We might be past the halfway point of 2023, but there are no signs of slowing down at Vision Hospital Group!
Australian Ophthalmic Nurses’ Association (AONA) Conference
Ophthalmic nurses play a critical role in Vision Hospital Group’s national network of day surgeries, all of which cater to ophthalmic surgery. So, unsurprisingly, we had some strong ties to this year’s AONA Conference in Melbourne on 18 June.
Not only were we a proud sponsor, but our very own Gaby Kalofonos (Director of Nursing, Forest Road Day Surgery) helped organise the event in her role as AONA Liaison Officer.
Meanwhile, her counterpart from Panch Day Surgery Centre, Kila Lua, featured in a stellar line-up of invited speakers from Australia and New Zealand. Ms Lua’s presentation looked at the value of healthcare assistants in an ophthalmic nursing setting, drawing upon a real-life pilot trial at Panch in conjunction with All Health Training.
To top it off, many of the AONA-member audience were VHG nurses!
‘Attending the AONA conference was amazing – there was a lot of insightful content about the latest updates in eye care. We heard about new treatments, research, and emerging technologies aimed at improving patient outcomes. At the same time, attendees had the opportunity to network with other like-minded professionals and explore potential collaborations. I encourage any nurse who is involved in ophthalmic surgery to attend the AONA conference and get a different perspective through the eyes of others.’
– Kila Lua, Director of Nursing, Panch Day Surgery Centre (Melbourne)
‘Wow, what a fantastic conference! The committee was incredibly excited to see everyone face to face again, including our VHG nurses. The presentations were very interesting and included details of the advanced ophthalmic nursing practice that our counterparts in New Zealand are involved in. Definitely something for nurses in Australia to learn from and think about and just one of the reasons it is always wonderful to network with peers. I can’t wait for the conference next year in South Australia!
– Gaby Kalofonos, Director of Nursing, Forest Road Day Surgery (Sydney)
‘As an AONA member, the opportunity to attend the first national conference since Covid was exciting! Three of our WGDS nurses flew to Melbourne for the conference, where we were warmly welcomed by our colleagues – both new and old. After a busy day of mingling and great presentations, it was clear that the future of ophthalmic nursing is looking very bright. We look forward to participating in future AONA events.’
– Anne Sciacca, Acting Director of Nursing, Windsor Gardens Day Surgery (Adelaide)
