MAGAZINE OF OPTOMETRY VICTORIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2020

WHAT’S INSIDE

OUR SUMMER OF FIRES: MEMBER PERSPECTIVES

FULL STORY PAGES 6 AND 7

02 05 09 The latest coronavirus 65,000 children’s Save the date Blue update for optometrists vision booklets Sky 2020 distributed in Victoria LOCAL NEWS

EDITORIAL

provider LifeWorks had opened up of planning our member CPD calendar a crisis support line for anyone in for 2020-21 financial year. We’re the community in need of emotional excited to be delivering the Blue support in relation to these events. Sky conference in Adelaide on 20- The crisis line is still available to 21 November this year, with three members and patients who may be single-day conferences to be held in struggling as a result of the fires, Melbourne in July and October 2020 and in need of emotional support and again in March 2021 each with its and assistance. We’re aware that own clinical theme. These offerings sometimes the impact of a catastrophe will be supplemented by the rural and like the bushfires can come many regional seminar series, ECO-specific months later, which is why this service CPD events and other one-off CPD and is still open. networking opportunities across the two states. The crisis support line can be accessed 24/7 by calling 1300 361 008. Callers will Keep an eye out for the CPD calendar, receive professional emotional support which will be distributed to members It’s been a difficult and challenging and/or referral to community resources. in June this year. start to 2020 for many of our I encourage you to draw on this Once again, thank you for your members, with the bushfire crisis resource if you feel it might help you, support of the association through significantly impacting both Victoria and to feel free to provide the details to membership, attending our events and South Australia. Our thoughts are patients and their families also. and engaging with our advocacy and with members, their families and their In relation to the coronavirus, OA general public campaigns. On behalf patients who’ve been affected by this has been continually reviewing and of the OV/SA team, we look forward to disaster. More recently the coronavirus updating evidence-based advice for working with you throughout this year. is also cause for concern and impacting members. We have included an article Yours sincerely, members in a range of ways. in this edition of Scope directing In relation to the bushfire, you may members to the latest update. Pete Haydon recall OA contacted members in On a brighter note, we are looking Chief Executive Officer early January 2020 to advise that forward to a busy and productive OA Employee Assistance Program 2020. We are currently in the process

THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FOR OPTOMETRISTS

With the outbreak of the coronavirus Careful consideration needs to be Optometrists are advised to regularly in Australia and worldwide, OA is given to the management of patients visit the OA website home page which urging optometrists to routinely who answer yes, and who have a contains regularly updated, evidence- ask all patients in advance of their clinical need to be seen urgently. based advice on coronavirus, appointment and when they arrive In these instances OA advises infection control guidelines and at the practice, if they have recently implementing strict infection control patient management specifically for returned from a country for which measures including a surgical mask optometrists. Visit www.optometry. travel restrictions or bans are in for the patient and all staff dealing org.au and click on the virus tile on place as advised by the Australian with the patient, hand hygiene and the landing page. environmental disinfection of all Government, and if they have any surfaces they have come in contact symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat with. The Lancet journal has published or difficulty breathing. a recent article highlighting that If the patient answers yes to any of the transmission through the ocular above, optometrists are advised NOT surface should not be ignored, and also to see a non-urgent patient until their recommended protective eyewear for symptoms are resolved and the patient any practitioner examining a patient has been cleared by their doctor. who may have the virus.

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LOCAL NEWS

INAUGURAL SACSA COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ADELAIDE

The inaugural meeting of OV/SAs new State Advisory Committee South Australia (SACSA) was held in Adelaide in February. The SACSA committee will provide advice and input to OV/SA’s secretariat staff on emerging issues in optometry, clinical and technical optometric issues, policy issues and the development or updating of member resources and information. The SACSA offers SA-based members with an opportunity to have input into the work of their association in South Australia. As OV/SA advisors, committee members are encouraged to advocate the benefit of membership of the association and to support and promote OV/SA’s policy agenda more broadly. Secretariat support is provided to the SACSA committee members at the inaugural meeting in Adelaide in February. SACSA by Libby Boschen. In late 2019 Lisa Ho, Stuart Holden, Alex Jaworski, OV/SA invited members to join the communication between meetings as Senthil Murugappa, Viki Nikas. committee. The committee members required. OV/SA thanks the committee are: Jason Booth, Loucia Calder, Jelle The committee will meet in person members for their time and valuable de Bock, Lauren Field, Karen Hawkes, twice a year with additional email insights.

