Blog Post; February 2023

Paid OMAA administrative role

OMAA is looking for someone to help with administrative duties. This is a paid position of up to 10 hours a month, for a negotiated period of time. OMAA is looking for someone who:

  • Has good administration and organisational skills;
  • Understands G Suite / Google Drive;
  • Is Australia-based;
  • Understands the importance of policies, procedures and processes; and
  • Understands social media and website management as this might be a role performed in future.

It is preferred that the individual understands O&M, but this is not necessary. If you are interested or know someone who fits the criteria, please contact standards@omaaustralasia.com

 

Supervisors required for University of NSW O&M Students

The Graduate Diploma of O&M program at UNSW needs additional supervisors to guide students through their practical placement.  From June 2023 UNSW are seeking supervisors across Australia.  Regardless of whether you have supervised many O&M students before or never supervised a student, this experience can be an excellent development opportunity as well as being a great way to support our profession.  COMS O&M’s can also gain ACVREP CEU points.  O&M’s who work for an organisation (with organisational support) and those who work as independent O&M’s can supervise students.  If you are interested, please contact Matthew at matthew.g.walker@unsw.edu.au

 

Upcoming Conferences 

  • 2023 International Guide Dog Federation Conference, 27-30 April 2023 , Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver, Canada. Registrations are now open to IGDF organisations for the IGDF Conference. Please visit IGDF 2023 Conference Registration for further information and to book.
  • 18th International Mobility Conference (IMC18), 22-26 May 2023, Warsaw, Poland. This is a brilliant opportunity to get a global perspective on O&M. For more information, please visit https://imc18poland.com/. You can also contact the Professional Development Committee (PDC) on pdc@omaaustralasia.com or Lil Deverell (info@lildeverell.net or 0418 370 312).

 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

 

Job Vacancies

Have you looked at the Job Vacancies page on the OMAA website recently? You’ll find position vacancies listed for various agencies and locations across Australasia so remember to check it out.

 

Technology

  • In disappointing news for O&M Specialists and Soundscape users, Microsoft has announced that it is discontinuing its Soundscape app for the iPhone. The app will continue to work until 30 June 2023. The good news is that Microsoft is making the technology available for other app developers at no cost so hopefully we will see other accessible GPS navigation apps add spatial sound in the near future. Read the full Microsoft announcement here.
  • Seeing AI app updates: Among the changes in Version 5.0 is the inclusion of an Indoor Navigation feature, available on iOS 14 and later, enabling users to create routes through a building, and later follow that route, guided by spatial audio cues. Users can share the route with others, so they can navigate the route later on, using their own device. This is early technology and Microsoft is interested in your feedback to improve the indoor navigation feature. Read more here.
  • Vision-enhancement specialist eSight is launching a new assistive technology innovation that is designed to heighten visual clarity.

 

Research

  • Australians are among an international team of scientists who have discovered a new gene mutation that may be a root cause of severe cases of childhood glaucoma.

 

Other News

  • The annual Barry Jones Vision oration is an event to recognise an outstanding Australian who has worked to either eliminate preventable blindness and vision loss or to ensure the full participation in society of people who are blind or have low vision. This year the oration will be delivered by ABC Disability Affairs reporter and mentor Nas Campanella, who lost her sight when she was 6 months old. In 2022, Nas became a mother and this experience has empowered her to share her journey of preparing for motherhood. The oration will be held virtually at 2pm on 22 March 2023. Following the oration will be a Q&A session with Nas. Click here to register for the oration.
  • A tactile route has been inaugurated at the Acropolis in Athens, as part of an action to make the monument accessible to visitors with low vision or blindness.  Read about this innovation here.

 

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