1:30min
Optometry Australia is excited to announce applications for our 2025 Student Leadership Program are open.
The program is designed to give students the skills they need to become future leaders within the optometry profession. It will include a variety of coaching sessions focusing on different models of leadership, understanding the purpose of leadership and clarifying guiding values. It is designed to ensure optometry’s emerging leaders have the skills to navigate the anticipated opportunities and challenges of a changing optometry landscape.
Participants are also provided opportunities to network formally and informally with established leaders in optometry.
2025 applications are open
Optometry Australia will again partner with the Australian School of Entrepreneurship (ASE) to deliver the Optometrists Leadership Hub, an initiative aimed at empowering optometry students with essential soft skills and equipping them to become effective leaders in their field. The Optometrists Leadership Hub will be facilitated by Jahin Tanvir, a former optometry student, Student Leadership Program Alumni, CEO of the Australian School of Entrepreneurship and all-round superstar.
The program includes:
- Virtual access to on-demand content via ASE’s accessible Space platform, allowing participants to develop ‘soft skills’ at their own pace.
- Access to live webinars connecting participants with their peers and optometry sector leaders.
- An in-person event to be held at the OA Brisbane Interactive Conference, jointly facilitated by Optometry Australia and ASE, with the opportunity to connect to peers and local sector leaders.
2025 program dates
The program dates are as follows:
- Session one (online): Wednesday, 5 February 2025 (all times 7:30-8:30pm AEST)
- Session two (online): Wednesday, 12 February 2025
- Session three (online): Wednesday, 19 February 2025
- Session four (in-person event): Saturday, 22 February 2025 in Brisbane – aligned with OA’s Brisbane Interactive conference
- Session five (online): Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Please note attendance at 80% (4/5) of sessions is compulsory. Flights and accommodation to the in-person event in Brisbane will be covered by Optometry Australia.
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How to apply
Applications close 11:59pm (AEDT) on Sunday, 1 December 2024.
Applicants should write a brief (no more than one A4 page) response to the below questions:
- What do you think being a leader means?
- What leadership experience have you had?
- Why do you think you would benefit from participating in the Student Leadership Program?
Please save the above statement as a PDF document with the title of the document as your OA student membership number. In the document, state your university and year of study.
Include at least one referee contact, and note we do not need support letters. Email your application to student@optometry.org.au with ‘Application: 2025 Student Leadership Program’ in the subject line. Remember to quote your membership number in your email.
There are 15 places available. Applicants must be enrolled at an Australian or NZ university.
Australian students must be a member of Optometry Australia – membership is complimentary for Australian optometry students; sign up here.
New Zealand students must be a member of NZAO; sign up here.
100% of students who attended this program said they learnt new skills and would recommend it to their optometry peers. We look forward to receiving your application!
The 2025 Student Leadership Program is proudly sponsored by OA and Alcon.