VOTE TRUST GRANT 2019 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Professor Sharon Bentley from scope the development of a Leaders by developing an evidence-based Queensland University of Technology in Indigenous Optometry Education curriculum framework for teaching and Ms Jane Duffy from Deakin Network which will be dedicated to this core attribute to future members University have been awarded better educating optometry students of the profession. This curriculum Victorian Optometrists Training and to provide improved and culturally will be developed based on an Education (VOTE) Trust grants for safe eye care to Indigenous patients agreed definition of professionalism 2019. and, taking collective responsibility for in healthcare, which will assist with increasing the number of Indigenous professional identity formation. The VOTE Trust grants are provided optometrists. The VOTE Trust was established in 2010 annually and have two key aims: to by the then Optometrists Registration advance and foster the practice of The project supports the opportunity Board of Victoria, from funds optometry and, to improve Victorian to enrich the knowledge and skills of accumulated and held by the Board. optometrists’ ability to practice and optometry educators and optometry The Board had ceased to exist with the Victorian optometry students’ ability graduates and will also advance vital establishment of a national registration to undertake training. Five applications efforts to ‘Close the Gap’ for eye health and accreditation scheme and the were received in 2019-2020 from and end avoidable vision loss and creation of the Optometry Board of organisations in three states. The VOTE blindness among the First Nations Australia. funds can be used to support national communities of Australia and New initiatives providing impact in Victoria is Zealand. The Grants Advisory Committee are: demonstrated. The project developed by Ms Jane Andrew Anderson, Mitchell Anjou, Alex Gentle, Pete Haydon and Maureen Professor Bentley’s application was Duffy and her co-investigators O’Keefe. made on behalf of all of the Heads of representing two other Universities, Optometry Schools in Australia and aims to advance the teaching of New Zealand. The project aims to ‘professionalism’ to optometry students

optometry.org.au 3 LOCAL NEWS

INCREASING EYE HEALTH AWARENESS IN THE ARABIC COMMUNITY

Optometry Victoria South Australia and from those accessing the live stream (OV/SA) supports the VI by providing has been very positive. clinical advice, providing feedback on To find out more about the Vision the VI resources and from time to time Initiative visit: www.visioninitiative.org.au sourcing optometrists to participate in eye health awareness raising activities with local communities, health Translated eye care resources professionals and people working with available communities at risk of eye health issues. Did you know that the Vision Initiative produce a range of translated Recently OV/SA member Amir resources that can be used to increase Shenouda delivered a presentation understanding about eye conditions to over 100 people from the local with patients? The resources cover Arabic community in the northern topics such as diabetic retinopathy, suburbs of Melbourne. Amir spoke cataracts and, smoking and vision Amir Shenouda delivers an eye health about the importance of maintaining loss. The content is laid out so that awareness presentation in Arabic to over 100 good eye health and the type of Arabic community members as part of the the English text sits side-by-side with Vision Initiative activities services and support available from the community language, to enhance optometrists. Amir delivered the hour the ability to use the resources in the The Vision Initiative (VI) is a Victorian- long presentation in Arabic, and also practice with patients. specific eye health promotion project answered questions from the audience. that aims to prevent avoidable blindness For more information and to view and address the impact of vision loss The event was also live streamed on and/or order the resources visit in the Victorian community. The VI is Middle East Radio 87.6FM with around www.visioninitiative.org.au/health- funded by the Victorian government 1,400 views of his presentation to date. professionals/professional-resources and managed by Vision 2020. Feedback from participants on the day,

GPS IN FOCUS FOR EYE HEALTH

New and updated eye health resources The Victorian ‘Optometry scope of 250 GP practices will be targeted in have been developed in both Victoria practice’ fact sheet is included as part Dandenong, Brimbank and Shepparton, and South Australia that are aimed at of the Vision Initiative (VI) eye health in the current program. increasing GP awareness of optometry promotion project. The fact sheet is Members can also access the resources and optometrists. included in the VI GP kit, and outlines through the Optometry Australia the scope of practice and skills of The South Australian resources have website, and use them in their local optometrists and referral pathways. been developed with support from the networking and awareness activities Rural Doctors Workforce Agency. The fact sheet is accompanied by a ‘GP with local GPs. Alternatively members referral to optometric services’ form can direct GPs to the site to access the They include a short five minute designed to prompt GPs to include information themselves. video aimed at GP practice staff that key information in a referral to an highlights the importance of maintaining Visit www.optometry.org.au/gps- optometrist. good eye health and the services and health-care-professionals/gps/ scope of practice of optometrists, From March 2018 to March 2019 as well as promotional posters and a the VI distributed the GP kit to power point presentation on common 72 GP practices located in six low eye conditions that can be used by socioeconomic local government optometrists when meeting with GPs. areas around the state. A further

