When people decide to work at Specsavers, they’re joining a company with a purpose to change lives through better sight and hearing – hence why more Australians and New Zealanders choose the optometry provider over any other.
As one of the largest employers in the ANZ optometry sector, Insight sits down with an employee each month to hear about their growth trajectory within the company.
Specsavers stats
Name: Michelle Du
Current position: Professional Development Manager ANZ
Location: Melbourne
Years within the business: 6.5 years
Why did you pursue an optometry career, and how did you enter the profession?
I always knew I wanted to be in a career that helped people and had a positive impact on people’s lives. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I am terrible around needles and blood, so I ruled out a few options, but someone suggested optometry. To be honest, I had no idea what an optometrist did despite all my family members all needing glasses. I had never had my eyes tested.
So, after a bit of research and an appointment with the optometrist, I was sold. What interested me the most was understanding the scope-of-practice beyond the prescription of glasses and the importance of eye health care.
How did you come to work at Specsavers, and what attracted you to the business?
My first experience with working at Specsavers was during my six-month clinical residential placement whilst at university. During my placement, I took a casual opportunity as an optical dispenser which allowed me to understand the retail side of the business further.
What attracted me to do my clinical placement at Specsavers and subsequently what led me to join the company as a qualified optometrist was knowing that I would be working for a company that believed that everyone should be able to afford glasses and have access to high-quality eyecare. I chose to become an optometrist so that I could help everyone, no matter their background or socioeconomic status, eliminating any financial or accessibility barriers. I always like to think about it this way, ‘If it were my Mum or Dad, where would I want them to go get their eyes checked? Where would I want them to go buy their glasses?’.
Specsavers also provided a very well-structured and supportive graduate program, which I knew was going to be extremely important during the early years of my career.
What was your first role within the business, and what did it entail?
Following my six-month clinical residential placement at Specsavers, I joined full-time as a graduate optometrist. During this time I was exposed to a wide variety of clinical cases, which really helped me develop my skills and confidence quickly. Specsavers attracts a wide range of patients and as an optometrist, you see and treat a variety of eye conditions, which is extremely beneficial as an early career optometrist.
Since then, what growth opportunities have presented themselves?
Since joining the company in 2016 as a graduate optometrist, I made sure to expose myself to various opportunities, to challenge myself and discover my passion within the profession. I undertook clinical courses to further my clinical education, participated in volunteer work in Fiji and mentored optometry students and graduates.
At the beginning of 2022, I joined the optometry team at Specsavers head office as Professional Development Manager. The transition from full-time optometry in the clinic to this new role has challenged me in many positive ways and I now have the opportunity to help support the careers of my colleagues through continued professional education and career development opportunities.
Can you outline your top career highlights since joining Specsavers?
My top career highlight would be hosting and delivering last year’s Specsavers Clinical Conference. Just a few short months into the role and I was met with the task of having to plan and deliver our annual CPD clinical conference. Unfortunately, there was no lecture at university that prepared me for this.
It took a tremendous amount of work and the support of various team members to execute a successful conference. But, through all the highs and lows I am extremely proud of this accomplishment.
What is your most interesting clinical case?
One of my most interesting clinical cases was also one of my most difficult clinical cases which happened during my first few years of practice. I think we can all resonate with the fact that sometimes what you learn in texts books is not always how it pans out in real life.
An elderly patient came to our practice unhappy with the new multifocal spectacles that she had prescribed elsewhere. She complained that she had significant double vision with them on. However, she had no problems with her old executive bifocals. Unfortunately, her previous optometrist was unable to help her, so she was seeking a second opinion.
Of course, as a new graduate hearing the words ‘double vision’ and hearing that your patient’s last optometrist was unable to fix their problem, I had some doubts that I would be able to help her. However, I took the opportunity to listen and ask questions and understand the root of her concerns.
What makes this case interesting is how challenging but rewarding it was. This was not a straightforward case and required some trial and error, patience and persistence. Not only did I need to manage the patient’s visual expectations, she was also price conscious and I also had to factor in the patient’s mobility issues when considering the best optical solution for her. The patient’s diplopia was long-standing and she had recently been to see an ophthalmologist, so I wasn’t concerned about any underlying causes. During her time with me, we tried a Bangerter occlusion foil over one lens, a Fresnel lens and eventually decided on a bifocal spectacle with a Fresnel lens on the left lens and only for the distance segment, which she was extremely happy with that she purchased a second pair.
All the optical solutions I tried with the patient, I had never prescribed before in clinic, but I didn’t let that stop me from trying to find a solution for her.
What excites you most about turning up for work each day?
Every day I get to turn up to work surrounded by a team who are ambitious, hard-working and passionate, all with the same goal of supporting our people who continue to provide exceptional care to their communities and patients.
I really enjoy being able to use my optometry knowledge and experience as a Specsavers optometrist to help support and develop the careers of my colleagues.
Are you considering a career at Specsavers ANZ? Click here to find out about current career opportunities within the business.
