As one of Australia’s largest employers of graduate optometrists, EssilorLuxottica has developed a comprehensive program to ensure its budding optometrists can succeed at this important career juncture within its OPSM and Laubman & Pank stores.
When Ms Tansy Barr sat down with Insight to discuss why she chose OPSM to kickstart her optometry career, she had just got off the phone from EssilorLuxottica’s ANZ head office with unexpected news.
Barr – only 18 months into her two-year graduate contract at OPSM Garden City Booragoon in suburban Perth – learned she had been promoted to the role of managing optometrist across town at OPSM Carousel. It’s a big responsibility granted to around 50 passionate and influential optometrists who coach in-store optometrists and galvanise the store team to deliver high quality eyecare.
Her story is one example of the opportunities available to optometrists within the EssilorLuxottica network of 430 OPSM and Laubman & Pank stores across Australia and New Zealand. It’s been a quick and unexpected rise through the ranks for Barr, after only graduating from Deakin University in 2021 before honing her skills in a busy store, with access to mentors, high-tech diagnostic technology and a network of likeminded optometrists.
Graduates like Barr are vital to OPSM and Laubman & Pank – and EssilorLuxottica’s growth plans for the network. With more than 100 grads expected to join the business in 2023 – many whom will provide much-needed eyecare in regional communities – the company’s graduate program is highly sought-after, which is perhaps testament to the unique opportunities on offer.
“There are countless opportunities for optometrists to excel in various ways, whether at a store level in positions such as managing optometrist, or even within the head office,” she says.
“If you’re someone who is passionate about your work and has a clear idea about where you want to be in the future, OPSM is a great company because they’ve got the backing of a global company and they will readily provide the support to help progress your career.”
When Barr was coming to the end of her studies she had several options, but OPSM stood out for various reasons. She had done her placement at OPSM Midland Gate and ended up staying for six months instead of the three she originally planned. The network also offered longer consultations (up to an hour for fresh new grads before working down to 30 minutes), career support including the EyeLaunch induction event, and access to iconic eyewear brands – a drawcard for Barr who once worked in the fashion industry.
“I liked how the optometrist side of OPSM operated. The placement was the ideal stepping stone and from there I was convinced OPSM would be the place to progress my career,” she says.
“The thing I’ve loved most about my journey with OPSM is the support. I have a personal, in-store mentor who’s looking out for me, and there’s our eyecare area manager who I have contact with every couple of weeks checking in and seeing how I’m feeling, anything exciting that I’ve seen or things I’m not sure about. I’ve never felt pressured and they’ve provided the space to learn how to practise properly as an optometrist. And then over time we’ve been building my skills and confidence to the point now that I’ll become a managing optometrist.
“It was somewhat unexpected. Even though I’m a grad, they advised if I felt ready they’d give me full support – we can take it month by month until I’m comfortable stepping away and letting me do my own thing.”
Why grads choose EssilorLuxottica
Ms Elizabeth Kodari is currently the state director for NSW/ACT. She was recently promoted after serving as the eyecare operations director at EssilorLuxottica ANZ, overseeing all aspects of the eyecare strategy for OPSM and Laubman & Pank. She joined the company in 2015 and is a former optometrist at OPSM George St, Sydney.
She says the field of optometry has evolved, and today’s graduates are seeking employers who are responsive to change and attentive to their needs.
The support EssilorLuxottica provides to a graduate’s career starts from their time in university. Optometry students can start their career with OPSM or Laubman & Pank as an optical dispenser or part of the highly sought-after Cadetship Program.
“Our cadets are awarded financially throughout their final years of university and upon graduation, receive a guaranteed role in one of our regional stores across Australia and New Zealand,” Kodari explains.
“We are proud to support a vast number of clinical placements each year, where students have the opportunity to learn and refine their clinical skills alongside our experienced optometry mentors. From being a placement student, to an optical dispenser, to a cadet, being part of our EssilorLuxottica retail family as an optometry student can fast-track inclusion in our annual graduate intake.”
Graduates that join EssilorLuxottica can access a wide range of opportunities for ongoing professional growth while joining forces with thousands of colleagues globally, united by the company’s mission of helping the world “see more and be more”.
“Whether you aspire to be an exceptional clinical optometrist or a future business leader, the possibilities are limitless. We continuously invest in the newest technologies to keep our graduates up-to-date with the latest advancements in the optical industry. With more options, and more opportunities to provide comprehensive optometry services, both OPSM and Laubman & Pank are an attractive choice for many optometry graduates starting their careers,” Kodari explains.
One of the most important aspects of the graduate journey is Essilor- Luxottica’s EyeLaunch event. It’s a two-day induction program and marks the start of the company’s two-year Graduate Development Pathway. The event equips graduates with tools and resources to start their careers and an opportunity to network with colleagues.
During EyeLaunch, graduates learn about the EssilorLuxottica business, its cutting-edge technology, premium eyewear portfolio and the philanthropic initiatives led by Onesight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. They also hear from industry experts on various topics including myopia control, dry eye, and contact lenses. The induction program also equips graduates with the skills to handle different situations and techniques to build a cohesive work environment.
“For many, the DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness personality type) communication workshop is a highlight, allowing graduates to understand their own behavioural style as well as ways to improve teamwork and communication in the workplace,” Kodari says.
