Australian conference “a huge success”

The first ever Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) conference, in April, attracted 240 delegates just 16 months after the organisation was launched.

Held over two days at the Sydney Masonic Centre, the event sold out. Optical dispensers came from across the country, as well as New Zealand. It included the the graduation ceremony for Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing from the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD), which saw a record 260 professionals qualify.

The ODA held its first National Excellence awards, recognising the achievements of outstanding dispensers. The national medal for optical dispensing excellence went to Lisa Raad, of Pinpoint Vision, Sydney.

ACOD director and senior trainer James Gibbins said: “This is the most significant gathering of optical dispensers in the history of our industry in both Australia and New Zealand.

“This is the largest we’ve seen, and includes industry leaders, corporate representatives, suppliers, educators as well as experienced optical dispensers and brand-new graduating dispensers.”

The range of speakers covered technical, fashion and sales. An exhibition attracted a diverse mix of suppliers, from frames wholesalers and lens companies, to equipment providers and optometry networks.

ODA chief executive April Petrusma said the organisation aims to raise the profile of optical dispensing, especially as the profession has been deregulated.

“It is the very first time that an event of this magnitude has taken place in Australia to celebrate all things dispensing,” she said.

“Optical dispensers are absolutely vital to the success of optometry. They fulfil roles in many forms across manufacturing and fitting labs, specialist clinics and in retail practices. To our colleagues, we are an essential part of a clinical team and to our patients, we are the face of the practice in which we work.

“A qualified optical dispenser truly is a highly skilled, multi-talented professional and part of our objective at ODA is to elevate the perception of our profession both within the optical industry and in the eyes of the general community.”

The ODA launched in January 2022. It already has almost 2,000 subscribers from across Australia and New Zealand. Find out more