Our Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT Committee - ECONA - was appointed by Optometry NSW/ACT in 2019 to engage and converse with our early-career members. It consists of a committee chair, main committee and three subcommittees with a focus on Student Engagement, Conference Engagement and Rural & Regional Engagement.
“I am dedicated to supporting and advocating for our early career optometrists and students in navigating the profession with confidence. As Chair of our committee, we foster continual education and impactful discussions, ensuring optometrists stay informed, connected and empowered in their careers.”
"My mission is to unite early career regional and rural optometrists. I aim to create a sense of support and inclusivity among optometrists, regardless of where they are located. I would like to support the development of early career optometrists in all aspects of optometry including patient care, advocacy, research and education. My passion lies in building strong connections within the optometry profession, which I believe will lead to improved public health outcomes in marginalised communities."
"I am excited to become a part of the ECONA team, and to work with passionate individuals to address the unique challenges facing optometrists in rural and regional practices. I am passionate in contributing and pioneering positive change, fostering relationships with the wider healthcare community, and helping to create a sustainable future for the profession."
"As the Conference Engagement Chair for Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT (ECONA), I’m passionate about encouraging greater involvement and attendance among early-career optometrists at conferences and events. In this role, I focus on developing creative and engaging strategies to make events more accessible, relevant, and appealing to younger practitioners. By increasing participation, I aim to help Optometry NSW/ACT better understand and cater to the needs of the next generation of optometrists, supporting their professional growth, fostering a stronger sense of community, and enhancing long-term member retention within the organisation."
"In collaboration with Optometry NSW/ACT, my role is to facilitate interprofessional networking opportunities for early career optometrists. I'm also passionate about identifying the needs and priorities of early career optometrists so that these can be better reflected in Optometry NSW/ACT’s events and initiatives. By fostering meaningful connections between optometrists and other health professionals, I aim to support professional growth, collaboration, and patient-centred care. Through this work, I contribute to Optometry NSW/ACT’s mission to empower early career optometrists and uphold its role as Australia’s peak professional body for the profession."
I am excited to be co-chairing the ECONA student engagement subcommittee. ECONA engages with and helps to support newly graduated and early career optometrists by providing support, resources and working closely with Optometry NSW/ACT. I hope to assist ECONA in these goals moving forward.
"I’m excited to be co-chairing the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT Student Engagement Subcommittee to help create a supportive and collaborative space for students as they transition into the profession. I hope to bring fresh ideas and contribute to initiatives that genuinely benefit students, making their journey into optometry more connected and confident. My focus is on fostering meaningful connections, facilitating practical support for students through Optometry NSW/ACT, and helping build a strong community for the next generation of optometrists."
Additional committee members involved in the subcommittees including:
Conference Engagement, Student Engagement and Rural & Regional Engagement.
"I am excited to continue being involved in Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT - ECONA - through the Conference Engagement Committee. I look forward to dedicating my efforts towards engaging students and early career optometrists at conferences, and also to help make it a warm and inviting event to attend. I aim to implement feedback from my peers and to connect with them, with the goal of continuously improving the experience of attending future conferences for our early career optometrists of NSW and ACT."
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to be apart of ECONA. As a young optometrist working in regional NSW myself, I understand the unique challenges faced by those practicing in rural and regional locations. I am passionate about ensuring that optometrists practicing in these areas are well-supported, respected and have access to resources in order to continue their development."
“I am delighted join the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA team, through which I can assist Optometry NSW/ACT in supporting fellow optometry students and early career optometrists in achieving their goals during the most crucial part of their journey. I aim to be part of a community that supports the voices of our youngest members. Through this opportunity, I aspire to become a pillar of support for my colleagues mentally, emotionally, and professionally.”
"I am honoured to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT (ECONA) Rural and Regional Subcommittee, where I can connect with students and early career optometrists to understand their concerns, passions and innovations. By engaging with these individuals, I hope to understand the unique challenges they may be facing, and also connect them to appropriate support and resources available. This will ultimately help Optometry NSW/ACT support these individuals in navigating through the start of their professional journey."
