membenefits

Membership to the OAA Qld/NT Division
Practising Optometry in Australia

Advice to members
OAA provides advice to members on practice management and other professional matters. It ensures that optometrists understand and honour the Medicare undertaking. Queensland/Northern Territory Division provides free legal and industrial relations advice. Email info@optomsqld.com

Audio Visual Equipment
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the use of its audio visual equipment for presentations, workshops, seminars etc. Equipment: Laptop and Data Projector and "Spyder" display stand. For more information please email: info@optomsqld.com

Awards
OAA recognises the contribution which optometrists make to the advancement of the profession by making a number of awards including:

HB Colin Medal for research

The Hon Bill Hayden AC Queensland Optometrist of the Year Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory optometrist

J Lloyd Hewett Award for publications in Clinical and Experimental Optometry

Peter J Montgomery Award for Social Justice for a practitioner dedicated to social justice issues.

Professor Sydney BJ Skertchley Award - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a non-optometrist.

OAA Qld/NT Media Medal - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a media professional or media agency.

Hamlyn R Brier Clinical Optometry Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory clinical achiever.

Wenbourne Award for advancing optometry politically

Boards of optometry
OAA maintains close relationships with Boards of Optometric Registration in all states. In some states OAA nominates members to sit on the board.

Bookshop
OAA runs a mail-order bookshop which provides members with clinical and research optometry books at discounted prices.

Discounts
OAA has arranged for members discount programs such as rental cars and credit card facilities. More information? please email: info@optomsqld.com

Directory of optometrists
OAA periodically publishes or arranges for the publication of a directory of Australian optometrists.

Education and research
OAA ensures that the optometry schools' curricula is relevant and practical and that educational standards are maintained. It regularly liases with the schools, plans future training needs and sponsors the Heads of Schools Committee. OAA is the principal provider of compulsory continuing professional developmetn education. It holds regular international congresses and seminars across the country and maintains a list of relevant overseas congresses. OAA makes a valuable contribution to research bodies such as the Optometric Vision Research Foundation and the National Vision Research Institute.

Industry liaison
OAA works co-operatively with the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association and the Better Vision Institute.

Insurances
OAA has negotiated quality insurance cover with Guild Insurance at highly competitive rates which can be taken out by members. Available insurances include income protection, public liability, business, and domestic insurance. email info@optomsqld.com

International role
OAA maintains an active international optometry program and is a member of the World Council of Optometry and the Asian Pacific Council of Optometry.
OAA is in regular communication with many overseas optometric associations and participates in exchange visits with some associations. OAA has arranged and promoted aid trips by optometrists to economically underdeveloped countries.

Optometry House
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the free hire of facilities at Optometry House, located in Spring Hill, Brisbane. Facilities include: boardroom, workshop room (max. 40 seated). For more information or bookings please email: info@optomsqld.com

Planning for the profession
OAA conducts regular studies monitoring the work force to ensure the profession's continued viability. It has developed and implemented a Strategic Plan. OAA maintains a bank of statistics and a library of information which are used in the Association's promotion of optometry. They are available to members to use in the management of their practices.

Practice management
OAA provides booklets to assist its members in business management and offers employer/employee information. A subsidiary of OAA, ProVision, gives its members practice management and marketing support.

Presentation Assistance
OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with a range of powerpoint presentations, display materials and model eye. For more information please email: info@optomsqld.com

Private health funds
OAA maintains a relationship with private health funds to negotiate arrangements which affect optometrists and optometric patients.

Professional Indemnity Insurance
All members of the Association are automatically provided with indemnity insurance which covers them for claims of malpractice up to the value of $5 million to an aggregate of $5 million.

Publications
The association publishes and supplies its members with a range of regular publications including:

Clinical and Experimental Optometry . A peer-reviewed bi-monthly scientific journal.

Australian Optometry, a monthly newspaper.

AO Magazine , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper, incorporating four feature magazines: Ophthalmic Equipment, Ophthalmic Lenses, Contact Lenses and Spectacle Frames.

Practice , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper dealing with practice business management.

SEE , the newsletter of the Queensland/Northern Territory Division

The Association periodically publishes special booklets that assist members in the clinical management of their patients. Publications include Contact Lens Data Book and Ocular Side Effects of Drugs.

Public relations
OAA maintains an active public relations program aimed at promoting optometry to the general community. It incorporates media releases and press articles, an annual sunglasses campaign and occasional special campaigns, informative patient literature and brochures, and display stands. The History of Australian Optometry was published by OAA to celebrate Australia's bicentenary. OAA promotes optometry as a career choice.

OAA maintains ongoing relations with other professional organisations, particularly those in the health care field. Meetings are regularly held with medical, pharmacy and paramedical organisations. OAA has materials to assist optometrists in establishing relationships with local general medical practitioners and has close associations with sports medicine and low vision groups.

Representation
Optometrists Association Australia represents optometry in dealings with the government and political parties to enhance the profession's position in the delivery of primary eye care.

The Association negotiates on behalf of optometry with a variety of Commonwealth Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to ensure that optometry services are comprehensively provided to the community and that optometrists' fees are adequate remuneration for the services provided.

Standards
OAA is constantly developing and reviewing standards of practice, which are available to members, educators and legislators. In the interests of high quality practice, OAA has developed a code of ethics, entry level competencies for the profession and practice guidelines. OAA is a member of Standards Australia and is represented on several committees responsible for standards relating to optical appliances.

Wright Library
OAA maintains at National Office a library of information useful in researching the progress of optometry.

