
DISPENSER PROGRAM
Join us at AVC once again, for our Dispenser Program
Working closely with optometrists to provide solutions for eye care and eyewear needs, it is vital that dispensers remain up to date on current industry issues, research and optical procedures to provide high quality services to customers and our community.
This program provides practice staff with practical knowledge and skills to develop their career in optical dispensing.

Rodenstock are the official sponsors of our Dispenser Program, so you can look forward to seeing the following presentations at AVC 2019



Sunday, 14 April
10:30 - 10:45am
Introduction
Presented by Tim McCann
10:45 - 11:30am
Controlling Light: Transmission, Reflection and Absorption
Presented by Nicola Peaper
11:30am - 12:15pm
Vertex Distance, Every Millimetre Counts
Presented by Steven Daras
12:15 - 1:15pm
Lunch
1:15 - 2:00pm
Low Vision Aids: Blood, Diaphoresis and Lachrymation
Presented by John Billings
2:00 - 2:45pm
Safety First
Presented by Trent McInerney
2:45 - 3:45pm
Interpreting Prescriptions and Problem Solving
Presented by All Dispenser Speakers
3:45 pm
Official close of the Dispenser Program
DISPENSER SPEAKERS

John Billings
John Billings trained in UK and qualified as a Fellow of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians in 1989. He moved to New Zealand in 1993 and works as a Registered Dispensing Optician in private practice in Wellington, which, as well as normal practice, also specialises in LVA's. He has served on the ADONZ executive, the Heath Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and also served for 9 years as a Practitioner Member of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board. Since retiring from the Board 3 years ago he has served as co-opted member of their Continuing Professional Development accreditation committee.
He recently developed the Billings PD rule, in conjunction with Eyeline optical and Aviva and Mann Optical.
In his spare time he enjoys cooking, walking and photography and has been learning New Zealand Sign Language for the last 3 years.

Steven Daras
Steven Daras is currently the course coordinator for the Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing at TAFE Digital. As well as teaching he is a course resource writer and reviewer having written and/or reviewed most of the current optical resources all courses from 1995 until present, as well as recently co-authoring both world class text books Practical Optical Dispensing (3rd edn) and Practical Optical Workshop (2nd edn).
He has regularly delivered lectures at conferences for the Australian Dispensing Opticians Association (ADOA) and the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand (ADONZ).
He has extensive experience in all phases of the optical industry having worked for a large optical dispensing company, managed and run a low vision clinic as clinician, and was an assistant manager for a large national ophthalmic instruments company as well as having run a successful private optical dispensing practice.

Trent McInerney
Trent is Director of Adelaide based Rx Safety who specialise in Certified Prescription Safety Eyewear, first licenced by SAI Global to manufacture eyewear to AS/NZS1337.6 in 2005. Following his graduation from Adelaide University he gained experience of optics and lens manufacture whilst working for Sola Optical and management of the Technical group on projects including Permagard hardcoating and Spectralite.
Rx Safety has evolved into Rx Dive (prescription dive masks), Rx Glass (radiation safety glasses) and Rx Specialty (difficult to make high script lenses and lenses for surgical instruments).

Nicola Peaper
Nicola Peaper qualified as an optometrist in the UK in 1985 and practiced in private and corporate practice in the UK for 20 years. In 2001/2 she was employed as Ophthalmic Advisor to Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Health Authority.
Since moving to Australia in 2005 she has worked in fitting laboratories advising on procedures and quality. In roles as State and National training manager she has gained extensive experience in presenting the technology behind, and the prescribing and fitting of ophthalmic lenses.
Nicola Peaper is currently Professional Services Manager for Rodenstock Australia.