Young myope becomes graduate optometrist
One of the graduates to emerge from the 2023 EyeLaunch induction in February was Mr Garson Chin. He became an OPSM optometrist at the Carindale store in Queensland in January 2023, but his ties to the network hark back a few years earlier.
He took the optical dispenser pathway, working in OPSM in a part time capacity for four years (2018-2022) while completing his optometry studies at Queensland University of Technology.
Chin was always interested in a healthcare career, but growing up as a young myope – the only among his siblings – he had a natural curiosity about eyecare. Like Barr, he had plenty of options when deciding his employer out of university, but his experience with OPSM as a dispenser cemented his decision.
“There were several reasons why I chose OPSM. In terms of the optometry, I preferred the length of appointment times, but also the potential for me to practise high quality optometry and take a special interest in different fields, like orthoK, dry eye and contact lenses,” he says.
“I also appreciated their approach to innovation, and how they integrated it with the Essilor lens products. The best example of this is the new Clarifye patient journey, which is allowing us to refine the prescription with the new Essilor Vision-R 800 auto phoropter with 0.01 D increments.”
When Insight spoke to Chin, he had only been in the role for two weeks, but he appreciated the time and space his mentors allowed him, while also acting as a sounding board for more complex cases.
Kodari says as Chin and other graduates grow into their roles as part of the Graduate Optometrist Development Program, they will have access to several initiatives including the mentorship program, leadership training and professional development opportunities.
The two-year graduate program provides four main pillars of support.
“All our graduates start on one-hour appointments and are supported by an optometry mentor. Graduates have regular protected time with their mentor to build on their experience and core competencies. Our graduates also receive professional guidance from our dedicated team of eyecare leaders including professional services managers, and area eyecare managers,” she says.
“Secondly, we provide opportunities for networking and development. Our optometrists are part of one big family, and we host various in-person networking and CPD events throughout the year where graduates can engage with local allied health professionals and connect with their peers.
“We also support our graduates with further education to elevate their expertise. We provide a large range of CPD modules through our learning platform Leonardo, and award LEDA (Luxottica Eyecare Development Award) scholarships to financially support further studies in an area of interest, which encourages our graduates to pursue their passion.”
Finally, Kodari says EssilorLuxottica helps build a graduate’s profile as an optometrist in the community. The organisation can leverage their profile through health practitioner platforms and support their engagement with allied health professionals by providing tools such as collaborative care packs.
“Our graduates can also take part in something bigger through our local vision screening clinics and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation outreach program,” Kodari states.
“With our vast network of talent and resources available, we can tailor the development program for each graduate based on their career aspirations.”
Kodari says it’s an example of EssilorLuxottica’s structured pipeline of opportunities and career development initiatives.
“There is robust support for your professional development, whether your passion is to become an expert in an area of clinical interest or to become a future leader in eyecare. With more than 430 stores across our ANZ network, combined with our global footprint, the opportunities are endless with both OPSM and Laubman & Pank.”
Myopia management matters
The flexibility to become an expert in an area of clinical interest is a major drawcard for many graduates when choosing their employer. In addition to dry eye, presbyopia and contact lenses, myopia is one area where young optometrists can make a significant difference in the communities OPSM and Laubman & Pank serve.
Recently the network reinforced its commitment to myopia management through its partnership with EssilorLuxottica by introducing the Essilor Stellest lenses in its practices. The lenses were launched locally in October 2022 and have been shown to slow down myopia progression in children by 67% on average, compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day after two years.¹
Essilor Stellest lenses are now rolling into an all-encompassing myopia program to better support younger OPSM and Laubman & Pank patients. The program includes OCTs with optical biometry for axial length measurements – and a comprehensive protocol to support optometrists to elevate their myopia management practice.
At the global level, EssilorLuxottica has established several partnerships with a focus on advancing myopia education, awareness and advocacy.
EssilorLuxottica collaborates with the International Myopia Institute (IMI), Global Myopia Awareness Coalition and Myopia Profile, founded by Australian optometrists Dr Kate Gifford and Dr Paul Gifford. The partnership with Myopia Profile since 2020 aims to empower eyecare practitioners with clinical knowledge, skills, and practical resources in managing childhood myopia.
The company is also a platinum sponsor of IMI, a consensus body of global myopia experts. In April 2021, IMI released the 2021 edition of white papers on myopia, sponsored by EssilorLuxottica and other leading industry players. Essilor also pledged its support for the first series of the landmark IMI white papers published in 2019 and is a co-author of one of the white papers titled, ‘Industry Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Myopia Control’.
In future, EssilorLuxottica wants to continue investing in myopia research, to understand the reasons behind myopia onset and work on additional solutions. The group will also keep expanding its partnerships globally to better understand and share its findings about myopia onset and progression, advance innovative solutions, and educate all healthcare professionals to better manage myopia.
References
1. Compared to single vision lenses, when worn by children at least 12 hours per day every day Bao, J., Huang, Y., Li, X., Yang, A., Zhou, F., Wu, J., Wang, C., Li, Y., Lim, E.W., Spiegel, D.P., Drobe, B., Chen, H., 2022. Spectacle Lenses With Aspherical Lenslets for Myopia Control vs Single-Vision Spectacle Lenses: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 140(5), 472–478. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0401.
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