Student Membership

The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) invites all students of specialist optometry courses (Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral) to join as student members. These courses are offered at: University of Melbourne, University of NSW, Queensland University, Flinders University and the University of Auckland.Student membership is free of charge. It allows students to enjoy and experience some of the benefits of membership during their University studies.

What is the Australian College of Optometry?

Founded in 1939, the Australian College of Optometry (ACO) is a learned professional institution that holds a unique place as the only college of optometry in Australia. The Vision of the ACO is to be a world-leading institution in the science, education and practice of optometry.

The ACO actively promotes research through its research division, the National Vision Institute of Australia (NVRI).

Benefits

Student membership entitles students to:

  • Free ACO membership as a first year graduate
  • Electronic inFocus newsletters
  • Regular Members Updates via email
  • Purchase lens flippers and Wratten filters at student member prices
  • Attend six ACO Seminars each year, free of charge
  • Receive the Seminar Series’ lectures on DVD (subject to speaker consent) for an administrative fee of $65 per year
  • Attend relevant ACO continuing education and professional development events – at discounted rates where registration fees apply
  • Services and resources from the Nathan Library – use of all facilities, including borrowing books and audiovisual material, assistance with locating and obtaining reference materials from other libraries and sourcing subscriptions to international professional journals; two free journal articles per year (if held at the Library)
  • Access a copy of the Annual Report
  • Book rooms and other facilities of the ACO for student meetings and agreed other purposes
  • Receive notification of employment opportunities
  • Note: Student membership does not carry voting rights

 

To join the ACO as a student member, please apply online.