I'm excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT family. As a final-year optometry student, I've loved collaborating with my peers, tutors, and professors who share my enthusiasm for fun learning. Together, we've created a dynamic and inspiring learning experience. Through Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT, I'm eager to work closely with my peers, listen to their ideas, and work together to create a vibrant and supportive community.
I am incredibly grateful to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA family. As an early career optometrist, I am passionate about engaging with my peers to better understand their unique challenges and bridge the connection between young optometrists and the broader profession. Through this role, I hope to contribute by helping Optometry NSW/ACT deliver valuable resources that support early career development and well-being.
"I am excited to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT Student Engagement subcommittee. I believe being on this committee gives me a unique opportunity to help bridge the gap between students and the professional world of optometry while also building meaningful connections with peers and industry leaders. Through Optometry NSW/ACT, I hope to support and advocate for students as they navigate their studies and early careers as optometrists."
"As a fourth-year optometry student, I understand the growth and development that come with preparing to enter the profession. That’s why I am excited to contribute to the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA Student Engagement subcommittee to help support early career optometrists, including final-year students, as they navigate this transition. I’m passionate about fostering open, friendly communication between all year levels and cohorts, ensuring that students and early career optometrists feel connected, informed, and supported throughout their journey. By strengthening engagement with our professional body, I hope to help my peers access the right resources and guidance for them."
Our organisation is indebted to the past members of our Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT committee. A huge thank you for volunteering your time, energy, enthusiasm and initiative for the benefit of early career optometrists and the profession.
"I believe ECONA is the perfect platform to actively represent and support young optometrists - we face experiences and challenges in our early career that eventually become fundamental in dictating our passions and ideas around our profession. We are also frequently reminded that optometry is changing. As a member of this committee, I will strive to establish a sustainable and rewarding future for young optometrists.”
“My passion in optometry lies within Indigenous and rural community health. I believe in the need for strong advocacy and leadership in these areas. I am dedicated to continually promoting the need for allied health services within small communities. I believe that optometry services should be accessible to everyone and be delivered in a culturally safe way.”
“I’m excited to be involved in ECONA because I am passionate about mentoring graduates. As a regional optometrist, I know firsthand the potential for mental health struggles to occur outside the cities and I’d like to combat this. Finally, I’d love to be at the interface of our professional alliance with ophthalmologists.”
“My vision for the future includes specialisation within optometry, increased therapeutic and surgical scope of practice, and better relationships with ophthalmology. As an optometrist in an independent practice, I’d also like to see more networking, social and industry events for all optometrists – not just those in the large corporates.”
“Observing the devaluation of other allied health professions has given me the desire to ensure that optometry does not go down the same route. I want optometry to remain a valued, respected and essential element of the health-care community. It is imperative that young optometrists working for corporates remain active in the wider optometry community and I feel that ECONA has a key role to play in guiding them.”
“I'm grateful to be part of the ECONA committee and look forward to the opportunities ahead. In this position, I hope to improve the transition for students becoming optometrists, to provide specialised professional development events, and to empower optometrists to take on minor in-office surgical procedures.”
“I believe ECONA represents an opportunity for us to better shape the future of optometry, as we face the ever-growing demands of an ageing population. I look forward to working alongside like-minded peers to strive for increasing optometric scope and greater unity both within optometry and the wider health care community.”
I look forward to working with the ECONA team as it presents itself as a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of changing tides in the optometry landscape. I hope that we can realise the full potential of our profession within the healthcare system and be proud of the positive impact we have on our patients.
As a graduate optometrist working in Dubbo, I am thrilled to be joining the ECONA regional sub-committee. I am delighted to be part of the future, leading and representing the optometrists who work alongside GPs and ophthalmologists. I want to broaden our scope of practice and provide more educational resources to other early career optometrists for their professional development. I look forward to promoting better community awareness of the optometrist role and encourage other young optometrists to co-manage and support the local ophthalmologists to provide the best clinical experience and care to our patients.
