ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing

Great pleasure to contribute to NZ Optics. https://nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/how-you-show-up-and-why-it-matters/

Check out all this quirky optical merch in the Optical Dispensers Australia shop👇

🔥 Take advantage of our end of financial year sale and cover yourself in head to toe optical merch.

🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/shop

No code needed - discounts have already been applied.

Sale includes all our quirky optical merch - the perfect way to treat yourself, or find a unique gift for your boss, colleagues, or employees. We ship Australia and New Zealand wide, so no one misses out. 🛍️

But hurry, stock is limited!

*Valid from now until midnight 30 June 2026 or until stock sells out. T&Cs & exclusions apply, see website for details.

ACOD is currently in the middle of holding final Workshops around Austrália, supporting a large number of students who are close to course complete and about to be added to our growing number of qualified optical dispensers. 😁👏👏🍾

And here is the latest workshop class photo from Melbourne, and a few of
these have indeed crossed that finish line. 😁👏👍🍾Congratulations you lot!!! 👏👏

Now is a great time to enrol and be ready for a second semester start. If interested, hop onto our website, have a surf around and when ready click on "Courses"! 😁👍

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE 🗓️

The biennial ODA Conference & Gala is coming back to Sydney in 2027 🙌

📌 Friday 30 April – Saturday 1 May 2027

Next year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever, featuring:
✨ Interactive, hands-on sessions
✨ Inspiring speakers and education
✨ Incredible networking opportunities
✨ An elegant ballroom Gala celebration

Register your expression of interest now and be the first to hear when tickets go on sale 👇

🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/event-details/save-the-date-2027-oda-conference

We can’t wait to bring the industry together again in 2027! 🍾

Every optical practice accumulates surplus stock and unwanted items over time, from discontinued frames and unused lenses to old accessories sitting in drawers or storage rooms. While some items may no longer be suitable for sale or dispensing in practice, many can still have a valuable second life.

📍 Discontinued and Old Stock such as unused frames and uncut single vision lenses, can be donated to the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation (SPEC Foundation). A registered Australian charity and endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR), the donations will be made into complete pairs of new glasses and dispensed during outreach projects in underprivileged communities within the South Pacific region. They can also accept brand new non-prescription sunglasses. Optometry practices can send donations using Harts Couriers / National Optical Distribution.
🔗 specfoundation.org.au

📍 End-of-Life Glasses, Broken Frames, Scratched Lenses, Used Specs with Progressive or Toric Lenses can be sent to dedicated optical industry recycling programs such as Opticycle or Spexcycle. Both have their own individual processes in place for the collection and shipping of donations.
🔗 opticycle.com.au 🔗 spexcycle.com.au

📍 Used Single Vision Sphere Powered Glasses can be donated to Lions Recycle for Sight. The glasses should be fitted with damage free, single vision lenses with no more than a 0.25 dioptre difference between the two eyes and mounted in an undamaged frame. They cannot use cases, broken or empty frames, multi-focals, progressives and cyl-powered lenses or non-prescription sunglasses. Contact your local Lions Club to organise a box and regular collection or post them in the mail.
🔗 lionsclubs.org.au/our-impact/recycle-for-sight-australia

📍 Other Accessories and Equipment such as fabric glasses pouches, lens cloths, nose pads, frame cords, lens spray, lens edger blocks, adhesive blocking pads etc can also be donated to the SPEC Foundation for use during their outreach work.
🔗 specfoundation.org.au

📍 Stock For Teaching Students can be sent to ACOD. Unique frame materials and uncut stock bifocal and progressive lenses, can be used during practical training workshops.
🔗 acod.edu.au

ACOD workshops going off all over the Aus and NZ!!! 😲😁👏👏

And good luck to the many students about to take on their final workshop and mid year assessments. 😁👍👏💪

And if you're thinking training up yourself or for a colleague, now is a great time to enrol and be ready for the first workshop in Second Semester! 😁👍✅

🔧✨ Our hugely popular hands-on Frame Repairs Workshop is BACK! ✨🔧

We’re hitting the road over the coming months with new workshop locations including:

📍 Christchurch, NZ: 17th June
📍 Launceston, TAS: 30th June
📍 Melbourne CBD, VIC: 15th August

Ever wanted to learn how to:

👓 Add pad arms and nose pads to plastic frames
👓 Replace sink joints in acetate frames using hot fingers
👓 Master practical frame repair techniques used in practice

Now’s your chance!

This immersive 2.5-hour workshop combines live demonstrations with hands-on practice, giving you the opportunity to build new skills or refine your existing repair expertise under the guidance of an experienced, qualified trainer.

Whether you’re new to repairs or looking to sharpen your technique, this workshop is not to be missed.

Spots are expected to fill quickly!

👉 Visit our events page to learn more and secure your place:
https://www.odamembers.com.au/events

✨ Support the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation (SPEC Foundation) while showing your patients that you genuinely care.

A simple addition to your practice can make a meaningful impact. Keep a SPEC Foundation donation box on your countertop and invite your patients to support those less fortunate. 💝

You might choose to request a small donation in place of minor repairs or adjustments, or simply offer the opportunity for those who wish to give. Every dollar goes directly towards supporting the SPEC Foundation’s mission.

Choose from four different header cards to suit your practice 🤩

Available to order now from the shop.

🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/product-page/spec-foundation-countertop-donation-box

🏝️ Congratulations ACOD teachers Rayleen and Nicole for being selected as speakers at this incredible event! What an exciting conference to be part of 👏

🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/fiji2026

🌴 Announcing a world-class speaker line-up in a world-class ‘tropical’ location! 🌴

The ISLAND VISION: ODA Fiji Conference speaker line-up and full program sessions are now live on our website, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s in store.

From respected industry leaders to practical, hands-on learning, this conference is shaping up to be something truly special. If you’re not coming… you’re definitely missing out!

A small number of tickets are still available, and everyone is welcome - optical dispensers, optical assistants, optometrists, and anyone who simply loves the optical industry 🤓

Come and see what all the hype is about
🔗 https://www.odamembers.com.au/fiji2026

☀️ Great education
🌺 Incredible networking
🏝️ A cultural experience you won’t forget

See you in Fiji! 😎