Days Dates Event Venue CPD Points

Queensland Vision attendance record on target
250 Australian and New Zealand optometrists registered at the close of early bird registrations on 31 January beating the previous best performance by 100. With two months to go it seems likely that the 2005 record of 650 delegates will be broken.

The Division trialled a financial disincentive for late registrations several years ago but dumped it after just one year. It seemed to Council that it was unreasonable to “punish” members with a higher congress registration fee just because they didn’t register by a particular date. At the end of the day, we want to make it easy for optometrists to attend rather than difficult. Instead we have gradually increased the number of prizes available to early registrants to include three, three-day accommodation packages, golf and dining at Radisson Resort Gold Coast.

Queensland Vision 2008 will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 28-30 March (always the week after Easter!). You can register online at www.optomsqld.com or by telephoning Ruth, Marika or Greg at 07 3839 4411

Therapeutically qualified optometrists can now sign up for provider numbers under the PBS system
Information about gaining approval to prescribe medication under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is now on the Medicare Australia website. It can be accessed at: http://www.medicare.gov.au/provider/pbs/supplier/optometrist.shtml

Within the page there is a link to an application form which must be completed and returned to the Medicare Australia Provider Eligibility Section, GPO Box 9822 in your capital city, or it can be faxed to numbers listed on Page 1 of the application form.

Written confirmation that you are endorsed to prescribe medications must be attached to the application. Proof can be a photocopy of the certificate issued by the state or territory registration board or a letter from the state or territory registration board advising of therapeutic endorsement.

You can obtain the necessary stationery to prescribe under the PBS by clicking on the link on the information page and downloading and completing the order form.

You can find more information about prescribing under the PBS on the OAA’s website at: http://www.optometrists.asn.au/information/resources/medicare/pbs

Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) meeting at Optometry House
QVI Project Officer, Cassandra Koutouridis and myself met with VOS officers Nicholas Pascual and Nathan Manu on 23 January for a briefing on the “new” VOS.

The new arrangements for the VOS target remote and very remote areas of Queensland, and provide increased rates of incentives and an away from practice allowance.

A funding round will be advertised between March and June this year for all interested optometrists to provide services under the VOS. We will be advised of the round’s release date when it becomes available.

The department will also develop a reference group to appraise the applications received through the tender process and a representative of the OAA will be invited to join. Cassandra Koutouridis will represent the QVI

There is a link to the department’s Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) search engine for reference http://www9.health.gov.au/aria/ariainpt.cfm