Joanna Cao is the 2025 NZOSS president

Greetings from the New Zealand Optometry Student Society (NZOSS) executive team! More than just a university club, NZOSS stands as a community and professional platform connecting students with the wider optical industry. As we step into our 13th year, we’re excited to continue building on our mission: to empower optometry students through professional development, meaningful educational experiences and a strong sense of community.

The year begins with a lineup of social and sporting events, designed to bring students from all cohorts together. From the much-anticipated optometry camp and welcome BBQ to lively pub crawls, quiz nights and the annual Sports Day and Eyeball, the calendar is filled with chances for students to unwind and engage with one another. Adding to the excitement, the opening of Hiwa – the University of Auckland’s state-of-the-art recreation centre – promises fresh opportunities for even more dynamic sporting events. We also have brand new merchandise in store for members, made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, so keep an eye out!

NZOSS also organises numerous educational events to support students in their studies and career paths. Student engagement and interest in the profession continues to grow through our educational seminars, where guest speakers from the optometry sector share insights into the profession, bridging the gap between academic study, real-world practice and advancements in patient care. In particular, strengthening relationships with rural health programmes will be an important focus, offering students useful perspectives on the rewards and challenges of delivering eyecare in remote areas.

While the Bachelor of Optometry degree is a long one, five years can fly by in the blink of an eye. NZOSS is committed to ensuring students feel supported and have fun while studying for this challenging but rewarding degree. If you have any questions or ideas or would like to support NZOSS in our endeavours, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at nzoss.uoa@gmail.com

With a dedicated committee and an ambitious calendar of events, we’re excited and look forward to what 2025 will bring!

NZOSS 2025 committee

• President – Joanna Cao
• Vice president – Shubham Gupta
• Treasurer – Paris Shen
• Secretary – Joshua Lobo
• Part V social representative – Hana Shin
• Part IV social representative – Angeli De Silva
• Part III social representative – Petra Curd-McCullough
• Educational representative – Ved Mishra
• Public relations officer – Olivia Park
• Sports representative – Ryan Yu
• Media representative – Sarah Yang
• NZAO representative – Aaron George
• Grassroots representative – Mieke de Bruyn