ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing

29/09/2026

🔥WEBINAR WEDNESDAY IS TOMORROW!

A safe optometry practice isn’t just about physical safety - it’s also about creating a workplace where people feel supported, valued and able to do their best work.

Join Paula Peachey for this practical one-hour webinar exploring workplace health & safety (WHS) and staff wellbeing in optical practice.

From busy dispensing floors and ergonomic workspaces to workload, communication, incident reporting and recognising the early signs of stress and burnout, Paula will share practical examples and strategies that can be applied in your practice every day.

💡 You’ll explore:
• Everyday WHS risks in optical practice
• Ergonomics and creating safe workspaces
• Incident reporting and communication
• Workload management and competing priorities
• Recognising stress and burnout
• How workplace culture and supportive leadership influence wellbeing
• The connection between staff wellbeing, retention and patient/customer service

With extensive experience across clinical practice, practice management, training and mentoring, Paula brings a practical perspective on supporting both people and practices.

🎓 1 ODA CPD Point / 1 NZ DO ETHICAL Point
🎟️ FREE for ODA Members
💰 $55 AUD for Non-Members (incl. GST)
⏰ Wed 30th Sept 7pm AEST

👉 Register now: https://www.odamembers.com.au/event-details/webinar-wednesday-whs-wellbeing-employer-employee-and-business-obligations

24/09/2026

🎟️ EARLY BIRD DEAL IS ON! 🎟️

Your weekend of learning, connection, inspiration and all things optical is officially calling. 👀✨

The 2027 ODA Conference & Gala is coming to the heart of Sydney - and our Early Bird pricing is now LIVE!

📅 30 April – 1 May 2027
📍 Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney

Join optical dispensers and industry professionals from across Australia and New Zealand for two big days of CPD, practical learning, industry connection, exhibitors, networking and plenty of ODA fun - plus the Gala on Friday night! 🥂

💥 Early Bird tickets won’t last forever, so if you already know you’re coming, now is the time to lock it in and save.

Bring your team. Bring your colleagues. Bring your enthusiasm. We’ll see you in Sydney! 💙

👉 Book your place now: https://www.odamembers.com.au/odaconference

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

20/08/2026

One of the absolute highlights and privileges for Chedy and James here at ACOD is the issuing of our course qualifications to recently completed students right around Austrália, New Zealand and sometimes even further. 😁👏🙏

This ACOD Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing changes lives! 😁👍

Optical assistants achieve their qualification, optometrists' scripts are handled with expertise and skill, our patients experience a higher level of service, and our industry standards are raised. 😁👍👏👏

Everyone wins! 😁🕺

And we are seeing record numbers of students heading for course completion this year, as the older course version winds up this year, and massive interest in the new course version, which has just been opened for registration. 😁👏

What a privilege for Chedy, myself, and all of us at Team ACOD as we work towards lifting the training and skill level throughout our lovely industry! 😁👏🕺🙏👍

27/07/2026

24/07/2026

This is Mark Visser, guest speaker at the ProVision Conference this weekend and the world record holder for surfing the largest wave (70 ft) ... at night!!! 😬

His inspiring message reminded us that achieving goals required planning and mental resilience. 👍

Which is just like our ACOD students, who through their planning, fortitude, stamina and mental resilience achieve their professional goals and industry qualification! 😁👏👏🍾🕺

12/07/2026

Optical Dispensers Australia’s intro level training program for the industry has gained strong traction across multiple sectors of the optical industry since launching in 2025.

29/06/2026

If you’re looking for a charity to donate to this EOFY, the SPEC Foundation was founded by and run by Optical Dispensers! They are off to Fiji again on another outreach in just a few weeks, so every dollar helps 🫶
🔗 https://www.specfoundation.org.au/donate

⏰ Last Chance to Double Your Impact! ⏰

There’s still time to make twice the difference.

Throughout June, Optical Dispensers Australia has been matching every donation to the SPEC Foundation dollar for dollar, helping your generosity go even further. But this incredible opportunity ends on Tuesday night.

Your donation will help provide life-changing eye care, prescription glasses, and vision support to communities that need it most.

Don’t miss your chance to have your gift doubled and create an even greater impact 👓

🔗 https://www.specfoundation.org.au/donate

Donate before the end of Tuesday and help us change more lives through the gift of sight 💝