Friday 27th June

ICC SYDNEY

Sessions $40 - $48 ea

Dispensing

  • This session will explore the range of interventions for myopia control which the optical dispenser will encounter in practice.

    Core concepts covered in this presentation will be:

    • Emmetropisation processes and the aetiology of refractive error

    • Optically imposed blur and the impact on growth and refractive outcomes

    • The impact of optical and biometric interactions

    • A case study in lens interactions in the developing eye

    • Tips and techniques for optimising patient outcomes

    • Integrating into the patient care regime

  • Gone are the days when PD rules and marking pens were all the tools available to the optical dispenser. This presentation will be an overview that looks at a range of tools and equipment available to the modern day optical dispenser. These will range from the innovative frame adjusting tools like the bionic thumb, improved optical rulers, corneal reflection pupillometers, through to tower, desktop, and/or tablet digital measuring systems for all facial measurements. This includes equipment that sits astride ophthalmic practitioners and the optical dispenser alike, by offering diagnostic biometric technologies using wavefront aberrometers, to optimising certain lenses.

    Thus, adding more individuality to lens designs and optical dispensing. This doesn’t include ophthalmic practitioner diagnostic equipment used during pre-screening and/or conducting special diagnostic measurements and tests. Nor does this cover the lens edging and fitting equipment found in lens laboratories and some in-house practice optical workshops/labs.

  • This 3 hour workshop is specifically tailored for Optometrists and Optical Dispensers looking to enhance and refine their frame repair skills. This structured workshop will feature practical demonstrations and hands-on experiences, covering a variety of key repair techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to either acquire new skills or hone their existing expertise under the expert guidance of a team of optical mechanics and qualified trainers. To ensure that the learning continues beyond the workshop, attendees will receive a printed step-by-step guide, along with an ODA certificate of attendance to acknowledge their commitment to professional development. Join ODA for this invaluable opportunity to elevate your skills and enhance your practice!

Business

  • Keynote speaker - Adam Spencer

    Thought provoking, humorous, entertaining and informative – what a way to start the day! Come join Adam Spencer, star of tv current affairs and breakfast radio shows, as he takes a deep dive into how technology is revolutionising our world, conveying key updates and tips in an entertaining and understandable format. Adam covers topics from ChatGPT and other AI technologies, to new technology based products, social and cyber threats through to the power to be drawn from the youngest people in your workforce and tips for keeping up if you feel overwhelmed by the pace of change.

  • This is your chance to spend more time with Adam in a smaller setting and have him hone in on the optical industry and how others are already integrating amazing technical solutions in to their practices. There will be a mix of general tips and case study information as we explore how technology can help your patients through their journey with your practice and your internal efficiency within the practice. Topics on the agenda include harnessing data for marketing effectiveness, attracting young talent and young clients, all of whom expect digital efficiency, targeted messaging to demographics and maximising efficiency.

  • Using global sales and consumer information to provide insights into the trends that are driving some of the optics (contact lenses) markets globally. Brendan will also utilise a global B2B study to provide information around eyecare provider practices and emerging trends here in Australia and around the world. Targeted geo-marketing and location insights will show you who the consumers are in Australia, where they are shopping and they are doing.

    This presentation will be followed by a Q&A Session.

  • This workshop will have a panel made up of industry experts and practice owners who have recently bought or sold and will cover the following -

    • Understand the essential information required to buy/sell a practice

    • Understand the requirements of financial lending institutes

    • How to learn the ins/outs of self employment

    • How to choose the best practice for your financial, geographical and clinical wishes

  • In this every changing work landscape, businesses are facing people challenges like never before.  In some cases, a business could have up to five generations of staff at one time (Alpha to Boomer).  How do they cater to all those needs and ensure they are competitive, compliant, and thriving?  How do they stay ahead of the talent churn and build the best teams? 

