Meaningful practical experience and real-world exposure is helping future generations start their optometry career on the right foot in Australia.
One of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills is through hosting students for clinical placements in optometry practices. These placements not only provide students with invaluable hands-on experience but also enrich the profession by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
As the largest employer of optometrists in Australia, Specsavers has played a leading role by developing a unique strategy for supporting optometry students in this crucial time of their development.
In 2023 alone, its practices will host more than 450 clinical placements across the Australia and New Zealand store network, with 259 already completed in the 2023/24 student cycle. Of the 259 final year students who have completed their clinical placements, the network has already signed employment contracts with 136 of them, with many more conversations under way.
“In previous years, more than 70% of students found their clinical experience so rewarding that they elected to join Specsavers as a part of its graduate program,” the company’s graduate recruitment manager Ms Sarah Yearsley says.
The clinical placement experience
Not long ago, Deakin University graduate Ms Joanne Cho was one of those students who completed her clinical placement at Specsavers. She did this at the Erina store and said the experience was integral to her becoming the confident and agile optometrist she is today.
Her first impressions were that the practice was big and busy with lots of people to meet, but that became a benefit because with encouragement and support, her abilities quickly grew and she thrived in the environment. The placement tested her and prepared her for the highs and lows of an optometry career.
“I’ll always remember my first pediatric appointment. It was for a four-year-old boy who needed eye drops. He was quite upset and crying and I wanted to limit the stress he was experiencing by undertaking the consult as quickly as possible. As he left, I felt so disappointed in myself, it was a really low moment for me,” she explains.
“The Erina store partner Nathan Ko saw me and straight away. He was so encouraging and talked me through the experience including what I could learn from it. He gave me the ultimate ‘hype up’ and said that I couldn’t allow myself to feel down or second guess myself after just one experience.
“Then Nikesh Tanna, the other optometrist store partner, had finished an appointment and cleared his next one so he could have mentoring time with me straight away. He took me out of the store for a walk to clear my head. I feel like he truly understood what I was going through. Never once did he treat me like I was inexperienced or naive. He was so knowledgeable and generous with his time.”
Between them, and the rest of Specsavers Erina staff, Cho was taught to understand the value of optometry. “We are making more of an impact than we think. My clinical placement set me up with long-lasting relationships, authentic mentoring and learning opportunities that I never would have received in a lecture hall at university,” she says.
From Specsavers Erina’s perspective, hosting clinical placements like this are crucial for training future generations of optometrists. It’s a responsibility the practice takes seriously. Tanna says it’s important practices host clinical placements to give the students a chance to receive real-world experience and support before they finish their studies.
“It also gives us a chance to showcase the care, expertise and value provided by our store which can assist in the student’s longer-term career decisions,” he says.
“In her clinical placement, Joanne was given exposure to all areas of the business and gradually introduced to clinical examinations when she was comfortable to move forward. Providing reassurance there was no time restriction, always support to hand and timely feedback. Joanne was extremely helpful in all areas of the practice and willing to help wherever she could.”
A pioneering clinical placement program
Yearsley, the graduate recruitment manager at Specsavers, says many students choose to have their clinical placement at Specsavers because of the company’s accessible locations and the sheer quantity of opportunities available. The network also has locations to meet the preferences of students – whether they wish to be placed in a local metropolitan clinic or experience a regional practice.
“On top of that, Specsavers is a great place to work. In August 2023, we were named one of Australia’s best workplaces. We pair our patient-focused vision and values with high levels of trust, respect, credibility, fairness, pride, and camaraderie,” she says.
“Our investment in clinical equipment and technology, our close working relationships with key eye health stakeholders, and our major investments into professional development all contribute to our mission of changing lives through better sight for all Australians and New Zealanders.”
From a clinical placement perspective, Yearsley says Specsavers practices have large patient bases that expose students to a broad range of presentations and provide relevant experience to prepare them for professional practice. “We also use the latest technology, including OCT as standard, to provide comprehensive eyecare services and improve patient outcomes,” she explains.
A clinical placement process
To understand how Specsavers clinical placements work, the recruitment department works with store partners to develop encouraging and supportive environments for students and all team members.
“We have a unique clinical placement process that varies depending on the university and placement schedule which could range from one day to six months in length,” Yearsley says.
Clinical placement orientation is provided for all students and may be in person, virtually or via a pre-recorded video, depending on the placement duration. Each participating practice also has a supervising optometrist specially trained in collaboration with their partnering university and Specsavers to support students and graduates.”
She says supervising optometrists aren’t necessarily store partners, instead it is often an ideal development opportunity for other senior optometrists in the practice. Supervisors volunteer to host student placements because they are committed to helping train the next generation of optometrists. Each university has different requirements, with some more observational and others more hands-on.
“While it isn’t always necessary for practices to have a spare test room when hosting clinical placement students, we do all we can to ensure students have appropriate space to learn,” Yearsley says.
The benefits of clinical placements
With hundreds of students graduating each year, Yearsley says optometry practices play a crucial role in providing on-site training and support for students and the benefits extend beyond the placement period alone.
“Hosting students encourages practising optometrists to stay updated with the latest advancements in the field. The inquisitiveness of students often prompts practitioners to revisit their knowledge, sparking a cycle of continuous learning and growth,” Yearsley says.
“As a whole, optometrists hosting students for clinical placements cannot be overstated. This practice not only hones students’ practical skills but enriches the profession as a whole. The case study of Joanne at Specsavers Erina underscores the transformative power of hands-on education.”
More reading
What optometry graduates want from their employer
Work-readiness of Aussie optometry graduates under microscope
OCANZ examining graduates’ readiness for workplace