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LOCAL NEWS

CHILDREN’S VISION GUIDES DISTRIBUTED TO 65,000 VICTORIAN FAMILIES

In February OV/SA’s ‘A guide to The guides are part of the Victorian healthy eyes for kids and parents’ Department of Education’s Prep Bag Dot-to-Dot Join the dots to reveal the Eye Guy Eye Guy is trying to make it to the picture and then colour it in. optometrist for his regular eye check-up. booklets were distributed to 65,000 Maze Can you help him find the way? program. The Prep Bag includes a range children starting Prep at a Victorian of health and development information state school in 2020. and resources targeted to children and The guide includes information on their families. maintaining good eye health, including For more information about the Prep the importance of regular eye Bag program visit www.education.vic. examinations for children. It also has fun gov.au/about/news/Pages/stories/2018/ activities for kids including a maze and a stories_prepbags2019.aspx cut out Eye Girl paper figure. The guide includes a strong call to action for parents to have their children’s

A GUIDE TO HEALTHY EYES eye’s examined. Parents and carers are for kids directed to the ‘find an optometrist’ and parents page on OA’s Good Vision for Life website to find their local optometrist. All optometrists who are members of www.goodvisionforlife.com.au OV/SA can be found on this page.

ECOV/SA COMMITTEE IS SEEKING NEW MEMBERS

Are you in your first ten years of members about their experiences and expression of interest form and email it practice as an optometrist? Do you what they need. to [email protected] by no want to support your profession and The committee also advocates for later than 5pm on Tuesday 17 March help your peers get the very best from change, such as expanding scope 2020. their career? Are you keen to take on of practice, with a view to ensuring For more information and to access a leadership role within the profession? a sustainable and interesting future the expression of interest form, OV/SA is calling for expressions of career for members. visit the website. www.optometry. interest from early career members in Members who are interested in joining org.au/about-us/our-organisation/ either Victoria or South Australia who the committee should complete the optometry-vic-sa/our-committees/ are up to ten years from graduation, and are interested in joining the committee. The ECOV/SA committee is a dynamic and highly engaged group who are delivering tangible results on behalf of early career members. The committee develop and deliver CPD seminars and networking events across the two states that are specifically targeted to the needs of early career members. The committee also provides support for early career optometrists through peer mentoring dinners and the development of targeted resources that are based on feedback from

ECOV/SA committee members Zenia Jaitley ECOV/SA committee member Jo Rohrlach (L) and Patrick Mac at a recent ECOV/SA seminar with SACSA committee member Lauren Field in Melbourne. at a recent ECOV/SA event in Adelaide.

