Discover the tools to best advocate for optometry in our Advocacy Upskilling Workshops

Optometry Australia will run Advocacy Upskilling Workshops in February and March for members in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Participants in the program will develop their advocacy toolkit and learn how to identify opportunities to promote optometry and establish relationships with key decision makers.

CEO of Optometry Australia, Skye Cappuccio, said it is imperative that major decision makers recognise the important contribution of optometry, optometrists and community eye health in Australia.

‘As important members of the community, optometrists wield the power to move the profession forward through advocacy. But it’s not always clear how to get involved, who to talk to or how to best advocate for your profession. This workshop series is a fantastic opportunity for members in our southern divisions to learn how to build strong relationships with local political representatives, both at a state and federal level, and create collaborative partnerships with decision makers in other positions of influence,’ Ms Cappuccio said.

The workshops will be facilitated by David Quilty, Managing Director at National Advisory Pty Ltd. Mr Quilty is a successful strategist, adviser and corporate affairs executive who has served with distinction at the highest levels of government, business, and national industry associations for 25 years. He has worked with Optometry Australia’s Optometry Advancement team over recent years and is well versed in the optometric political landscape.

Twenty participants will work with Mr Quilty over three online sessions. They will cover Australia’s system of government and decision making, how to engage with your local MPs and other decision makers, and how to develop your key messages to best advocate for change.

The program will be free of charge for the selected candidates.

Workshop dates

• Workshop 1: Tuesday 27 February, 7.30 to 9.00pm AEDT
• Workshop 2: Tuesday 12 March 2024, 7.30 to 8.30pm AEDT
• Workshop 3: Tuesday 26 March 2024, 7.30 to 8.30pm AEDT

How to Apply

Express your interest via email to Sarah Davies, Director of Optometry Advancement at policy@optometry.org.au. Applications close Sunday 18 February.

Your email should include your member number and briefly outline (no more than 250 words) your interest in participating in the workshop and what you hope to achieve afterwards.

Advocacy in Action

Many Optometry Australia members are already engaged in meaningful conversations with decision-makers. We have profiled some of these meetings; Victorian optometrist Mina You met with her federal MP Michael Sukkar; Optometry Australia Board member Theo Charalambous met with his local Federal MP Dr Katie Allen; and a group of Optometry Australia national Board members met with their MPs to put eye health on the political agenda ahead of the 2022 federal election.