Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA) was founded for bioptic drivers (demand) and those who offer bioptic driving related services (supply). Its purpose is to demonstrate the breath and depth of bioptic driving in Australia and internationally.Its goal is to work with bioptic drivers and supply side parties towards the awareness and development of demand and supply market initiatives for the formalisation of bioptic driving in Australia. Including: eye health assessment professionals, driving instructors, orientation and mobility professionals, policy and law decision makers.BDA can be found here: https://www.biopticdriversaus.comBDA is supported by a board of non-executive directors and allied parties.BDA’s founder Belinda, blogs about her bioptic driving experience as Bella on Blogspot here:https://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com/2019/01/choosing-car-and-adaptations.html?m=1

Practiced in Brisbane, Robina, Maroochydore, Canberra, Albury, Shepparton, Melbourne city, Sydney city. Completed over 250 instructional hours. Allied Health Assistant role to do Orientation and Mobility Practicum as part of UNSW postgraduate study. This is the second of two placements.

2022 The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses drivingResearch and reporting opportunity. Travel was undertaken from May to August 2023. Report was completed in November 2024.Profile and report:https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/belinda-oconnor-act-2022/See my blog of the travels documented along the way:https://churchillfellowshipbiopticdriving.blogspot.com/

Department of Employment - contribute to program development then manage assessment of contracts for Job Placement, risk management and developed assurance model, New Enterprise Incentive Scheme policy and marketing.Department of Education - International education compliance, enforcement, investigations, policy development and implementation marketing, procedural redesign and development.Department of Environment - WELS (Water Efficiency Incentive a Scheme), policy development and implementation, establishment of an industry advisory group.Department of Immigration - policy development and implementation, long term permanet and temporary residents, procedural redesign and development.Australian Trade and Investment Commission - Tourism policy research and development and Ministerial council secretariat.Department of Defence - Australian Industry Capability (AIC) policy and program management, manage Public AIC plans audit and reviews, stakeholder management.Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications - Connected and Automated Vehicle Policy and Regulation. Stakeholder engagement and strategic planning of Office of Future Transport Technology’s secretariat United Nations Economic Commission for Europe working groups. Working Party on Road Safety (WP 1) and Group of Experts on drafting a new legal instrument on the use of Automated Vehicles in traffic (GE.3).

My Role: To add value to AFDO by assessing and challenging its broader direction and performance and in identifying risks and opportunities.About AFDOThe Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO). It is a cross-disability representative organisation, and the national voice representing people with disability in Australia.To achieve its mission and vision, AFDO provides policy advice and representation to government and organisations on matters that impact on the lives of people with disability. AFDO also works to inform and educate the general community about disability, and we work to develop a community where people with disability can participate in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life.

My Role: To add value to WWDACT by assessing and challenging its broader direction and performance and in identifying risks and opportunities.WWDACT is a systemic advocacy and peer support organisation for women, girls, feminine identifying and non-binary people with disability in the ACT region. Established in 1995, WWDACT follows a human rights philosophy, based on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Elimination of (All Forms Of) Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It works with government and non-government organisations to improve the status and lives of women with disabilities in the ACT and surrounding region. Our priority areas include: equity, health, violence prevention, environmental safety and housing.

Research, analysis and wrote the Redland Shire Skills Stocktake and Training Needs StrategyResearched and developed a business case for an international education consortium

Corporate accounts and retail sale of computers, laptops and laser printers.Managed and conducted computer trade shows at town halls and universities around Queensland.Budding tech geek building, testing and repairing second hand computers.

Remedial massage therapies