optometry.org.au 5 MEMBER PROFILE

JELLE DE BOCK: SUPPORTING RECOVERY ON KANGAROO ISLAND

We asked Jelle about his experience extra care to ask how each and every of the bushfires on Kangaroo Island, patient is going and how the fires have and whether they impacted him and affected them personally, so that we his family, but also the practice and can offer extra help where required,” patients. Jelle said. “Fortunately the bush fires did not “We’re mindful that we’ll see more affect us personally as we reside in affected patients in the next six Yankalilla on the mainland. But we saw months. Right now they’re sorting the devastation on TV and recognised out their homes and fence-lines and many of our patients sifting through infrastructure, and will look to fix up the ashes of their homes,” Jelle said. their glasses at a later date. We’ll continue to offer free glasses to those “The fires burnt around two thirds of who have lost everything and half price the island, mostly on the western side. to volunteers who have sacrificed a lot Most of the Island’s population live to help out. We won’t put a time limit on the eastern side, which remained on this as we know it could be the end unaffected. This is also where our of the year before some will ask for outreach is located, at Kingscote, and help,” he said. so fortunately for us it was safe from the fires,” he said. After graduating from the University “We’re thankful that our business and our family is pretty much unaffected, of Auckland in 1996 Jelle de Bock “However there are people on the which means we are able to offer moved to Australia, to take up a role Island who have lost everything. help to those less fortunate than with an independent chain of Adelaide We’ve offered free glasses to them, ourselves,” Jelle said. based practices, The Vision Centre and we’re also doing half price glasses in Adelaide. He loved Adelaide and for the volunteers in the Country Fire stayed on, moving to Laubman and Service, as we wanted to do our bit “Although the fires have been Pank in 2001, and then OPSM. He to help the community recover. But catastrophic with devastating and opened his own practice Fleurieu Eye we’ve found that we’re having to twist substantial losses to wildlife, bush, Care in 2004 in Normanville. arms as some of the locals are too farmland, sheds, livestock, and fence- stoic and too proud to accept our lines, most people live on the eastern We asked Jelle about how his practice offer. We have tough country folk on third of the Island, which was totally in Normanville developed and what the Island!” Jelle said. unaffected,” he said. he enjoys about working in a regional location. “We encourage people to not cancel Now that the fire risk has reduced in any trips to the Island and to come and “As I was starting the practice from the area, we asked Jelle what impact enjoy everything the Island has to offer scratch I initially began working three he is seeing on patients and on the – it’s one of the most beautiful places days a week there, while working as a practice. in Australia. All the main attractions locum on the other two to three days. “We’re seeing lots of patients with remain open for business, you just Gradually I built the practice up, and dry eye and allergic eye issues, but may have to drive through a scorched I’m now there full-time,” Jelle said. otherwise nothing else too much out landscape to reach a few of them,” “Being a country practice, we deal with of the ordinary. However we are taking Jelle said. everything from foreign body removals, glaucoma, diabetes, iritis to HZO, old eyes, young eyes, and everything in between. But I do love a challenge where we have to do a bit of detective work to find a solution to a particular problem or eye issue,’ he said.

“I’d also been doing Kangaroo Island trips as a locum for OPSM since 2002. I started doing out-reach to the Island for my own practice from 2012. We travel to Kangaroo Island six times a year, and spend four to five days at a time there,” Jelle said.

