As CEO Skye Cappuccio prepares to step down after more than a decade with Optometry Australia, she reflects on a period of profound change – from strengthening the profession’s voice and unity to addressing workforce supply and conditions, and opening new pathways for optometrists to grow and specialise.
Few professions have mapped their future as deliberately as optometry. For Optometry Australia CEO Skye Cappuccio, steering that vision – and ensuring it translated into real programs and policy reform – has defined her decade with the organisation.
Cappuccio was appointed CEO a little over three years ago, leading the now Optometry Australia (OA) through a period of structural reform and renewed focus on professional recognition.
Among her proudest achievements is work stemming from the Optometry 2040 project – a long-term strategic initiative first developed in 2018 to help the profession define and pursue its preferred future.
“We worked with members to identify the kind of future they wanted to see for optometry, and the steps needed to make that a reality,” Cappuccio explains. “It was also about avoiding the more dystopian futures, making sure we were actively shaping where we wanted to go.”
That work was revisited in 2023 to account for the shifts brought on by the pandemic. While many changes were less radical than initially anticipated, she says the refresh provided the foundation for new programs that are already reshaping professional practice. Chief among them is the Advanced Practice Recognition Program, designed to recognise optometrists with significant expertise in specialised areas.
“The program is about supporting more people to work to the full scope of their practice, while recognising those with advanced skills,” she says. “It also enables ophthalmologists and patients to understand who those people are, and helps create a system where we have both generalist optometrists and those practising in more specialised areas.”
The first area of recognition – glaucoma – has already been piloted and completed its first round. It was oversubscribed, reflecting strong member demand.
“Members are clearly keen. The next area is already in development and will launch in about 18 months, with the same level of rigour around competency standards and expert design,” Cappuccio says.
Building strength
Beyond professional recognition, Cappuccio has presided over a major organisational shift – the integration of several state divisions into the national body. Over the past three years, the operations of Optometry Victoria South Australia (OV/SA), Optometry Tasmania, and Optometry Queensland Northern Territory have been brought into the Optometry Australia fold.
“That integration has delivered efficiencies for members and allowed us to provide more cohesive, national services,” she says. “It’s been particularly powerful in advocacy – sharing learnings more easily and aligning state and national efforts.”
Cappuccio highlights several other milestones that mark her decade with the organisation. One is the expansion of direct, one-on-one member support, an area she says has transformed since her early days.
“When I started, we had just one person providing that service. Now we have a help desk of optometrists whose job is to deliver that support,” she explains. “Last year alone, they handled 1,800 member consultations. That’s been a deliberate and valuable investment.”
Professional development is another area that has grown exponentially, she says.
“When I joined, OA didn’t offer continuing professional development at the national level,” she says. “Now we’re the largest CPD provider for optometrists in the country, predominantly in the online space. It’s made quality CPD accessible from anywhere.”
OA’s Institute of Excellence has become a cornerstone for member learning and upskilling, particularly as clinical technology and diagnostics evolve.
“It’s about making sure optometrists can access the latest knowledge easily, without geographic barriers,” Cappuccio says.
She also points to one of the profession’s most significant advocacy wins during her early days with Optometry Australia – the removal of the cap on Medicare fees.
“It used to be that you couldn’t charge above the scheduled fee for Medicare items,” she explains. “The change gave optometrists the ability to determine their own fees, which is particularly important as we move further into disease management.”
For Cappuccio, each of these milestones reflects OA’s core mission: to support its members and strengthen the profession.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve built – not just programs, but people,” she says. “We have a fantastic team. We’ve grown, but we’ve also kept that sense of purpose and collaboration that makes the organisation special.”
That collaboration now extends beyond the traditional office. Following the pandemic, OA moved to a fully virtual workforce, closing its South Melbourne premises.
“We focus on hiring the best people, wherever they are. We’ve got six team members in Adelaide, four in Queensland, and a shared space in Carlton through our partnership with OV/SA.”
The challenges ahead
As she prepares to hand over the reins, Cappuccio is realistic about the challenges that remain for the profession. Chief among them is workforce balance.
“Right now, optometry is in oversupply, which puts pressure on the profession,” she says. “At the same time, there are concerns about workplace conditions for employed optometrists, particularly where their clinical autonomy might be under pressure.”
Managing that balance requires both urgency and caution, she says.
“We need to confront it directly and astutely, because these are complex issues. Other health professions have swung from oversupply to undersupply within a decade, and we don’t want to repeat that cycle.”
Another major challenge is the ongoing evolution of clinical technology and diagnostics – particularly artificial intelligence.
“Optometry has always been an early adopter of technology,” Cappuccio notes. “We’ve seen a lot of AI-based diagnostics come to market, especially using retinal imaging. While uptake has been gradual, the potential is huge – not just for eye health but for identifying conditions like heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through ocular data.”
Rather than a revolution, she believes AI will bring “a fast-moving evolution” to clinical practice.
“Optometry’s already been playing in this space for longer than many other health professions. What we’re seeing now is just that evolution accelerating.”
Cappuccio is also pleased to see progress on oral therapeutics after many years of advocacy.
“Australia is behind New Zealand, the UK and the US in this area. Expanding scope of practice is fundamental to enabling optometrists to use their full skill set,” she says.
Despite these hurdles, Cappuccio remains optimistic about the profession’s direction and is proud of the collective efforts that have advanced it.
“The profession is full of passionate, capable people who really care,” she says. “That makes it a fantastic community to work with and for.”
As Insight celebrates its 50th issue, Cappuccio also reflects on the vital role of industry media in connecting that community.
“Good industry media keeps people informed and helps promote the great things happening across optometry,” she says. “It shares interesting models of practice, celebrates innovation, and connects people across the sector. That sense of being part of something bigger –
a profession that’s constantly evolving –
is important.”
Looking forward
After more than a decade with Optometry Australia – including three years at the helm – Cappuccio’s next chapter begins with a pause.
“I’ll be with OA until the end of the year, then spending January at the beach,” she says with a smile. “After that, we’ll see what happens.”
Her decision to step back comes with gratitude for the opportunities the role has provided.
“It’s been a delight,” she says. “I’ve been given so many opportunities and worked with so many brilliant people. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I’m confident the organisation and the profession are in a strong place for the future.”
As the OA board prepares to announce her successor, Cappuccio leaves a legacy of collaboration, foresight, and quiet determination – one shaped by a decade spent helping optometry define its future.
“The profession is doing important work for the community,” she says. “That passion and purpose – that’s what makes it so rewarding.”
