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: Kubi Wong
Current position: Graduate optometrist
Location: Sunnybank, QLD
Years within the business: 3.5 years (3 years as dispenser, 0.5 years as optometrist)
Why did you pursue optometry?
Optometry has been my dream since Year 7, when I injured my eye playing soccer. That experience sparked my curiosity about eye health. Growing up overseas, I realised that optometry in Australia offered so much potential, not just prescribing glasses but also therapeutics and collaborative care with ophthalmologists. I decided to study optometry at QUT in Brisbane, where I had relatives. Moving wasn’t easy, especially with English not being my first language, but it was worth it. During my third year, I joined Specsavers Sunnybank as a dispenser, and I knew this was where I wanted to build my career.
How did you come to work at Specsavers?
I started as a dispenser at Specsavers three years before becoming an optometrist in the same store. At the time, I also worked in an independent practice, but Specsavers stood out to me. I loved the scale of the business, the chance to serve a wide range of people, and the access to advanced technology. Even as a student, I was amazed by the equipment – performing pre-tests and visual field tests gave me confidence and sharpened my clinical and communication skills. What really attracted me, though, was the culture: colleagues building strong bonds with patients while delivering affordable, high-quality eyecare. Becoming an optometrist in the same store was a privilege, and I’m excited by the future potential of partnership and mentoring younger optometrists.
What was your first role within the business?
I began as an optical assistant. My role involved pre-testing, including OCT, NCT, autorefraction and visual fields, which gave me a strong clinical foundation and a chance to interact with patients before they saw the optometrist. On the retail side, I dispensed glasses and guided patients in choosing the right lenses. This combination of clinical and retail experience built my communication skills and helped me understand what patients truly value.
Since then, what growth opportunities have presented themselves?
I was fortunate to progress to senior dispenser, where I mentored newer colleagues and gained experience dispensing products like MiYOSMART. This deepened my technical knowledge, which has been invaluable as an optometrist. Repeating thousands of pre-tests also gave me an eye for patterns and helped me anticipate patient concerns, improving my efficiency in clinic. In my final year of university, I was offered an optometrist role at my store, something I remain incredibly grateful for, especially to my optometry partner Ryan Chan and retail partner Peter Victorsen for their support.
What are your top career highlights since joining Specsavers?
It’s hard to choose, but winning an all-expenses paid trip to the 2025 Specsavers Clinical Conference (SCC) has been my biggest highlight – it was an unforgettable experience. I learned so much from ophthalmologists, optometrists, and industry representatives, while also networking with colleagues across ANZ. Another highlight was mentoring some university students during the event alongside my fellow graduate winner Harshil Maisuria from New Zealand. Sharing my journey with the student winners and encouraging them as future optometrists was both an honour and a joy.
What excites you most about turning up for work each day?
For me, it’s the people. Every day I get to meet new patients, listen to their stories, and help them see better, which often means improving their lives too. I also love working alongside such supportive colleagues and partners. Whether it’s clinical collaboration or simply sharing a laugh, the positive team environment makes Specsavers one of the best workplaces in Australia.