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MEMBER PROFILE

PHILIPA MUNDAY: SUPPORTING THE STRONG EAST GIPPSLAND COMMUNITY

directed me to have a particular interest “The other issue of course, was that the in therapeutic management of ocular fires in Mallacoota came very close to disease. I also quite enjoy children’s the health centre where our outreach vision and my day is often very diverse practice is located, stopping just on the and interesting,” Philipa said. other side of the street. For a short time there was some concern that we may “Two years ago as a group, we have lost this practice including our fully purchased a long standing practice fitted out consulting room and gear,” in Lakes Entrance and now I spend she said. my time between the two practices in addition to our outreach clinic in “The Mallacoota community lost a Mallacoota,” she said. significant number of houses and properties, and it was very fortunate We asked Philipa what it was like that the health centre was untouched, as working and living in East Gippsland this is a great asset to their community. during the recent bushfires, where the Overall we have been very lucky, and I region was hit particularly hard. am feeling very fortunate, where some “East Gippsland is a beautiful place to have lost so much,” Philipa said. both live and work. There is a strong Now that the bushfire threat has largely sense of community and I feel I get to passed, we asked Philipa whether know my patients really well. During there has been any ongoing impact on the fires there was understandably a Philipa Munday graduated from the patients and the practices. lot of anxiety amongst my patients, University of Melbourne in 2009 and some of whom had lost homes or were “During the fires many patients, started working for Dyson and Long anticipating losing their homes. Even especially those who are chronically Optometrist in Bairnsdale. For the next those who were not directly impacted ill were affected by the high level of three to four years Philipa worked for by the fires were in a heightened state smoke in the area. We were seeing a ten months of the year at the practice of anxiety,” Philipa said. lot of patients with increased breathing in Bairnsdale, while working as a locum difficulty and exacerbation of chronic at various locations across Australia “Personally we were asked to evacuate lung conditions,” Philipa said. for the other two months. She also our home three times which created worked for OPSM in Albany, WA for six some logistical difficulty. I have two “With respect to ocular conditions, we months before returning to Dyson and very young boys and we tried our saw a lot more patients suffering from Long where she became a business best to shelter them from the reality dry eye, allergy and exacerbation to partner in 2013. of what was happening, going on chronic anterior eye conditions. People were reporting increased frequency We asked Philipa how she came to ‘holidays’ rather than evacuating. I also of foreign body sensation in the eyes,” work at Dyson and Long, and what she have horses and had to move them at she said. enjoys about it. short notice to a safer area,” she said. “I’m from Orbost and had formed a “Many people who lost homes did not good relationship with Cam Dyson “We also had a number of staff have adequate time to take belongings and Ken Long while I was studying members whose properties were and have understandably lost their optometry. They had taken me under very close to the fire fronts. One staff glasses. As a company we have elected their wing allowing me to participate in member’s home was saved, but she lost to fully replace any of our patients lost regular voluntary placements during the some of her fencing. She was fortunate glasses at no cost and we have been university holidays,” Philipa said. however, as her neighbours homes were very fortunate that some of our larger all lost,” Philipa said. suppliers have also offered assistance,” “This made transitioning to rural Philipa said. practice a lot easier as I had an “All of this meant that I had to cancel understanding of the diverse nature most of my patients for the entire of ocular pathology and presentations week, some at short notice. In addition, “As we travelled to Mallacoota last week that you often see in country practice. a lot of people moved away from the where there have been approximately I was also very lucky to have two area to avoid the smoke resulting in a 124 homes lost, I expect that we may be therapeutically endorsed, skilled reduced demand for appointments over replacing dozens of frames and lenses optometrists with years of experience the period. The flow on effect for the for patients. It’s the least we can do to as my mentors,” she said. business of course was reduced income assist those in need, and hopefully it for the couple of weeks over the main will reduce a little bit of the burden for “Working in a rural area means that fire period,” she said. them,” she said. a lot of patients find it difficult or don’t want to travel to Melbourne “As a business owner this was “For myself, my work and home life is for specialist intervention. This often concerning, as you still have to now back to normal. My family are back results in patients using us as their first pay your staff and bills, but with a at home, with my two little boys running port of call for the mundane to very substantial decrease in turn-over. I’m riot as usual. Happy days!” Philipa said. serious sight threatening conditions,” thankful that optometry is the type Philipa said. of business where you can pick up “We have good relationships with our on the lost consultations and sales local GP’s and also receive referrals at a later date, unlike other local from them on a daily basis. I suppose businesses who rely mostly on the this has increased my exposure to tourist dollar over the busy school ocular pathology and that has in turn holiday period,” Philipa said. optometry.org.au 7 MEMBER EVENTS

LIMITED PLACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR OV/SA’S ANNUAL GOLF DAY

OV/SA members and guests are invited to join us for a game of social golf on the prestigious Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club on Monday 16 March OV/SA’s Annual Golf Day aims to raise funds for charity to improve eye health outcomes for disadvantaged communities. This event is in its 97th year and is open to all skill levels from beginners through to the experienced golfer. The program includes individual stableford and Ambrose events with plenty of prizes on offer and the opportunity to get your name on the prestigious perpetual Golf Day trophy. For more information and to register for Golf Day visit the website. www.optometry.org.au/general_news/tee-off-at- ov-sas-annual-golf-day-on-16-march/

IMMEDIATE GRADUATE MEMBERS: DINNER’S ON US!

Adelaide

Date: Monday 6 April Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: The Kentish Arms Hotel, 23 Stanley Street, North Adelaide Cost: Free to Optometry Victoria South Australia members

Melbourne

Date: Monday 20 April Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: Berth Restaurant, 45 The Kentish Hotel in Adelaide Berth restaurant in Melbourne. New Quay Promenade, Free dinners are being held in Adelaide Or just relax and enjoy a fun night out, Docklands and Melbourne in April for Immediate on us! Cost: Free to Optometry Victoria Graduate members. Registration is essential. Register South Australia members The dinners are a great opportunity to through the website optometry.org. catch up with your graduating class over au/cpd-publications-events/ a delicious three course meal plus drinks. Alternatively contact Optometry OV/SA’s senior staff, a Board Director Victoria South Australia on office. and Early Career Optometrists Victoria [email protected] or call South Australia (ECOV/SA) committee (03) 9652 9100. members will also be there to chat with members and talk about issues of interest.