    HR professional, Lynnette Edmonds, shares her knowledge, insights, and experience gained from managing people at a high performing global PR Agency as well as many years running a recruitment business and now spearheading her own consulting business. Her pragmatic style and solutions-oriented approach will ensure attendees go away with ideas, strategies, and hope! 

Practice Management

  • The Inventory Management masterclass equips participants with practical tools and strategies to optimize their product range, align inventory with patient demographics, implement effective visual merchandising, streamline pricing and replenishment plans, and address aged stock challenges. Through hands-on demonstrations and a comprehensive toolkit, attendees will gain actionable insights to enhance inventory performance, boost sales, and improve cash flow within their practice.

  • In the fast-paced optical industry, keeping your social media presence up-to-date and relevant is essential for staying competitive and connecting with your audience. However, social media isn’t for every brand—so if you choose to do it, it’s crucial to do it well. A half-hearted or inconsistent approach can harm your brand image more than having no presence at all.

    Whether you’re an optometrist promoting your practice or a business selling optical products to professionals, your social media needs to align seamlessly with your website to create a consistent and professional brand experience.

    From showcasing stylish eyewear to sharing eye health tips or highlighting cutting-edge optical technology, your content should reflect your brand’s values and resonate with your audience. Done right, social media becomes a powerful tool for attracting new customers, strengthening relationships, and driving success in the optical world.

  • Nervous about medicolegal exposure? Medicare audits? AHPRA complaints? Lawyer letters? Other risks you haven’t even thought about?

    This session will be a discussion about the biggest risks to you, your practice and your career, and how to minimise them, based on real enquiries handled by OA’s national help desk and our medico-legal insurers, Avant. This session is not just scare stories – you’ll also hear practical tips on how to set up your practice workflows and admin systems to lower your risk, whether employer, employee, or locum.

ACBO Connect Conference 2025 Vision Beyond Sight - For more information and to register CLICK HERE 

Saturday 28th June

ICC Sydney

Sessions $40 - $48ea

Dispensing

  • This 3 hour workshop is specifically tailored for Optometrists and Optical Dispensers looking to enhance and refine their frame repair skills. This structured workshop will feature practical demonstrations and hands-on experiences, covering a variety of key repair techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to either acquire new skills or hone their existing expertise under the expert guidance of a team of optical mechanics and qualified trainers. To ensure that the learning continues beyond the workshop, attendees will receive a printed step-by-step guide, along with an ODA certificate of attendance to acknowledge their commitment to professional development. Join ODA for this invaluable opportunity to elevate your skills and enhance your practice!

  • Join us for a comprehensive session exploring the latest advances in myopia management. This evidence-based presentation will equip eye care professionals with practical knowledge and clinical insights to enhance patient care.

    Key learning objectives for this session include -

    • Understanding current myopia trends, prevalence, and public health implications

    • Evaluating evidence-based myopia management strategies and their clinical outcomes

    • Deep dive into innovative lens technologies, including MiYOSMART

    • Developing effective communication strategies for parents

    Perfect for eye care professionals seeking to expand their expertise in this rapidly evolving field of practice. Join us to enhance your clinical decision-making skills, gain confidence in treatment recommendations, and improve patient outcomes through evidence-based myopia management.

  • Gone are the days when PD rules and marking pens were all the tools available to the optical dispenser. This presentation will be an overview that looks at a range of tools and equipment available to the modern day optical dispenser. These will range from the innovative frame adjusting tools like the bionic thumb, improved optical rulers, corneal reflection pupillometers, through to tower, desktop, and/or tablet digital measuring systems for all facial measurements. This includes equipment that sits astride ophthalmic practitioners and the optical dispenser alike, by offering diagnostic biometric technologies using wavefront aberrometers, to optimising certain lenses. Thus, adding more individuality to lens designs and optical dispensing. This doesn’t include ophthalmic practitioner diagnostic equipment used during pre-screening and/or conducting special diagnostic measurements and tests. Nor does this cover the lens edging and fitting equipment found in lens laboratories and some in-house practice optical workshops/labs.

