Meet the OQNT Optometrist of the Year finalists

 

We are proud to announce the finalists for the Optometry Queensland Northern Territory (OQNT) Optometrist of the Year Award, celebrating optometrists who advance our profession through innovation, leadership, education, research, advocacy, and community service.

Congratulations to the finalists, Dr Shelley Hopkins (optometrist), Fiona Moore, Dr Ursula White (optometrist), and Hiromi Yoshikawa. The winner will be announced at the Optometry Clinical Conference on 9 August.

Dr Shelley Hopkins (optometrist)

Throughout her career, Dr Hopkins has championed equitable eye care by combining innovation in clinical education with community outreach and culturally safe practice. She has transformed how future practitioners can meet the needs of underserved communities by developing Queensland University of Technology’s rural and remote work-integrated learning program. This innovative model combines authentic clinical placements with outreach service delivery, equipping students with the skills, adaptability, and cultural competence they need.

For more than 15 years, Dr Hopkins has worked in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, refugee and migrant populations, and regional health services to establish sustainable outreach programs that are community-led, culturally safe, and responsive to local needs, fostering trust and engagement while improving access to essential eye health services.

An accomplished researcher, mentor, and advocate, Dr Hopkins has strengthened optometry education through evidence-based teaching, research into children’s vision screening and service access, and the supervision of emerging researchers and optometrists committed to culturally safe care. Her leadership prepares optometry graduates to practise in rural and regional Australia, addressing critical workforce shortages, and improving health equity.

Fiona Moore

Fiona Moore is firmly committed to improving eye health services across Queensland and Australia. As co-founder of independent practices in Rockhampton and Yeppoon, she has delivered high-quality eye care to Central Queensland for decades, while supporting the Rockhampton Base Hospital Eye Outpatients Clinic. Her expertise in emergency eye care has been instrumental in regions with limited public ophthalmology services, as she often coordinates urgent referrals and critical patient transfers to Brisbane.

In her roles as former OQNT President and Deputy President, Fiona has helped shape strategic planning, governance, workforce development, and advocacy for the profession. Her leadership was instrumental in achieving a comprehensive understanding of Queensland’s public optometry workforce, creating new employment opportunities and strengthening collaborative models of public eye care.

A passionate educator and mentor, Fiona shares her expertise at conference presentations and in leading publications on therapeutic prescribing, collaborative care, and ocular disease management. Widely respected for her practical advice, strategic insight, and unwavering support of colleagues, Fiona’s contributions continue to strengthen the profession and improve access to quality eye care for regional communities.

Dr Ursula White (optometrist)

Founder and director of Special Eyes Vision Services, Dr White, is committed to promoting and providing quality eye care for people with disabilities and complex needs. Her inclusive, person-centred model removes many of the barriers encountered in traditional clinical settings. Combining adaptive assessment techniques, flexible consultations, and functional vision evaluation, Dr White has successfully improved eye health for individuals who are neurodivergent, non-speaking, or living with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Her research into the functional impacts of vision loss has strengthened understanding of the relationship between eye health, independence, and falls risk. Through public presentation, professional collaboration, and creation of educational resources, she aims to improve awareness of cerebral vision impairment, a condition which frequently goes unrecognised in people with complex disabilities. As a clinical supervisor at Queensland University of Technology, Dr White inspires future optometrists to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care. She mentors students and emerging practitioners, encouraging inclusive thinking and innovation.

A respected advocate for equitable eye care, Dr White continues to challenge conventional models of service delivery, promoting greater recognition of disability-inclusive optometry, functional vision assessment, and the profession’s role in supporting participants within the NDIS, encouraging a more inclusive future for optometric care.

Hiromi Yoshikawa

Hiromi has championed the integration of optometry into the public hospital system through her role as a clinical optometrist at Gold Coast University Hospital. She has helped establish optometry-led clinics within the hospital, advocating for expanded clinical roles that strengthen collaboration with ophthalmologists and improve patient care.

Drawing on frontline experience in rural glaucoma care, Hiromi completed the Australian College of Optometry’s (ACO) Advanced Certificate in Glaucoma. She is now involved in co-managing complex cases, including secondary and some advanced glaucoma, while promoting evidence-based practice through the ACO’s Career in Focus educational program.

In private practice, Hiromi practises full-scope optometry, managing and co-managing a range of ocular conditions, as well as advanced contact lens fitting, including Orthokeratology and mini-scleral lenses for patients with keratoconus and myopia. She is also accredited to perform CASA Eye Medical examinations, supporting Australia’s aviation industry with essential vision assessments.

Hiromi contributes to educational and clinical groups within Optometry Australia, helping advance professional standards and continuing education. She mentors practitioners on the expanding scope of optometry and recently became qualified as a diabetic educator, further broadening her clinical expertise.