O-SHOW26 is set to take over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) on Sunday 16 and Monday 17 August 2026 , bringing together the optical industry for two powerful days of business, fashion, innovation and connection. Registration is now open and the trade fair is free to attend. Visit www.o-show.com.au to register and view the growing list of exhibiting companies. Business. Leadership. Fashion. The event kicks off Sunday morning with the Myopia Mastery Work

It gives us great pleasure to announce the launch of the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation (SPEC Foundation). The SPEC Foundation is a registered charitable organisation dedicated to advancing eye health and reducing preventable vision impairment, within disadvantaged communities of Australia and across developing regions of the South Pacific.

The 2026 ODA National Excellence Awards were presented across two stylish events as part of the 2026 ODA Gala celebrations, held in Melbourne and Fremantle on 14 and 20 March respectively. Both evenings were vibrant and stylish, embracing this year’s theme, “GET FRAMED,” with guests showcasing their most extravagant and creative eyewear. The ODA Gala is all about bringing people together to celebrate the optical dispensing profession and the individuals who make it so specia

Optical dispensing is a profession with far more breadth and opportunity than many realise - including optical dispensers themselves. While the role is often framed as a support position within an optometry practice, the truth is that qualified dispensers can build full, rewarding careers that extend well beyond the dispensing desk. One of the most significant, yet frequently overlooked pathways is practice ownership. Dispensers already hold deep product knowledge, strong pat

Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) is proud to announce the launch of a new membership benefit — a Member Assistance Program (MAP), highlighting ODA’s commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and resilience of its members. The new program provides confidential, professional support services designed to help members navigate personal and work-related challenges. Through the MAP, ODA Members that possess a current full membership, will have access to 24/7 counselling, me

Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) are proud sponsors of this event – created for women across the optical world – from dispensers and practice owners to reps, designers, and leaders.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Reflection By Virgilia Readett (ODA Member) I was fortunate enough to attend ODA’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) hosted course at Macquarie University, which was facilitated by Penny Dillon on 2nd – 3rd October. In the lead up, I braced myself for what I though would be a good, but heavy couple of days. These expectations were shattered. Rather than good, it was empowering, rather than heavy it was confronting to say the least. Across

Ready to transition from employee to owner? Zoom Optics offers experienced optical dispensers a pathway to business ownership with a...

In April 2025, Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) conducted an anonymous national wage survey to gather data on the current wages,...