years and was provided with the opportunity to work as clinical subject coordinator. She is currently working at Sydney Eye hospital as acting head of department of Orthoptics, district discipline advisor for the SESLHD and Orthoptist at Eyetreat With Liane Wilcox.

Date – Thursday 20 January 2022, 8:00-9:00pm AEDT

Venue – Online

Contact Email: events@orthoptics.org.au

Register Here

New - Free CPD for Orthoptists: Age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease 

 Orthoptists are invited to complete new CPD developed by some of Australia’s leading retinal specialists and Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA). Ophthalmologist Professor Paul Mitchell AO and other experts have helped co-develop these courses on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease. Read more here. 

Access the modules via OA Online Shop Login as a member to access the modules for free.  

Venue – Online

Contact Email: events@orthoptics.org.au

For further information and to register for all available OA meetings/events, please go to: ‘Education & CPD’, ‘Event Calendar’.  

 

General News news-icon.png

2022 Clinical Essentials Packs are now available 

Any Orthoptic student who purchases a standard or premium Clinical Essentials Pack will receive OA Student Membership Free of Charge until 30 June 2022 Free OA Student Membership

Standard $395 (ex GST, includes postage)     Premium $490 (ex GST, includes postage)

There are also a few 2020 Clinicals Essentials Packs available at $199 (no free membership).  

Go to the online shop to purchase. 

Online Shop

Research Participants Needed!

The University of Technology Sydney, Graduate School of Health is conducting a research project to identify practical ideas and strategies for addressing gaps in local stroke care in the Australian setting.

If you are interested to join, please open the attached flyer for more information. 

Contact: poststrokestudy@uts.edu.au or 0407584635

Survey link  

Obituary

BERRY, Patricia Marie (née Dey) 1927-2022

DAO, Sydney, 1949

Orthoptics Australia is sad to announce the death of Pat Berry (née Dey).

Pat came from a medical family. She was the younger daughter of Dr Lindsay Dey, an eminent paediatrician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (RAHC). He and other doctors at the hospital were responsible for bringing penicillin into Australia. He was awarded a CBE for his work in paediatrics. Her mother, Mary Middleton, was a trained nursing sister.

Pat completed her senior schooling at Wenona in North Sydney. She passed the first year of science at the University of Sydney but did not complete her degree. Towards the end of her second year she caught a bad cold from her brother which caused her to miss the remainder of the semester. The family then moved to live in their Collaroy beach house and it was too far to go to university and study. Her parents were friends with ophthalmologist Arthur Lance and his family. Through the Lances she heard about orthoptics and so decided to change careers.

Pat started in 1948 and completed the course towards the end of 1949. Her fellow students were: Younie Allen; Louise Bryden-Brown (later McDade); Judy Davies (later Burfitt-Williams); Jane Russell; Patsy Webb (later Pitt) and Shirley Waite (later Hickey). She was a bright student and topped her final year.

When she graduated Pat worked at Sydney Eye Hospital. She also practised for one day a week in Arthur Lance’s private rooms in Macquarie Street, Sydney. In 1952 she married Bruce Berry and continued working for six months which was considered unusual for the time and was commented on by the hospital superintendent - married women were expected to stop work immediately to look after their home. Pat recollected that she enjoyed her time as an orthoptist and particularly loved working with children. She published one paper “Interesting Case”, Transactions of the Orthoptic Association of Australia” 7, (1945): 13.

Pat was registered with the Orthoptic Board of Australia in 1950 became a member of the Orthoptic Association of Australia in the same year. She became an Associated Member in 1953 when she stopped working, and finally resigned from the Association in 1959.[1]

Her funeral notice said of her that she is ‘loved for her devotion, courage, kindness and sense of humour’.

Orthoptics Australia offers its condolences to Pat’s family, friends and colleagues.

Shayne Brown AM

[1] This obituary is based on information Pat Berry gave to Shayne Brown on 22 January 2012.

eNewsletter Contributions

Do you have an idea or a story for including in the OA member eNewsletter? Please forward content, links and any graphics to office@orthoptics.org.au. 

_________________________________________