I am excited to be part of ECONA on the Rural and Regional Subcommittee as I find working in a regional area myself, connection and engagement with colleagues and linking into face to face CPD can be challenging. Therefore I would love to be able to help encourage online/zoom meetings to build a support network between regional members as an opportunity to share any challenges, as well as triumphs, that working in a regional area brings.
I am excited to be involved with ECONA Scope of Optometry subcommittee to strengthen the role of optometrists in healthcare in Australia. It is important to secure the profession in diverse skillset and capabilities and support early career optometrists through a range of career options to excel in their future.
I am excited for the opportunity to sit on the ECONA subcommittee. The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for everyone, including optometry students. Lockdowns have caused uncertainty in graduation timeframes and employment opportunities. In this position I endeavour to better connect current optometry students to optometrists, to help make the transition from being a student to an optometrist just that little bit easier.
I am thrilled to be a part of ECONA and contribute to its important initiatives. As a current optometry student, I understand the difficulty in navigating the industry and future job prospects. As such, I am extremely passionate about making the student to early career optometrist transition less daunting and more exciting!
As a recent grad, I am excited to be given the opportunity to be a part of ECONA and contribute to its initiatives to our always evolving profession. Students are often faced with uncertainty and are left with unanswered questions. With this in mind, it is my hope to provide reassurance and act as a conduit between students, early career optometrists and Optometry Australia NSW/ACT.
I am excited to be a part of ECONA, working with other passionate optometrists to support, identify and resolve issues pertaining to rural and remote optometry practice. Having commenced my career in a remote practice in Broken Hill, I have seen and experienced some of the challenges for optometry in these settings. I look forward to building relationships with the wider healthcare community and advocating for our profession to achieve the best clinical outcomes for our patients and communities.
Being part of the Corporate Engagement subcommittee is a great opportunity to progress and protect the value of optometrists in the allied health industry. As an optometrist working for both independent and corporate practices, I would like to provide more insight on ways we can be more reputable and valuable to our patients. I am a firm supporter of networking with other optometrists, ophthalmologists and GPs, where knowledge and experience shared can provide our patients with the best clinical solutions for their concerns.
I'm incredibly excited to be a part of the ECONA committee, specifically within the regional sub-committee. As an early career optometrist who has worked predominantly in regional areas, in ACT and interstate since graduating, I understand first hand the unique challenges and issues that arise from the limited resources regional optometrists encounter. I hope to be someone my fellow colleagues can reach out to with any ideas or concerns, and act as a spokesperson for them in working towards a better support network for all optometrists.
Student engagement with suppliers and prospective corporate and independent employers is one of the crucial stepping stones to developing our careers as optometrists. I am critically passionate about helping early career optometrists and students better communicate with these groups. Navigating the career space can be difficult and scary! And so I hope to bring my experience to assist both students and early career optometrists in helping to articulate their professional goals, needs and unique skill sets to our wider optical and ophthalmological community.
“I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the ECONA committee. As a young optometrist practising in a rural area, I am passionate about ensuring that the voices of optometrists like me are heard, and that everyone within the profession is well supported by the association regardless of geographic location. I want to ensure that optometrists remain an integral and respected member of the allied health community in NSW and Australia.”
I am excited to be granted this position to represent the voices of my fellow student optometrists. As an optometrist-in-training, I share with my colleagues our mutual hopes, dreams and uncertainties about our future in this ever-changing field of optometry. It is my aim to promote the positive practicing culture and the greater opportunities for student engagement to ease our transition into competent mature clinicians.