Full Membership Application		Student Membership Application
Reinstatement of Details Update		Membership Transfer Application
MEMBER BENEFITS Advice to the community OAA provides advice on optometry, vision and eye care to members of the public, including those with complaints government departments, private bodies and companies, health agencies other professions Advice to members OAA provides advice to members on practice management and other professional matters. It ensures that optometrists understand and honour the Medicare undertaking. Queensland/Northern Territory Division provides free legal and industrial relations advice. Email info@optomsqld.com Audio Visual Equipment OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the use of its audio visual equipment for presentations, workshops, seminars etc. Equipment: Laptop and Data Projector and "Spyder" display stand. For more information please email: info@optomsqld.com Awards OAA recognises the contribution which optometrists make to the advancement of the profession by making a number of awards including: HB Colin Medal for research The Hon Bill Hayden AC Queensland Optometrist of the Year Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory optometrist J Lloyd Hewett Award for publications in Clinical and Experimental Optometry Peter J Montgomery Award for Social Justice for a practitioner dedicated to social justice issues. Professor Sydney BJ Skertchley Award - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a non-optometrist. OAA Qld/NT Media Medal - recognizes outstanding contribution to optometry by a media professional or media agency. Hamlyn R Brier Clinical Optometry Award for an outstanding Queensland/Northern Territory clinical achiever. Wenbourne Award for advancing optometry politically Boards of optometry OAA maintains close relationships with Boards of Optometric Registration in all states. In some states OAA nominates members to sit on the board. Bookshop OAA runs a mail-order bookshop which provides members with clinical and research optometry books at discounted prices. Discounts OAA has arranged for members discount programs such as rental cars and credit card facilities. More information? please email: info@optomsqld.com Directory of optometrists OAA periodically publishes or arranges for the publication of a directory of Australian optometrists. Education and research OAA ensures that the optometry schools' curricula is relevant and practical and that educational standards are maintained. It regularly liases with the schools, plans future training needs and sponsors the Heads of Schools Committee. OAA is the principal provider of compulsory continuing professional developmetn education. It holds regular international congresses and seminars across the country and maintains a list of relevant overseas congresses. OAA makes a valuable contribution to research bodies such as the Optometric Vision Research Foundation and the National Vision Research Institute. Industry liaison OAA works co-operatively with the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association and the Better Vision Institute. Insurances OAA has negotiated quality insurance cover with Guild Insurance at highly competitive rates which can be taken out by members. Available insurances include income protection, public liability, business, and domestic insurance. email info@optomsqld.com International role OAA maintains an active international optometry program and is a member of the World Council of Optometry and the Asian Pacific Council of Optometry. OAA is in regular communication with many overseas optometric associations and participates in exchange visits with some associations. OAA has arranged and promoted aid trips by optometrists to economically underdeveloped countries. Legal Advice Receive up to 20 minutes free legal advice on any legal matter. For Qld/NT Division members only. For further information please email: info@optomsqld.com or call 07 3839 4411. Optometry House OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with the free hire of facilities at Optometry House, located in Spring Hill, Brisbane. Facilities include: boardroom, workshop room (max. 40 seated). For more information or bookings please email: info@optomsqld.com Planning for the profession OAA conducts regular studies monitoring the work force to ensure the profession's continued viability. It has developed and implemented a Strategic Plan. OAA maintains a bank of statistics and a library of information which are used in the Association's promotion of optometry. They are available to members to use in the management of their practices. Practice management OAA provides booklets to assist its members in business management and offers employer/employee information. A subsidiary of OAA, ProVision, gives its members practice management and marketing support. Presentation Assistance OAA Qld/NT Division provides its members with a range of powerpoint presentations, display materials and model eye. For more information please email: info@optomsqld.com Private health funds OAA maintains a relationship with private health funds to negotiate arrangements which affect optometrists and optometric patients. Professional Indemnity Insurance All members of the Association are automatically provided with indemnity insurance which covers them for claims of malpractice up to the value of $5 million to an aggregate of $5 million. Publications The association publishes and supplies its members with a range of regular publications including: Clinical and Experimental Optometry . A peer-reviewed bi-monthly scientific journal. Australian Optometry, a monthly newspaper. AO Magazine , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper, incorporating four feature magazines: Ophthalmic Equipment, Ophthalmic Lenses, Contact Lenses and Spectacle Frames. Practice , a quarterly supplement to the newspaper dealing with practice business management. SEE , the newsletter of the Queensland/Northern Territory Division The Association periodically publishes special booklets that assist members in the clinical management of their patients. Publications include Contact Lens Data Book and Ocular Side Effects of Drugs. Public relations OAA maintains an active public relations program aimed at promoting optometry to the general community. It incorporates media releases and press articles, an annual sunglasses campaign and occasional special campaigns, informative patient literature and brochures, and display stands. The History of Australian Optometry was published by OAA to celebrate Australia's bicentenary. OAA promotes optometry as a career choice. Relations with other professions and groups OAA maintains ongoing relations with other professional organisations, particularly those in the health care field. Meetings are regularly held with medical, pharmacy and paramedical organisations. OAA has materials to assist optometrists in establishing relationships with local general medical practitioners and has close associations with sports medicine and low vision groups. Representation Optometrists Association Australia represents optometry in dealings with the government and political parties to enhance the profession's position in the delivery of primary eye care. The Association negotiates on behalf of optometry with a variety of Commonwealth Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to ensure that optometry services are comprehensively provided to the community and that optometrists' fees are adequate remuneration for the services provided. Standards OAA is constantly developing and reviewing standards of practice, which are available to members, educators and legislators. In the interests of high quality practice, OAA has developed a code of ethics, entry level competencies for the profession and practice guidelines. OAA is a member of Standards Australia and is represented on several committees responsible for standards relating to optical appliances. Wright Library OAA maintains at National Office a library of information useful in researching the progress of optometry.