The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) is the medical college responsible for training and professional development of ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand. The headquarters of the College is in Sydney, Australia. Ophthalmologists who have successfully completed the training program of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists are known as Fellows of the College (FRANZCO). There are currently about 700 Fellows in Australia. About In Australia and New Zealand, an ophthalmologist is required to have undertaken a minimum of 12 years of training, including: 5–7 years at a medical school, graduating with a degree in medicine, 2 years (minimum) as a newly qualified doctor undertaking basic medical training, 5 years of ophthalmic specialist training and successful completion of examinations set by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO). RANZCO is responsible for training, examining and representing medical practitioners in the specialty of ophthalmology, who upon completion of training, are equipped to undertake unsupervised ophthalmology practice. RANZCO has a vital interest in the continual improvement and development of ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand. The RANZCO Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program provides Fellows (FRANZCO) with a structured approach to planning their continuing education, and supports activities that cover a wide range of skills, including further clinical knowledge, risk management, clinical governance and professional values. The program consists of three categories reflecting the seven key roles and attributes of a specialist ophthalmologist - Medical Expert, Communicator, Manager, Collaborator, Health Advocate, Scholar and Professional. RANZCO’s mission is to drive improvements in eye healthcare in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region through continuing exceptional training, education, research and advocacy. Currently, RANZCO participates alongside the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the Vision2020Australia Global Consortium and the Commonwealth Eye Health Consortium. History On 23 March 1938, 20 ophthalmologists from various states gathered in Sydney to form the Ophthalmological Society of Australia of the British Medical Association, with Sir James Barrett as its first President. Prior to this, the Intercolonial (later Australasian) Medical Congresses had provided the only vehicle for Australian ophthalmologists to meet and exchange professional ideas. Dissatisfaction with this arrangement led to the successful move to create a truly national organisation to represent the profession. In April 1939, the Ophthalmological Society of Australia held its first annual national scientific meeting in Melbourne. This meeting was