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: Briana Tsang
Current position: Optometrist
Location: Indooroopilly
Years within the business: 6 (optometrist 4 years; optical assistant 2 years)
How did you come to work at Specsavers?
In 2019 I was searching for a second job while studying at university. I chose to apply for Specsavers because I hadn’t worked for a large network before (I was working as an optical assistant at an independent) and wanted exposure before choosing my place of work after graduation. Specsavers has such a large presence in ANZ and I liked how affordable the business makes eyecare for patients, from free OCT to $39 glasses and two for one. I also liked the idea of working in a larger team and three-way handovers connecting clinical and retail sides of the business. I figured it would be a great opportunity while still at university to get a foot in the door if I applied to work there as an optometrist.
What was your first role within the business, and what did it entail?
I started as an optical assistant at Specsavers Brisbane City, where I learnt about pricing, products, store processes and work culture. This entailed greeting patients, collections, repairs, contact lens teaching, handovers, frame styling, dispensing and pretesting .
What growth opportunities have presented themselves?
I was also able to do some of my placement hours at the Brisbane City store and enjoyed sitting in with the familiar faces of optometrists who I worked with on a day-to-day. I believe this, along with the fact that being vice president of the Queensland Optometry Student Society, allowed me to network with the Specsavers graduate team and offered an advantage when I applied for my first optometry position at Specsavers Maroochydore. While waiting for my registration, I worked as a dispenser at Maroochydore, building connections with the retail team while becoming familiar myself with how the store operated. My mentor gave me opportunities as an optometrist, from seeing and managing many case presentations, to having students sit in with me and to presenting case studies. He often sat me down to explain key business performance indicators and involved me in many store decisions and processes. Furthermore, I ended up working between Specsavers stores, gaining experience in Buderim, Nambour, Kawana and Noosa, enriching my experience. If I had stayed, my mentor was willing to support my career progression in the direction of becoming a partner. Life had other plans and I’m now happily working at Specsavers Indooroopilly closer to family and my partner who I have bought a house with.
Can you outline your top career highlights since joining Specsavers?
The first day I ran tests as an optometrist was a big highlight because it was the culmination of all of my study and experience and a reminder that I was now capable of providing eyecare independently. Every time a patient thanks me for my service is a win. Most recently, conducting eye tests at the Altru Festival in West End felt incredibly rewarding. Being able to pay forward my knowledge and skills to students sitting in on my consults and to a class at the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji on a virtual outreach with the Fred Hollows Foundation has created some full circle moments.
What excites you most about turning up for work?
It excites me there is room to grow as an optometrist and person every day. I also get truly excited to work with my talented co-workers, both clinical and retail, in an environment where I know I will be supported, very much like a family.
More reading
Specsavers Stories – Tina Ngan
Specsavers Stories – Hammill Prasawat
Specsavers Stories – Ishmeen Dhaliwal
