History of Australian Ophthalmic Nurses Association - NSW

In 1972, senior ophthalmic nursing staff at Sydney Eye Hospital attended nursing conferences overseas in London and Philadelphia. At that time there was no opportunity for nurses to attend nursing ophthalmic conferences in Australia.

Upon their return, full of enthusiasm, they set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of forming an ophthalmic nurses association in Australia, who would support and promote ophthalmic nursing practice and professional development.

Founding members included: Miss D Glasson, Ms Deb Debenhan, Ms Sue Ditcham, Mr Richard Leadon, Ms Una Chapman, Miss Jean Roberts, Miss Beryl Gray, Miss Jill Molan, Ms Barbra Roberts, Ms Cheryl Curtis.

In 1981 the Australian Ophthalmic Nurses Association launched the inaugural ophthalmic nurses seminar in Sydney.

Ms Jill Grasso- CNC Ophthalmology, presently at Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital, reports “ 60-70 nurses attended that day…it took place at Sydney Hospital Campus in the Kanamare Institute lecture theatre. The topics were direct towards ophthalmic nursing issues and currents trends at that time. All the nurses who took part were eager to become members of the Association we today call the AONA NSW. The first members only paid $5 to join this association.”

Since this time an annual conference has been offered in June each year by the association. The association has how become incorporated (Inc) which means the association runs as a non-profit association. The parton of the association is Prof Billson who has supported AONA-NSW since its conception.