FAQs

GENERAL

Will the Australian Vision Congress (AVC) be held in 2025? OR Is AVC still running? 

  • No. AVC has a long history as a quality conference, but the operational integration of the QLD/NT, VIC/SA and TAS State divisions offers a fantastic opportunity to deliver maximum value, choice, diversity and flexibility for our members. The new conference plan for 2025 can be found here. The interactive conferences offer ten hours of CPD under an overarching theme, including all your interactive and therapeutic interactive CPD hours for the year and a boutique trade presence. If you prefer to attend a larger conference with a trade hall and multiple streams over two days, in 2025 Optometry QLD/NT, Optometry VIC/SA and Optometry TAS are co-hosting our major not-to-be-missed conference, the Optometry Clinical Conference (OCC). OCC has the theme of Today. Tomorrow. Together in 2025 and will be hosted in a different location each year. 

Why are the interactive conferences in-person only? 

  • Answer: The Optometry Board of Australia (OBA)  defines interactive CPD as learning that involves a two-way flow of information and occurs with other practitioners. Our goal with the interactive series is to provide the opportunity for fun and engaging interactive discussion with peers and high-quality expert speakers. It is not possible to provide the same experience in a hybrid format and the technical requirements of running a hybrid event can be detrimental to the experience of in-person attendees. We want to focus on providing the best possible experience for those attending the conference. For those unable to attend in-person, there are many local or online opportunities to participate in interactive discussion, including our national online interactive discussion workshops. Alternatively, you can organise your own interactive discussions; we have provided a series of handy interactive discussion guides for this purpose, including details on how to upload the discussion as your own activity in your CPD portfolio.

What are the dates and location of the conference?

  • Answer: The conference will be held from Sunday 13 - Monday 14 April 2025 at Sofitel Broadbeach, 81 Surf Parade, Broadbeach, Queensland. Please check the website for any updates or changes.

How can I register for the conference?

  • Answer: You can register for the conference through the ‘Register’ page on our website. Early bird registration ends on 28 February 2025, so be sure to sign up early for discounted rates.

What is included in my registration?

  • Answer: Registration includes access to all sessions, including workshops, sponsored sessions and meals. Any special events may require separate registration or fees.

Is there a virtual option to attend the conference?

  • Answer: No, Gold Coast Interactive is a face-to-face in person conference only.

What is the dress code for the conference?

  • Answer: The dress code is business casual. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing for networking sessions and workshops.

How can I book accommodations for the conference?

  • Answer: We have partnered with Sofitel Broadbeach. You can book your stay directly through our website, which includes discounted rates for conference attendees.

Will meals be provided during the conference?

  • Answer: Yes, meals (including breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks) will be provided for registered attendees. Special dietary needs can be requested during registration.

How do I get to the venue?

  • Answer: Directions and parking information are available on our website.

Can I access session materials after the event?

  • Answer: Yes, all registered participants will have access to session materials during and after the event. Information to all delegates on how to access these will be provided closer to the date.

What is the cancellation policy?

  • Answer: Cancellations made 7 days before the conference date will receive a full refund. Please refer to the registration terms for full details.

CPD HOURS

How can I obtain the maximum amount of CPD Hours available at Gold Coast Interactive?

  • Answer: Attendees who attend all the sessions in including keynote plenary sessions, breakfast, dinner and workshops across the 1.5 days will obtain up to 10 CPD hours.

Will Brisbane Interactive include ‘interactive’ hours? 

  • Answer: Gold Coast Interactive is an inperson event and, at present, there are 2 Therapeutic interactive hours and 5 “interactive” hours planned across the 1.5 days.

 I can't make it to OCC, how can I obtain the rest of my CPD hours?  

  • Answer: There are so many opportunities to gain additional CPD hours after attending one of the Interactive Conferences. The Optometry Australia Institute of Excellence features a wealth of independent online learning free for OA members. The national online conference Optometry Virtually Connected (OVC) is also free for members and has been split over two days (Saturday 17th May and Sunday 18th November 2025). OVC offers up to 40 hours of CPD with the recordings available on the Optometry Australia Institute of Excellence straight after the event. And new CPD activities are constantly being added to the Optometry Australia CPD and events listing.    

Will my attendance be automatically uploaded into my Institute of Excellence CPD Portfolio (Learning Plan)?

  • Optometry Australia members: Optometry Australia will automatically upload the presentations that you attended into your Learning Plan, provided you Self-Check in to each session via EliteCPD on the day. Details for EliteCPD are highlighted under the POST ASSESSMENT AND SELF CHECK-IN heading below.

    All other delegates: You will be provided a copy of your attendance certificate as proof of participating in the CPD program, provided you Self-Check in to each session via Elite CPD on the day.

MY CPD PORTFOLIO

How do I complete my CPD Portfolio?

Answer: Prior to undertaking CPD activities, you should identify and plan your own learning goals and the type of CPD activities to undertake in order to meet these goals. To set up your CPD Portfolio:

  1. Go to www.optometry.org.au

  2. Login to the Member Portal using your member number and password

  3. Click on My CPD Portfolio. Here you can add and edit your learning goals, select topics, view available and upcoming CPD activities, add reflections and your own CPD activities. You can also view the status of your CPD for this and previous years, and download reports. Click here to launch a short video tour of all the features of My CPD Portfolio, or visit CPD Help for more information.

  4. Having trouble with your CPD portfolio? Contact us at national@optometry.org.au or on 03 96688500.

When can I complete my reflections? 

Answer: Members can login and enter their reflections as they complete each session/module on the day of Gold Coast Interactive.

  1. Scan the QR code which will be provided in session on the day or click on this link. The QR code/link can be used for each session.

  2. Select the session from the dropdown menu and enter the reflection. 

  3. Click save. The reflection will be added to the activity in the members CPD portfolio. If the CPD activity does not exist in the member's CPD portfolio, it automatically adds the CPD activity and the reflection, however the activity is not verified, until the provider verifies the attendance.

POST ASSESSMENT AND SELF CHECK-IN

How do I access the post assessment multiple choice questions for additional CPD hours?

Answer: There are no post assessment multiple choice questions to complete for the Interactive Series. However you will be required to self check-in to each session to ensure your CPD is uploaded to your CPD Portfolio.

To access Elite CPD you will need to:

  • Click this link or copy in another browser: https://qldntcpd.optometry.org.au/login/

  • Log in with your member number eg MXXXXXX 

  • Password is your member password 

  • For non-members, you will need to use your unique Delegate Id which has been sent to you via a separate email.  No password is required.