Welcome | Heading to the Top End | Accommodation | Registration | Program Overview | Final Program | Gala Dinner | Invited Speakers | Advanced Trainee Program | Call for Abstracts | Film Festival | Our Valued Sponsors

AUSCRS at the Top End was a great opportunity to disconnect from the daily grind and get away from the distractions of daily life.

As always, it was an opportunity to reconnect with friends, colleagues and international experts on the key challenges and new innovations in cataract and refractive surgery. At the same time we lost ourselves in the splendour and grandeur of the Outback.

AUSCRS 2025 was a huge success - more about the ‘wrap up’ shortly.

Jacqui and Gerard

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ARRIVING EARLY, OR STAYING ON AFTER AUSCRS, DARWIN HAS AN AMAZING LINE UP OF THINGS TO SEE AND DO….

Click here to take a look at what Darwin has to offer with destinations and tours….

DARWIN CONFERENCE CENTRE

Located on the spectacular Darwin Harbour, the world class Darwin Convention Centre is an iconic landmark in the tropical harbour city of the Northern Territory and will be the home of AUSCRS 2025.

Darwin is the gateway to the Australian Outback and is home to some of the country’s best tourism experiences and with winter temperatures in the mid 30’s, it is the perfect escape from the colder areas of Australia.

The Darwin Convention Centre is the spectacular centrepiece of the picturesque Darwin Waterfront Precinct which offers high quality accommodation, upmarket shops and eateries, stylish boutiques along with sheltered sandy beach, wave lagoon pool, pleasant walkways and lush parklands.

Unlike other capital city convention centres, Darwin’s centre is ‘boutique’ in size and AUSCRS will take over the entire centre!


GETTING THERE

Darwin Airport is the Northern Territory's major airport, offering domestic flights to all Australian capital cities except Hobart and Canberra.

Darwin International Airport is also a major gateway to Australia for international flights, offering easy access to and from Europe, America and Asia.

There are a number of direct flights from capital cities but these flights will sell out quickly so make sure you book your flights as soon as possible.

 

July is peak time in Darwin and accommodation is becoming increasingly limited.

AUSCRS has worked with a number of venues to house all of our AUSCRS ‘family’ and there will be shuttle buses running to and from the three Hiltons for our AUSCRS delegates each day of the conference.

As we are now 4 weeks out from AUSCRS in Darwin, all unsold rooms in our discounted block bookings have been handed back to venues and accommodation bookings are no longer available through the AUSCRS Registration system.

Here is link to look at options and availabilty to book your own accommodation if you haven’t already secured it.

AUSCRS 2025 Accommodation details for delegates who have already secured their bookings through AUSCRS.

 

Adina Apartment Hotel - 4 Star

2 mins walk to Convention Centre

Set in the midst of luxury waterfront residences, Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin is surrounded by seafront promenades, boutiques and restaurants. The apartments offer modern décor and most feature views over the beach or the park.

Studio Apartments

One Bed Apartments


Hilton Darwin - 4 Star

3 kilometres to Convention Centre

Situated in downtown Darwin, overlooking the harbour. Bicentennial Park, Darwin Convention Centre, and the beach at Darwin Waterfront Precinct are within three kilometers. There is an outdoor pool on a high floor and a fitness centre. Enjoy their signature restaurant and drinks at the bar and lounge.


Hilton Double Tree - 4 Star

2.2 kilometres to Convention Centre

Situtated on Darwin Esplanade, within walking distance of the city center attractions like Crocosaurus Cove and Deckchair Cinema. Mindil Beach and Darwin International Airport are within a 15-minute drive. Dine al fresco on the sun terrace or take in the stunning harbour views.


Hilton Garden Inn - 4 Star

2.2 kilometres to Convention Centre

Overlooking the famous Darwin Esplanade, walking distance to the Darwin Convention Center. Enjoy ocean views and the outdoor pool.


Mindil Beach Casino Resort - 5 Star

3.9 kilometres from Convention Centre

Awarded "Best Superior Accommodation" at the 2023 Australian National Awards for Excellence, Mindil Beach Resort offers an unrivalled experience of luxury and relaxation in the Top End. Discover paradise at Mindil Beach Casino Resort’s 5-star Resort!


Final Program Released…

We are delighted to announce the release of our 2025 Final Program. And we are excited!