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MEMBER EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE FOR BLUE SKY 2020

Blue Sky returns to the Adelaide Additional speakers and program and For now, mark the date in your Convention Centre on 20-21 November registration details will be released calendars, and we look forward to seeing 2020, with a stellar line-up of speakers over the coming months. members in Adelaide in November. from overseas and around Australia. Confirmed key note presenters are the engaging and highly informative conference favourites Nate Lighthizer (USA) and Blair Lonsberry (USA). Nate and Blair will share the stage for a number of lectures, supporting and challenging each other and the audience on key areas of clinical interest. These key note lectures promise to be lively and interactive, harking back to the legendary presentations of Ron Melton and Randall Thomas at the Blue Sky conferences of yesteryear.

Nate Lighthizer Blair Lonsberry

ECOV/SA’S MANAGING FINANCES SEMINAR A TERRIFIC SUCCESS

The ‘Managing your Finances outlined the issues to consider and the The seminar was free for OV/SA Effectively’ seminars were the first strategies that can enable early career members, and attracted two non- ECOV/SA CPD events for 2020. members to set themselves on a path clinical CPD points for attendance. Members in both Adelaide and of wealth creation. Kelly used her own Members also enjoyed a delicious two- Melbourne were treated to a practical experiences and the knowledge she course meal and drinks. and engaging presentation from rural has developed since turning around her To view more photos from the two optometrist and OV/SA member Kelly own financial situation to inform her events visit www.optometry.org.au/ Gibbons. presentation, which is aimed at ensuring cpd-publications-events/cpd-event- Kelly’s down to earth presentation that members don’t repeat her own calendar and click on the events in the style resonated with members, as she financial decisions. calendar

Members enjoying the seminar in Melbourne The seminar was popular with members in Adelaide

optometry.org.au 9 MEMBER EVENTS

RURAL AND REGIONAL SEMINAR SERIES HEADS TO BALLARAT, MCLAREN VALE AND MILDURA IN APRIL

OV/SA’s regional seminar series for the seminar will have the opportunity Ballarat 2019/20 is once more hitting the road, to meet and network with the Board with seminars to be held in Victoria Directors. Date: Thursday 23 April and South Australia. The seminars are free for OV/SA Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm Ballarat in Victoria is the first stop on members. Venue: The Annexe, Ballarat Art the seminar roadshow on 23 April, Participants will receive a three-course Gallery, 40 Lydiard Street, followed by a second seminar in meal with refreshments, as well as North Ballarat McLaren Vale, South Australia on 27 6T CPD points (with assessment). April, before heading back across the Members will also have the opportunity border to Mildura in Victoria on 28 April. to network and catch up with local McLaren Vale Guest speaker Richard Lenne’s colleagues and friends, as part of the Date: Monday 27 April presentation ‘Can I treat this patient?’ seminar. Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm has a strong case-based focus, ensuring Registration is essential. a practical update on the use of To register through the website visit Venue: d’Arenberg Cube, 58 Osborn therapeutics in optometric practice. optometry.org.au click on Institute of Road, McLaren Vale Richard is an experienced and engaging Excellence (CPD) on the home page, speaker. He will draw on his knowledge navigate through the calendar to find working in regional practice settings for the correct date, click on the event Mildura over 20 years, and including the latest and register through the blue register Date: Tuesday 28 April evidence in his presentation. button. Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm The McLaren Vale seminar will be Alternatively contact the OV/SA office preceded by an OV/SA Board meeting on [email protected] or call Venue: Mildura Grand Hotel, during the day, and members attending (03) 9652 9100. Seventh Street, Mildura

The d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale is one of the venues for the next OV/SA rural and regional CPD seminars. This seminar will also offer members the chance to meet the OV/SA Board Directors.

