Kia ora from the 2026 New Zealand Optometry Student Society (NZOSS) executive team! NZOSS is a University of Auckland-based club helping optometry students to connect, learn and grow both personally and professionally. It enables engagement with professionals across the optical industry, providing students insight into the range of career possibilities. It's a space for many to seek support, find helpful resources and know that they're not alone in this five-year degree!
The 2025 team found various ways to expand the scope and reach of NZOSS events, including an end-of-year sports day with students across all years participating, plus an educational seminar featuring case studies and providing valuable revision notes for those who needed them. Building on this momentum, we're eager to continue growing NZOSS' outreach and impact, with the new team excited for what's to come and already bringing in some great ideas.
The beginning of the year will feature social events allowing students to connect and build friendships. These include our annual camp, welcome barbecue, pub crawl and sports day. Throughout the year, students can look forward to favourites including pub quizzes, paint-and-sip nights, interfaculty collaborations, including the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) mixer, plus the eagerly-anticipated EyeBall.
We also host educational events to expand students' knowledge and support their professional development. Our seminars feature contributions from our general sponsors, allowing students to learn more about the industry, potential career paths and new developments within the field. These also provide insight into what life can look like after graduation and motivation for the journey ahead. We also run revision seminars for Part II and III students, offering guidance on practical skills and practice led by students who can help.
The Bachelor of Optometry degree can be an arduous but rewarding journey and NZOSS aims to make this path more supportive and enriching for students. As we continue to grow our community, we hope to involve a diverse range of individuals and support our future colleagues as we navigate this road together.
