Johnny Wang on working as a graduate optometrist in Palmerston NT
I'm from Brisbane, originally from Asia. I graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 2014. I didn't have a specific reason to become an optometrist. I just did. But I'm glad that I did choose this job. Every day is a different day. You get to meet different people and to face different challenges. Your life never gets boring. This job also has a pretty good work life balance, which suits my mojo - work hard and play hard!! I'm glad to work as a graduate Optometrist at Palmerston. I have an experienced mentor, Tony, to help me develop my
SpecTrekkers cross bush and coast for Fred Hollows
Two teams of Specsavers employees participated in the 2018 Coastrek fundraising hike in Melbourne last week, completing 43,000 steps over 30km in six hours with smiles and enthusiasm. The reason why was simple – every step helped raise over $5,500 for The Fred Hollows Foundation, which works to end avoidable blindness by offering quality eye care to those in need. The Specsavers teams, known as ‘SpecTrekkers’ and ‘SpecTrekkers 2.0’, consisted of eight hikers – Richard Couch (Head of Dispensing Advancement), Carla Alviano (Senior Legal Counsel), Sarah McInnes (Marketing Director), Duchesne Markham (Local Public Relations Manager), Cathy Rennie Matos (Head of
Dispensing community welcomed to enhanced SDC2
Building on its remarkable first-year success, the Specsavers Dispensing Conference returns in 2018, with registration now extended to both Specsavers and non-Specsavers optical dispensers. More than 430 optical dispensers and students attended the inaugural Specsavers Dispensing Conference in 2017, and this year, even greater numbers are anticipated as the event has been opened up to the wider dispensing community. The inclusion of non-Specsavers delegates at the 2nd Specsavers Dispensing Conference (SDC2) is expected to create more diverse networking opportunities and allow for an even broader scope of discourse throughout the event. Commenting on the decision, Richard Couch, Head of Dispensing
Statistics show high number of car crashes related to sunstrike
Crash analysis from the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) has revealed that there have been 780 people injured and 21 killed in crashes involving sunstrike over the last five years, emphasising the importance of recommending appropriate eyewear options for patients who drive. Sunstrike happens when the sun hits the windscreen, causing glare and making it hard to see the road ahead. The problem intensifies on mornings and afternoons, when the sun is low in the sky. From 2013–17, the AA’s crash analysis showed 141 serious injuries and 639 minor injuries were caused by sunstrike across the country. Most of these
ACT stores raise $17.5K for crisis support line
Specsavers stores across ACT have jointly raised approximately $17,500 through the Specsavers Community Program to assist the crucial work undertaken by Lifeline Canberra. For over 46 years, Lifeline Canberra has been supporting ACT people in times of crisis, saving the lives of those experiencing thoughts of suicide. Speaking to over 30,000 people in crisis each year, Lifeline Canberra is only possible due to its crisis support volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure someone is available at the end of the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing impartial, non-judgmental and confidential support. Lifeline Canberra’s crisis support volunteers
Pathway graduates take next step in journey towards partnership
An evening of dinner, drinks and dancing marked the conclusion of the Pathway Program for 30 course graduates who are now ready to become Specsavers Joint Venture Partners (JVPs). The Pathway Graduation Function is held once annually for participants from any intake cohort that completed the leadership program in the preceding 12 months, and this year’s event took place on 4 May in Melbourne. Thirty Pathway participants, including optometrists, dispensers and store managers, travelled from across Australia and New Zealand to the RACV City Club in Melbourne, where they were greeted by the familiar faces of the Specsavers Pathway faculty
Specsavers Highpoint tackles optic nerve head assessment
Specsavers Highpoint in Victoria has taken a hands-on approach to professional development, opening its store up to local optometrists for an interactive CPD evening focussing on optic nerve head assessment. The event took place in late April, with 18 people in attendance, comprising a mix of both Specsavers and non-Specsavers optometrists from the local area, including locum optometrists. The guest speaker for the evening was Dr Suheb Ahmed, a local ophthalmologist who operates out of private practices in Sunbury, Pakenham and Maryvale and who is also the Head of Ophthalmology at Northern Health. The evening involved a presentation by Dr
SpecTrekkers hike to restore sight
Two teams of Specsavers Australia & New Zealand employees will undertake a 30km hike in Melbourne, Victoria to help restore sight to needlessly blind people around the world. The teams – which are made up of staff from the Specsavers Support Office in Port Melbourne – will undertake the 2018 Coastrek hike from Koonya Beach to Point Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula on 25 May 2018, travelling through rugged coastlines, spectacular bays, secret bush trails and past historic sites. Each team aims to raise $2,000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation, Specsavers’ national charity partner. The ‘SpecTrekkers’ team includes Richard Couch
Graduate optometrists workshop development needs with mentors
Graduate optometrists in their first year of the Specsavers Graduate Program learned more about their preferred individual work and communication styles through a Personal Profile Analysis while strengthening their relationships with their mentors during the recent Mentor Mentee Workshop. The one-day workshop, which was held in several regions from 9 to 18 April 2018, brought together first-year graduate optometrists and their mentors (typically, their store partners) to reflect on their experiences to date and identify key areas of strength as well as for further development. Adam Buxton, Specsavers Australia & New Zealand Head of Graduate Recruitment and Development, explained, “The
SCC7 extended to two full days with more CPD/CD on offer
This year’s Specsavers Clinical Conference (SCC) will be jam-packed with new developments, foremost of which is the move to two full days of CPD/CD content. Now in its seventh year, SCC has become one of Australia and New Zealand’s most well-attended clinical conferences. In 2018, it will take place from 8 to 9 September 2018 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the theme ‘Transforming Eye Health’. The popular Clinical Education Sessions held on the Saturday have been extended from a half day to a full-day program of optometry-led education sessions, increasing the conference to a full two days.