Business

  • Managing Wellbeing - FREE to attend - Bookings essential.

    Join Wellbeing expert, Carli Phillips, as she shares practical strategies for mental and physical wellbeing in optometry, addressing challenges faced by women at all career stages. Connect with our diverse panel over the Q&A session, share experiences, and network with colleagues over a light breakfast.

    Sponsored by ProVision

  • This 90-minute workshop provides practical strategies to guide employees from probation to peak performance within the framework of workplace legislation. Participants will learn to set expectations, maintain engagement, and address performance issues while ensuring compliance with employment law and organizational policies. With insights and tools, attendees will be equipped to foster a culture of growth, high performance, and legal compliance.

  • This talk will describe the development of new technologies for the ophthalmic industry in the context of recent surgeries in the application of AI in the clinical environment.

    Core concepts covered in this presentation will be:

    • Core concepts for development of AI applications

    • Areas of growth for application of AI in the ophthalmic environment

    • A case study in lens design using AI concepts

    • Applications and limitations of teleoptometry

    • Identifying the opportunities afforded by developments in applications of AI

    • Integrating advances and change into clinical and retail practice

  • Simon Hanna, Director of iCare Consulting, will provide insights on enhancing Medicare and Private Health Insurance billing practices by improving understanding of relevant items and optical codes. His presentation will focus on ensuring compliance with billing codes for practitioners and practices, reducing the risk of errors. Additionally, he will emphasize the importance of training and supporting practice staff to streamline billing processes and navigate the nuanced differences between health funds and Medicare item codes effectively. This approach aims to optimize operational efficiency and maintain regulatory compliance.

  • This workshop will have a panel made up of industry experts and practice owners who have recently bought or sold and will cover the following -

    • Understand the essential information required to buy/sell a practice

    • Understand the requirements of financial lending institutes

    • How to learn the ins/outs of self employment

    • How to choose the best practice for your financial, geographical and clinical wishes

*Program subject to change 

Practice Management

  • Don your protective armour and level up your defences as OA’s Chief Clinical Officer helps you navigate through some of the biggest minefields and grey zones in the optometry landscape today.  In this presentation we will look at emerging cyber and privacy risks along with (how to avoid) the most common complaints, lawsuits, regulatory, medicare and health fund issues currently being levelled against optometry practices.

  • Given the increasing corporitisation of the market in Austraila this is a hot topic of discussion. A strong independent sector is vital for the industry and consumers alike, and this session will provide valuable and insightful tips to help independents remain competitive and compete again corporate practices. This is a panel discussion chaired by Emma Gillies, Director of Purple Key Consulting.

    Panel Members:

    Jayson Stone - Seekers Optical

    Rowena Beckenham - Beckenham Optometrist

    Wilson Lu - Lumiere Eyecare

  • Heidi and Adrian will be presenting on the topic Establishing Your Practice Point of Difference. In a Q&A-style session, they will walk you through the steps they've taken to identify, refine, and showcase the unique qualities of their practices. From understanding your patient base to creating a memorable patient experience, they will share practical insights and real-world strategies to help you stand out in a competitive market. Whether you’re just starting out or well-established in your optometry career, we’ll guide you through the steps to help you grow your next area of interest and establish a unique point of difference for your practice.

    Whether you’re starting out or already established, Heidi and Adrian’s insights will inspire you to take your practice to the next level!

  • Michael Nasser, host of the The Focused View podcast, distils key insights from leading industry experts to help you optimise your practice.

    Drawing from in-depth conversations with thought leaders, he shared practical strategies to enhance efficiency, profitability, and patient care, giving you the tools to elevate your business with confidence.

  • The Inventory Management masterclass equips participants with practical tools and strategies to optimize their product range, align inventory with patient demographics, implement effective visual merchandising, streamline pricing and replenishment plans, and address aged stock challenges. Through hands-on demonstrations and a comprehensive toolkit, attendees will gain actionable insights to enhance inventory performance, boost sales, and improve cash flow within their practice.

