Optical Dispensers Australia

01/09/2026

🌏 Following our recent outreach project in Fiji, where we dispensed an incredible 987 pairs of prescription spectacles to people in need, we’re now preparing for another project in Samoa.

And we need your help! 🙌

🔥 100 Pairs in 100 Days 🔥

We’re looking for at least 10 optical businesses to join us in making a difference.

We’ll supply you with:
👓 100 new spectacle frames
🔍 100 pairs of uncut, single-vision prescription lenses

All you need to do is edge and fit just ONE pair of glasses each day for 100 days ✨

It’s that simple.

If 10 businesses come on board, together we can prepare 1,000 pairs of prescription glasses to help people in need in Samoa. 💙

One pair a day. One hundred days. One thousand opportunities to change lives.

Can’t help with edging and fitting? You can still make a difference! Order a countertop donation box or table tent for your business and help us raise vital funds to support our outreach work.

💬 Interested in getting involved? Get in touch with us today!

You can learn more here:
🔗 https://www.specfoundation.org.au/post/100-pairs-in-100-days

01/09/2026

🎙️ WE’RE ON THE FOCUSED VIEW PODCAST!

Want to learn more about the work behind the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation (SPEC Foundation)? 🌏👁️

We recently sat down with Michael Nasser at the Focused View Podcast to share our story, our mission, and the work we’re doing to help improve access to eye care and vision services in disadvantaged communities across the South Pacific.

From our outreach programs to the incredible support of our volunteers and the optical industry, there’s plenty to discover! 💙

🎧 Have a listen and learn more about the SPEC Foundation and the difference we’re working together to make.
🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ykYECEwmOfV19lqCGZROn?si=xMlCl5sPQbmXEDm8H9wyRg&utm_source=copy-link

Thank you to the Focused View Podcast for giving us the opportunity to share our story! 🙏

Optical Dispensers Australia Chedy Kalach April Petrusma Allyson Freind The Focused View

25/08/2026

🔥 Our August Webinar Wednesday is tomorrow night! 👓

Would you agree that the relationship between your practice and the lens lab is one of the most important partnerships in optical dispensing?

✅ Labs act as an extension of your team, providing advice, troubleshooting, order processing and job updates.

This session, led by Sara Leonard of Hoya Lens Australia unpacks the most common red flags in lens ordering and walks through practical workflows to improve order accuracy and reduce remakes.

There’s still time register and it’s FREE for ODA Members or just $55 for Non-Members.
🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/event-details/webinar-wednesday-secrets-from-the-lab-tips-to-enhance-lens-ordering

21/08/2026

🔥 Attention New Zealand Members!
WE HAVE A FREE* CPD EVENT HAPPENING IN AUCKLAND NEXT TUESDAY 🙌

✨Approved for 3 x General DO CPD Credits

Ready to take your lens knowledge and practical dispensing skills to the next level?

Join ODA and ZEISS for an engaging, CPD accredited, 3-hour hands-on Lens Logic Masterclass in Auckland, designed specifically for Dispensing Opticians, Optical Assistants and Students.

You’ll get behind the scenes at ZEISS and dive into practical activities including:
🔍 Identifying lens materials
🖐️ Hand edging
🎨 Learning about ZEISS Sun Solutions
🔺 Fitting Fresnel Prism
🥼 ZEISS Lens Manufacturing
PLUS: Get practical insights you can take straight back to the practice, helping you confidently recognise, recommend and communicate lens solutions to your patients.

📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026
⏰ 3:30pm – 6:30pm NZST
📍 Carl ZEISS (NZ) Ltd., Avondale, Auckland
🇳🇿 3 x General DO CPD credits
🎟️ *FREE for ODA Members | $55 AUD for Non-Members

Presented by Chedy Kalach (ODA & ACOD) and Shingie Mukandi (ZEISS Technical Sales & Product Specialist, NZ).

Spaces are limited – pre-registration is essential!
👉 Register now: https://www.odamembers.com.au/event-details/auckland-lens-logic-cpd-masterclass

18/08/2026

What a fabulous weekend in Melbourne! ✨

Two big days at O-Show catching up with so many familiar faces, meeting new people and soaking up all the energy of our incredible optical industry.

And to top it off, we ran another Frame Repairs Workshop! 🔧👓 There’s nothing better than sharing practical skills, swapping stories and helping optical dispensers build confidence with repairs.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, stopped by, said hello and made the weekend so enjoyable. We love seeing our industry come together! 🫶

Until next time, Melbourne! 👋

ACOD odmaeyetalk

14/08/2026

🔥Something VERY exciting is coming to Sydney in September! 🕶️

ODA Members, this one is for the frame lovers, creatives and optical enthusiasts! 👓✨

In collaboration with LUNETTES ART LAB | OPTOMETRIST and proudly sponsored by Tokai Optical Australia we’re bringing you a very special opportunity to spend the day under the guidance of a French-certified Handcrafted Frame Maker and create your very own pair of artisan frames, complete with prescription or sun lenses.

🔨 ODA ARTISAN FRAME MAKING WORKSHOP
📍 Surry Hills, Sydney
📅 Saturday 26 September 2026
👓 Exclusive to ODA Members

This is a hands-on experience where you’ll get to learn the craft, work with your own hands and leave with something you’ve created yourself.

⚠️ Places are VERY limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique experience!

👉 Find out more and secure your place:
https://www.odamembers.com.au/event-details/artisan-frame-making-workshop

10/08/2026

🏝️The ODA Fiji Conference on 25-26 July was nothing short of incredible. The culture, the energy, the connection, the learning - every part of the weekend was something special.🇫🇯

For those who arrived early, we kicked things off with a full-day adventure along Fiji’s stunning Coral Coast. We explored the vibrant Sigatoka Markets, spent time with the beautiful kids during a local school visit, rode horses along the beach, enjoyed a little R&R with massages, and finished the day with an incredible traditional lovo lunch.

Then it was time for the conference! 👓

Day One began with a visit to a local optometry practice, giving us a wonderful opportunity to see eye care in Fiji and connect with our local colleagues. We then officially opened the conference with an inspiring presentation from Sara Leonard from HOYA, our amazing Major Conference Sponsor.

After a full day of learning, sharing and connecting, we continued the evening at Fiji Bible College with a delicious lovo dinner, a beautiful song performance and plenty of laughter and conversation.

And then, somehow, it was already Day Two!

The weekend seemed to fly by as we continued learning, sharing ideas and making memories with an incredible group of people from across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Fiji.

By the time the conference came to an end, there were definitely some feelings of sadness that it was all over. We celebrated together over drinks, reflected on an unforgettable weekend and tried not to think about the fact that it was finished.

If we had to sum up the ODA Fiji Conference in one word…

✨WOW!✨

We honestly wouldn’t change a thing. From the people and the culture to the learning, laughter, food and unforgettable experiences - we loved every single second. 🫶

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this conference so incredibly special - particularly our speakers. We arrived as colleagues and left with even stronger connections, new friendships and memories we’ll be talking about for years to come.

Vinaka vakalevu, Fiji. Until next time! ✈️

Hoya Lens Australia HOYA Vision Care

09/08/2026