In a September Sydney boot camp, the national network has celebrated its 25th anniversary
of silver service, and worked on plans for the next quarter of a century and beyond.
This September, Eyecare Plus members from across Australia have come together in Sydney for their biennial Boot Camp – to sharpen their business and clinical processes, and to celebrate the major milestone of 25 years of Eyecare Plus.
What began as a bold idea in the late ’90s, and was brought to life in the year 2000 by founders Mr Tony and Ms Vicki Hanks, with founding directors Mr Nick Hansen and Mr Ray Fortescue, has grown into Australia’s largest branded group of independent optometrists.
More than a buying group, Eyecare Plus has become a trusted name, a collegiate community, and for many, a professional family.
The founding mission was to create a stronger platform for independent optometrists at a time when the industry was changing and bigger players were creating greater competition.
Chain stores and retail-driven models were on their way from overseas.
Eyecare Plus gave independents the opportunity to refocus on clinical care and greater patient service.
“We could see the writing on the wall,” recalls Hansen, a founding director and partner at Hansen’s Eyecare Plus in Orange, NSW.
“We knew that if independents didn’t find a way to work together, we’d be picked off one by one. The vision was to create a group where optometrists could maintain their independence, their values, and still compete with the growing corporate giants.”
That vision proved not only right but well ahead of its time.
Today, Eyecare Plus includes many of the most respected and successful independent practices in Australia.
Its model offers the best of both worlds: local ownership and clinical autonomy, supported by a national brand, marketing resources, business systems, and a peer network built on trust and shared purpose.
For Mr Martin Gregory, chairman of Eyecare Plus and partner in a large regional practice in Wagga Wagga, NSW, that business foundation is a critical part of the story.
“This isn’t just a feel-good story,” Gregory says. “It’s a great business story. We’ve helped practices grow and thrive against corporate competition, largely by bringing the best practices together to share trade secrets and strategise.”
Gregory, an optical dispenser by trade with an MBA and deep experience in practice management, says what makes Eyecare Plus unique is its commitment to supporting practices without ever controlling them.
“We’re not a franchise,” he says. “We don’t take a cut of profit, and we don’t tell members what to stock or how to treat their patients. We provide opportunities to share knowledge, systems, training, marketing, and a framework for success – but the decisions stay with the practice owner.
“That’s the power of independence.”
That spirit of autonomy within community is a key reason Eyecare Plus has grown such a loyal following among established practices, and also among the next generation of leaders.
Ms Lara Foster, owner of Eyecare Plus Moss Vale and a current board director, represents that next generation.
She joined the network in 2010 and says the impact on her practice and her professional life has been significant.
“Eyecare Plus and my fellow members have been critical to my development as a practice owner,” Foster says.
“You’re not just getting access to marketing or buying power, you’re getting mentorship, friendships, and a support network that feels like family.
“It’s an environment where you can grow without losing who you are.”
Foster says that for young optometrists considering their career path, independent practice within a group like Eyecare Plus offers a powerful alternative to the salaried, target-driven world of corporate optometry.
“You get the freedom to practise the way you believe is right,” she says. “And you get to build something that’s yours. That’s incredibly rewarding.”
That message resonates now more than ever, as recent industry research has highlighted growing dissatisfaction among young optometrists, many of whom report feeling disillusioned with high-pressure sales environments and limited clinical autonomy.
At Eyecare Plus, the culture is different. There’s a strong emphasis on peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, professional development, and collegiate collaboration. The network’s model of territory protection ensures members aren’t competing with each other, which encourages open, honest discussion and problem-solving across the group.
It’s a model that has stood the test of time, and now, 25 years in, the results speak for themselves.
The network says its Eyecare Plus Boot Camp in Sydney this September was more than a workshop and training session. It was a celebration of everything the group has built – together.
Founders, as well as current and now retired members, were to return for the occasion. There were practical workshops, strategic planning sessions, and, as always, plenty of social opportunities and shared stories.
“Some people think independence means going it alone,” says Hansen. “But the truth is, we’re stronger together. That was true 25 years ago when we started, and it’s even more true today.”
Gregory agrees: “We’ve created something rare – a national brand that respects local identity. A support system that enables growth without compromising values. That’s not easy to build, and it’s even harder to sustain. But we’ve done it and we’re proud of it.”
Looking ahead, Eyecare Plus is committed to remaining at the forefront of independent optometry, by bringing leading optometrists together through new initiatives like the Entrepreneurs Club, expanding education and training, and welcoming the next generation of practice owners into the fold.
As Foster puts it: “It’s about legacy and opportunity. Honouring where we’ve come from and making sure we’re ready for where we’re going next.”
And for all those who gathered in Sydney to celebrate, the message was clear: Eyecare Plus was never just about resisting change. It was about creating something better.
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