Sunday 29th June

ICC Sydney

Sessions $40ea

Dispensing

  • Join us for a comprehensive session exploring the latest advances in myopia management. This evidence-based presentation will equip eye care professionals with practical knowledge and clinical insights to enhance patient care.

    Key learning objectives for this session include -

    • Understanding current myopia trends, prevalence, and public health implications

    • Evaluating evidence-based myopia management strategies and their clinical outcomes

    • Deep dive into innovative lens technologies, including MiYOSMART

    • Developing effective communication strategies for parents

    Perfect for eye care professionals seeking to expand their expertise in this rapidly evolving field of practice. Join us to enhance your clinical decision-making skills, gain confidence in treatment recommendations, and improve patient outcomes through evidence-based myopia management.

  • Seeing Style: The Art of Eyewear Design brings together a panel of leading experts to explore the intersection of fashion, innovation, and functionality in modern eyewear. Hosted by LookBook Magazine’s Laura Moore, this insightful discussion will feature top eyewear designers, trend forecasters, and industry insiders as they unveil the latest frame trends, material innovations, and the evolving role of eyewear as a true fashion statement.

Business

  • Simon Hanna, Director of iCare Consulting, will provide insights on enhancing Medicare and Private Health Insurance billing practices by improving understanding of relevant items and optical codes. His presentation will focus on ensuring compliance with billing codes for practitioners and practices, reducing the risk of errors. Additionally, he will emphasize the importance of training and supporting practice staff to streamline billing processes and navigate the nuanced differences between health funds and Medicare item codes effectively. This approach aims to optimize operational efficiency and maintain regulatory compliance.

  • This 90-minute workshop provides practical strategies to guide employees from probation to peak performance within the framework of workplace legislation. Participants will learn to set expectations, maintain engagement, and address performance issues while ensuring compliance with employment law and organizational policies. With insights and tools, attendees will be equipped to foster a culture of growth, high performance, and legal compliance.

  • Join this Panel Discussion chaired by Myles Hume from Insight Magazine featuring the most inspirational career journey stories from these remarkable industry professionals -

    • Shaun Chang - Eyes4Everest

    • Nandita Chowdhury - Picton Eyecare

    • Lyn Simeon - Teachers Health Centre

Practice Management

  • Hear from this panel of industry experts their tips on how to conquer the most common and currently relelvent pain points in running an Independent Optometry Practice today.

    Paul Vessey will be presenting some of the most recently identified areas of need and you will also have the opportunity to provide your most pressing questions when you register for this workshop or as part of the Q&A session on the day.

  • The world of social media can seem daunting and overwhelming. Where to begin? What do we post? As an independent store, social media marketing, especially to the younger generations, can be very powerful when applied correctly, and does not need to cost an arm and a leg! Learn how to successfully create engaging content and contend with the big stores in 2025. 

  • Learning how to speak your customers language can increase sales conversion by 25-30%!

    What if a simple, three-word question could reveal exactly how to connect with someone and communicate in a way they truly understand?

    In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the powerful world of human dynamics and uncover a four-factor model that makes patient interactions more intuitive and effective. You’ll learn how to identify what your patients need from you during their visit and how to adapt your communication style to meet their unique preferences. By doing so, you’ll not only make ethical, impactful professional recommendations but also drive practice growth with integrity.

    When you can align your communication, approach, and care to each patient’s personality, you build trust, loyalty, and satisfaction—strengthening relationships, improving team collaboration, and enhancing overall practice success.

    As a special takeaway, participants will have the opportunity to receive a complimentary personalised code to access a detailed report uncovering their own communication style and motivators, equipping them with insights to thrive both personally and professionally.

Optometry NSW/ACT Super Sunday Conference - For more information and the register CLICK HERE

ACBO Connect Conference 2025 Vision Beyond Sight - For more information and to register CLICK HERE