Making events bigger and better
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About Australia Vision Convention
Optometrists Association of Australia’s Australia Vision Convention (AVC) is a leading optometric meeting that provides continual professional education to optometrists throughout Australia and New Zealand.
AVC is a three-day event that features one of Australia’s largest optometric exhibitions showcasing the latest products, equipment and services. It has been held at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for the past four years.
Rebrand
In 2011 Optometrists Association of Australia said farewell to its convention’s name ‘Queensland Vision’ and adopted the new AVC brand to appeal to a wider market. Early indications showed the rebrand would boost delegate numbers, which significantly increased in 2011 to 849 delegates (an increase of more than 240 delegates).
The spike in delegate numbers meant that the AVC required a larger event space. The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre catered for the increase in delegates via its dual-set classroom and theatre-style seating to provide more seating for lectures. The event consumed more than 6,800 square metres of meeting and exhibition space.
Be unique
While there are a number of optometric meetings held throughout Australia each year, few offer AVC’s broad spectrum of optometric-related issues and industry products. Each year AVC provides optometrists with an array of interesting presentations while also giving them the opportunity to talk with trade companies and socialise with others in the profession.
This year’s event included 22 presenters (practitioners and academics), 15 hours of clinical lectures, dual-stream sessions for delegates and trade exhibitors, ground-breaking research, and breakfast seminars offering compulsory professional development (CDP) points for practitioners, which were extremely popular.
Have a theme
AVC’s cocktail welcome reception held in the trade exhibition hall fell on the same night as the royal wedding. AVC capitalised on this by theming the reception as royal. A special appearance by ‘the Queen’ entertained delegates,
who celebrated with frozen mocktails, a multi-tiered cake and crowns and tiaras, which were supplied for everyone in attendance.
Provide incentives
This year AVC used an ‘exhibition hall passport’ as an incentive for delegates to visit more exhibitors. Delegates who had their ‘exhibition hall passport’ stamped by every exhibitor went into the draw to win attractive prizes.
Support a cause
The event raised funds for the Queensland Premier’s Flood and Cyclone Appeal by direct donation, silent and live auctions, and by asking more than 70 trade companies to donate one dollar for every ‘exhibition hall passport’ visitor to their site.
Exotic location
This year’s AVC gala dinner was held at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, which added to the excitement of the event. The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre co-ordinated 30 coaches to transfer delegates to Dreamworld and ensured a seamless transition between venues.
Communications Manager at Optometrists Association Australia Marika MacKenzie was pleased with the event.
“Using the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for the past few years for our annual convention, we have found the staff to be extremely reliable, professional and efficient. It is always a breeze organising our events at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.”
