News
SEP 08 NEWS: Working as a Contractor
We have recently been asked several questions about working as a contractor. The general rule is this: if you work predominantly for one business (the Tax Office rule of thumb is 80% of your income), then you are an employee, not a contractor! Businesses typically ask their workers to work as contractors for one reason only - so that they (the business) can avoid having to meet the various obligations of having employees.
Sadly, the Tax Office does not regard this as a sufficient reason to call someone a "contractor." Please ensure that your work arrangements are within the bounds of employment and taxation law. Again, if you are unsure about your obligations, contact the NSW office. There are very heavy penalties for both employers and employees who engage in schemes which are not permitted.
SEP 08 NEWS: Andrew McKinnon - Change in Title
Andrew would like to report that he is no longer the Executive Director; he is now officially the Chief Executive Officer. Changes to the Corporations Act in recent years have meant that there is an obligation on companies to be clear about the roles that various officers play within the organisation. The term "director" implies that Andrew is an elected officer of the Association, which he is not. Thus, for the sake of clarity and legal compliance, his title will be CEO from now on.
AUG 08 NEWS: Guide Dogs NSW & ACT
A message from the President, Tony Hogan:
Following a period of extensive consultation and deliberation, the Board of Guide Dogs NSW & ACT has resolved to proceed with the establishment of an Ocular Imaging Centre based at the University of New South Wales. The Centre will be an enormous boost for the people of NSW & the ACT, providing access to absolutely state-of-the-art ocular imaging and diagnostic technologies which will enable optometrists, ophthalmologists and GPs to better manage their patients’ eye care needs.
The Centre will be a collaborative facility, bringing together all the eye care disciplines and, very importantly, its services will be made available without charge to anyone who is referred there. Guide Dogs will be making a much more detailed announcement in the near future, but on behalf of the profession I would like to congratulate them on this decision and commit optometry to working with the Guide Dogs organisation to help make this Centre an overwhelming success.
AUG 08 NEWS: Optometry's Rural Workforce
Over the years, members will have read various pieces from Council on one of the looming issues for the profession – our rural workforce. It is clear that the current strategies for getting our new and recent graduates to take up rural positions is not working and so we need to look at other ideas. One of the ideas that has been canvassed is the offering of undergraduate training through a regional university such as Charles Sturt. To see if this idea has any viability, Phil Anderton, Lara Foster and Andrew McKinnon will be heading out to Bathurst in a couple of weeks to meet with the Vice Chancellor of Charles Sturt to talk more about the idea. That’s all it is at this stage. We’ll keep you posted, but understand that, even if the idea seems viable, it will be a long, slow process to get this anywhere near reality.
JUL 08 NEWS: Children's Vision Screening Program
Members might recall that the Aussociation gave its support to the Premier's announcement of a vision screening program for pre-school children during the last election campaign.
Since that announcement, we have attempted to work with the government to make the program viable and valuable for those children who participate. I am saddened to say that, with the program now on the verge of commencement, we are still very unhappy with what is being proposed. By the time the next newsletter comes out we should have a final resolution, but it is not looking positive.
JUL 08 NEWS: Optometry at UNSW
Andrew recently had the opportunity to meet with Prof Fred Hilmer, the Vice Chancellor of UNSW, and is delighted to report that optometry is right at the forefront of corporate consciousness at UNSW, thanks largely to the proposed Guide Dogs' Ocular Imaging Centre.
On that topic, a very big "thank you" to the many members who responded so quickly to the request for letters of support for the Centre - we're hoping to see a final sign-off on the project in the near future.
After a very positive meeting, the Association has been asked to make a formal submission to the Board and will do so in the next few weeks, but things are looking very hopeful.