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NATIONAL NEWS

INVESTING IN COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS: OPTOMETRY AUSTRALIA’S FEDERAL PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2020-21

Optometry Australia has developed a of avoidable blindness and vision loss, Scheme (VOS) to deliver an pre-budget submission to the Federal and ocular and systemic conditions additional 31,500 outreach optometry Government, calling for sustainable that can require costly specialist care. services ($7.84m over three years and cost-effective measures to support They emphasise that access to quality from 2020-21); comprehensive and timely access to optometric care is a key component of • Matching the one-off funding already primary eye care for all Australians. an effective, efficient and sustainable committed by Optometry Australia to eye care system and an essential support 2020: the year of good vision In the submission OA notes that a for life ($460,000 in 2020-21); prudent and relatively conservative element in reducing the significant investment of $13.7 million in 2020-21 social and economic costs associated • Investment in applied research would mean the Australian Government with preventable blindness and vision to develop models that enhance could generate a positive - and almost loss. integration of optometric care immediate - impact on the eye health of The key recommendations outlined by into primary care and facilitate collaboration with tertiary eye care millions of Australians, while reducing OA are: services ($1.5m in 2020-21), and the social and economic burden of • Reinstatement of biennial Medicare • Initiation of a comprehensive, vision impairment. Without action, they rebates for a comprehensive initial independent review of the Medicare note that these burdens will continue to examination for Australians aged fee schedule, to ensure alignment place pressure on the health system and between 45 and 64 years ($9m in with the true cost of providing care. will impact substantially on productivity. 2020-21); The OA submission highlights that • Ensuring access to sustainable and To read the full submission visit www. optometrists are critical to reducing timely outreach eye care through optometry.org.au/advocacy/issues-at- the heavy social and economic costs expanding the Visiting Optometrists a-glance/federal-budget/

optometry.org.au 11 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Back row (L-R): From L-R: Rowan Prendergast, Murray Smith (National Director), Allison McKendrick, Anne Weymouth (Vice-President), Timothy Lo (Treasurer), Elise Pocknee-Clem (President), Cassandra Haines, Kurt Larsen, Jason Tan (Associate Director). The Optometry Victoria South Australia Board welcomes discussion and input from our members. If you have an issue or point of discussion you would like to raise with the Board, please feel free to contact President Elise Pocknee-Clem directly at [email protected] Alternatively you can reach individual Board members via the Optometry Victoria South Australia office on (03) 9652 9100 or email [email protected] DIARY DATES

OV/SA’S ANNUAL GOLF DAY OV/SA’S REGIONAL SEMINARS: ‘CAN I TREAT THIS PATIENT?’ The Golf Day raises funds for charity to improve eye health outcomes for disadvantaged communities, and is These seminars have a strong case-based focus, a great opportunity for networking over a game of golf ensuring members receive a practical update on the use and dinner afterwards. There are plenty of prizes on offer of therapeutics in optometric practice. Guest speaker including the prestigious perpetual Golf Day trophy. Richard Lenne is an optometrist with over 20 years’ experience working in regional locations. Members will Venue: Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club receive 6T CPD points (with assessment). Date: Monday 16 March, 2020 The seminars are free to OV/SA members and include a Time: 12pm - ?? three-course meal and drinks. Cost: $150 Venue: Ballarat: The Annexe, Ballarat Art Gallery, 40 Lydiard Street, Ballarat IMMEDIATE GRADUATES DINNER Date: Thursday 23 April, 2020 The Immediate Graduate dinners are a great opportunity Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm for Immediate Graduate members to catch up with their graduating class, over a delicious meal and drinks. Venue: McLaren Vale: d’Arenberg Cube, 58 Osborn Road, McLaren Vale The dinner is free for OV/SA members Date: Monday 27 April, 2020 Venue: Adelaide: The Kentish Hotel, 23 Stanley Street, Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm North Adelaide Date: Monday 6 April, 2020 Venue: Mildura: Mildura Grand Hotel Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm Date: Tuesday 28 April, 2020 Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm Venue: Melbourne: Berth Restaurant, 45 New Quay Promenade, Docklands Date: Monday 20 April, 2020 The Optometry Victoria South Australia office will be closed between Time: 7.00pm24 December – 9.00pm and 6 January, however members can contact staff during this period by calling the office phone number (03) 9652 9100.

The staff andFor moreBoard information of Optometry on anyVictoria of the South above Australia events orwish to allregister of our online members visit: a safe and happy festive season,www.optometry.org.au/cpd-publications-events/ and we look forward to working with you all again in 2020.

28 Drummond Street, EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES DESIGNED & PRINTED BY Carlton, Victoria, 3053. Michelle Marven Adcore Creative Ph: (03) 9652 9100 (03) 9652 9107 (03) 9348 4744 E: [email protected] [email protected] adcore.com.au W: optometry.org.au

Scope is the bimonthly magazine of Optometry Victoria South Australia