Click here to view our Final Program

WEDNESDAY

1200-1730

Advanced Trainee Program

1800-21.30

Welcome Reception & Official Opening of AUSCRS 2025

FRIDAY

0645 - 0815

Bausch & Lomb Platinum Sponsors’ Breakfast Symposia

0830-1730

Doctors’ Program
Support Staff Program

1730-1830

Rayner Networking Drinks

Free evening

Presidents’ Dinner

SATURDAY

0645 - 0815

Johnson & Johnson Platinum Sponsors’ Breakfast Symposia

0830-1630

Doctors’ Program
Support Staff Program

1900-LATE

Gala Dinner

Gala Dinner 2025

In the usual AUSCRS style, our 2025 Gala Dinner will again be one to remember….

Theme:

Disconnecting from our present and Re-connecting with our past in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with tributes to:

  • Abba - 70’s and early 80’s 

  • Beatles – 60s and 70’s

  • Grease  - 70’s

  • Queen -  70’s – 80’s

  • Nirvana - 90’s

Tickets are $195.00 per person and includes fabulous food, fabulous wine and fabulous fun.

Bookings can be done during the registration process.

What to wear?

Think about what was worn in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s…

Here’s some ideas to get your creative juices flowing……

MICHAEL KNORZ

Barrett/Wolfe Lecture Presenter for 2025

We are delighted to announce that Professor Michael Knorz is presenting our 2025 Barrett/Wolfe Lecture.

Prof. Knorz is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in the field of refractive surgery and cataract surgery and we are delighted he has accepted our invitation to present this prestigious session in Darwin.

View bio >

BASAK BOSTANCI

Istanbul

View bio >

ALICE EPITROPOULOS

USA

View bio >

SRI GANESH

India

View bio >

DAVID LOCKINGTON

UK

View bio >

CATHY MC CABE

USA

View bio >

JOD MEHTA

Singapore

View bio >

LISA NIJM

USA

View bio >

RAVI PATEL

USA

View bio >

MATTHEW RAUEN

USA

View Bio >

SATHISH SRINIVASAN

Scotland

View bio >

ROGER ZALDIVAR

Argentina

View bio >

 
 

Welcome to the real world of life after training. When you step onto the escalator of ophthalmology training, you have a clear pathway of tasks, with an end goal of becoming a consultant ophthalmologist. Stepping off that escalator into the real world can be daunting.

The 2025 AUSCRS Advanced Trainee Day was aimed at raising awareness for some of the hurdles trainees may encounter as they leave the safety of their training nest.

Starting your career can mean being pulled in different directions so it’s important to consider how best to prioritise your time, and consider private versus public work commitments while still achieving your goals. Attendees heard from UKISCRS President, David Lockington, about living the good life and burning bright but not burning out.

You can play the perfect game, and still lose. It is the same with ophthalmology where no matter how good you are in practice, you can still come up against medicolegal concerns. We provided our trainees with both legal and ophthalmic insights into how they can best protect themselves from medicolegal trouble at the start of their career. They heard from Dr. Andrew Apel from The Eye Health Centre, Brisbane and Alison Rowe from MIGA.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an AUSCRS advanced trainee day without plenty of opportunities to network, mingle, socialize, meet our sponsors as well as international guest speakers and participate in some amazing wet lab opportunities provided by Alcon.

 

Thank you to our confirmed sponsors for our 2025 Advanced Trainee Program.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Wednesday, 16th July, 2025
1200 – 1700.

Darwin Convention Centre

CO-ORDINATOR:

Dr Ben LaHood, FRANZCO

WHAT WAS INCLUDED?

  • 5 nights’ accommodation in hotel room in Darwin - Tues, Wed, Thurs, Frid, Sat nights.

  • Registration to the Advanced Trainee Program (Wednesday afternoon)

  • Wednesday lunch with the ‘team’

  • AUSCRS 2025 Welcome Reception on the Wed evening

  • Registration to the full AUSCRS program (Thurs, Frid, Sat)

  • Gala dinner ticket (Saturday night)


Many thanks to all of our 2025 Platinum, Gold and Silver and other partners. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.


PLATINUM SPONSORS


GOLD SPONSORS


SILVER SPONSORS


PROGRAM SPONSORS

Advanced Trainee Program Sponsors

 
 
Advanced Trainee Program Sponsor
 
 

Support Staff Program Sponsors

 
 
 
 

MEDIA SPONSORS

mivision is the key communication portal for eye care professionals who live and work in Australia and New Zealand.Our aim is to enhance the patient pathway and influence optimum patient outcomes by sharing knowledge and improving communication within the eye care professions.

mivision is the key communication portal for eye care professionals who live and work in Australia and New Zealand.  Our aim is to enhance the patient pathway and influence optimum patient outcomes by sharing knowledge and improving communication within the eye care professions.

 

OTHER VALUED SUPPORTERS