Meet the finalists of the 2024 OV/SA Awards

Meet the finalists of the 2024 Optometry Victoria South Australia (OV/SA) Awards, as we uncover how they go above and beyond for their patients, their peers, and their profession – every day!

Congratulations to all of these exceptionally dedicated optometrists. The winners will be announced at the SRC Mini in Melbourne on 17 November 2024. At the same time, Life Member Awards will be presented to two members who have demonstrated passion and commitment over the course of a distinguished optometric career.

Finalists 2024 – Optometrist of the Year Award

This award recognises members who have made an outstanding contributions to the optometry profession through innovation, initiative, or exceptional demonstrated care.

Zhichao Wu

Zhichao is a highly accomplished optometrist researcher, specialising in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma research. He is based at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). Zhichao is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Australian College of Optometry (ACO), and an elected member of the Macular Society – in recognition for his extensive contributions to retinal literature.

Zhichao’s glaucoma research was recognised in Ten of the Best National Health and Medical Research Council Research Projects in 2024. With over 120 published articles over the last decade and having secured significant research funding, Zhichao has been named as a top 200 global research optometrists, and is currently ranking sixth for publication rate.

His excellence in supervision was acknowledged with a Melbourne Medical School Award for Outstanding Graduate Research Supervision. Zhichao currently supervises 19 research students, including PhDs, undergraduates, and medical doctors. He also delivers regular educational talks and seminars for eye care practitioners.

Zeinab Fakih

Zeinab is the Manager of Paediatric and Rehabilitative Services at the Australian College of Optometry (ACO) and is dedicated to paediatric myopia and public health. Since joining ACO in 2016, she has driven clinical innovations, including the expansion of the myopia control clinic, while mentoring and supervising students and staff. Zeinab is passionate about reducing barriers to paediatric eyecare and has presented data on myopia control as a public health issue, both locally and at the recent 2024 International Myopia Conference. Zeinab’s work highlights the barriers faced by children from disadvantaged backgrounds in accessing myopia control and the need for advocacy in this space.

Zeinab’s community outreach efforts are equally impactful, as she has led initiatives providing eye care to underserved populations. These include school visits to low socioeconomic areas and eyecare for students from the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. She advocates for better access to eye care services, including a presentation at Parliament House, Canberra during the Vision 2020 Children’s Vision Symposium.

Zeinab also works with healthcare professionals to improve integrated care models that benefit paediatric patients. She fostered an observership program at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) for ACO’s paediatric residents, enhancing their clinical experience.

Nilmini John

Nilmini has played an integral role in improving eye care for First Nations communities through her work as the Manager of Aboriginal Services for the Australian College of Optometry (ACO). Since 2018, she has promoted culturally safe optometry services across Victoria that enhance access to care through initiatives such as the Visiting Optometrist Scheme. Nilmini has built strong partnerships with the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Fred Hollows Foundation and the Brien Holden Foundation, to improve eye care outcomes for underserved communities.

Nilmini has facilitated a strong interprofessional collaboration at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, providing a seamless eye care journey for the First Nations community. In 2023, she pioneered an eye care partnership with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School to provide eye exams for students. In 2024, Nilmini led the first staff eye screenings at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the peak body for the health and wellbeing of First Peoples in Victoria.

Beyond service work, Nilmini is a passionate advocate for optometry and public health. She sits on the Optometry Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Advisory Group, contributes as a Clinical Advisor for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), and volunteers on the ACO’s Reconciliation Action Plan and Rainbow Working Groups. Nilmini has a strong background in education, having mentored new graduates and optometry students for over 18 years and provided retinal camera training to Aboriginal Health Workers.

Finalists 2024 – Rising Star Award

This award recognises an optometrist in the first ten years of their career who has displayed excellence in innovation, academic publishing, community outreach, or otherwise distinguished themselves.

Mohammed Alebrahimi

Mohammed is dedicated to improving health outcomes for migrants and refugees. The challenges Mohammed faced as a refugee have inspired him to give back to his community. While studying optometry at The University of Melbourne, he established home care and disability services that now support over 1,000 people annually, particularly from Arabic, Turkish, Indian, Sri Lankan, Greek and Italian backgrounds.

Mohammed also helps migrants gain employment through partnerships with registered training organisations, resulting in over 1,000 individuals completing training and securing work, particularly in aged care. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Mohammed and his family built a community centre in Roxburgh Park, offering a range of services including optometry, physiotherapy and speech therapy.

His Roxburgh Park Optometry clinic has served over 4,500 clients, many of them refugees and older adults with co-morbidities. Mohammed’s vision is that the clinic provides inclusive, affordable care with a focus on improving overall health, including vision. His dedication has turned the centre into a community hub, offering healthcare, social support and education.

Ebru Efem

Ebru is an inspiring optometrist and business owner with a special interest in paediatric eye care. After completing a Master of Orthoptics in 2016 and working at the Royal Children’s Hospital, she expanded her scope by earning a Master of Optometry from Deakin University in 2020. Ebru identified gaps in paediatric eye care and in May 2022, opened her own independent optometry clinic, iOptical in Greenvale, Melbourne, providing comprehensive and tailored eye care.

Fluent in Turkish, Ebru offers culturally inclusive services and educates her community about eye health through the local Turkish newspaper. She has promoted sustainability in her practice and set a goal to transition to a paper-free business. Ebru’s clinic is renowned for excellence in paediatric eye health. She collaborates with programs such as Glasses for Kids to provide eye care to children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ebru works closely with local healthcare professionals, ensuring multidisciplinary care for her patients. She also collaborates with the Royal Children’s Hospital to help optometrists manage paediatric cases, thus alleviating pressure on the public health system. Ebru actively educates the public on the importance early intervention in myopia management and inspires future optometrists through teaching and mentorship.

Martin Diep

Martin graduated as an optometrist in 2014, then completed a Masters in Optometry and a Fellowship with the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists, specialising in paediatric and neuro-optometric care for patients with brain injuries. His dedication to evidence-based care has already established him as a leader in these fields.

In 2018, Martin became a partner at See Optometry in Victor Harbor, South Australia, which was recognised for excellence in the 2023 Business Victor Harbor Awards. Martin was responsible for launching the Sunnies for Schools initiative, distributing over 700 pairs of free sunglasses to local schoolchildren and educating the community on UV protection.

Martin actively mentors optometry students and collaborates with Flinders University to provide clinical placements. He also offers CPD training for general practitioners, Aboriginal health workers and emergency department staff – improving eye care access and reducing the strain on tertiary health services.

In 2024, Martin led his practice in the Business Victor Harbor Circular Economy Program, enhancing sustainability by implementing recycling stations and reducing paper usage. His efforts reflect his commitment to both high-quality optometry and community well-being.