I sincerely appreciate that there is a group of optometrists who are committed to supporting their peers in the corporate industry. I recognise that corporate employment dominates the industry and that a large proportion of our peers work in a corporate environment. As this will likely remain the case for the future I think it is really important that there are resources available to support those in the corporate environment. I would love to support ECONA in developing resources and sharing knowledge on what can be expected from corporate optometry, especially for new graduates. Being a new grad at a rural franchise, I believe that I am in a position to support the ECONA Corporate Subcommittee continue the great work they already do.
Having graduated in 2020 with limited amount of patient exposure in my final placement year and then moving interstate to a regional town, I understand the challenges that many graduate optometrists are facing. I look forward to be part of ECONA and connecting with the optometrists in rural and regional areas. I hope to grow together and support one another.
I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to contribute to ECONA, a team actively advocating for optometry beyond the consultation room. As a regional and early career optometrist myself, I hope to support optometrists in our ever evolving role, including in areas where there may be a maldistribution of health care practitioners and resources.
“I am a newly graduated optometrist who is excited to be out in the real world, testing eyes and helping to deliver optimal eye care. Being a part of the ECONA committee is an amazing opportunity, which will really allow me to contribute to future optometrists in the early years of their career.”
I am super excited to be part of ECONA. I want to ensure that corporate optometrists are still connected to the broader optometry spectrum. I also aim to help other optometrists with achieving better work/life balance and passion for their profession, something I've had difficulty with in the past myself.
As an early career optometrist, I'm thrilled to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA Student Engagement subcommittee. I believe in the power of connection and am dedicated to engaging with fellow early career optometrists. By listening and sharing, we can help Optometry NSW/ACT provide valuable resources like events, resources and mentoring, empowering our community to grow together.
"I’m excited to be part of the ECONA committee that supports and engages with early optometrists in corporate employment in the initial stages of their careers. I am honored to be able to be involved in the advancement of the optometry profession and help shape the future of the industry."
"I am excited for the opportunity to be involved with the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA Rural and Regional Subcommittee team. As an early career optometrist myself, working in regional NSW, I am aware that it can be both challenging and rewarding. I hope to bring awareness of the benefits and challenges of regional practice to those considering working outside metro areas, and to support Optometry NSW/ACT in supporting our young regional optometrists by hearing their unique needs, equipping them with valuable resources and ensuring they feel well-supported for the long term."
"I believe in giving back what I have been given. Throughout my student and graduate years, what motivated me to stay focused was the guidance and support of early career optometrists who were kind enough to put in their time and effort for others. Through ECONA, I am thrilled to have a chance to do the same - to listen to and amplify the voices of students and other early career optometrists, to devise more ways to meet their academic and career needs, to help retain good people in our profession, and to build a better future for us overall."
"I’m thrilled to be involved with the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA committee to highlight the interests and concerns of younger members in the optometric profession. By fostering a positive culture, my goal is to increase engagement and to create an innovative network for early career optometrists. I look forward to contributing back to the profession and promoting optometry such that it remains an integral part of the healthcare community."
"As an optometrist and a clinical consultant working for a corporate in a regional area, I am excited to be part of the Early Career Optometrists NSW/ACT ECONA committee. It is an opportunity to discuss with like-minded individuals on the issues that early career optometrists face and how these issues can be solved. My hope that my engagement with ECONA will bring better community awareness of the optometrist role as well as encourage regional optometrists and other health professionals to co-manage to provide the best clinical care to our patients."
I'm thrilled to contribute to the advocacy efforts for the advancement and progression of the optometric profession. As a constantly evolving field, optometry holds immense potential for innovation and the transformation of clinical practice, especially with the advancements seen in the digital and technological sphere. I am committed to representing and supporting your vision for expanding our clinical scope, with the ultimate aim of enhancing patient outcomes and elevating the standard of care.
"I'm thrilled to support early-career optometrists as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of our ever-evolving profession. As Co-Chair of Conference Engagement, I am deeply committed to fostering collaboration between healthcare professionals, enhancing access to resources, and promoting unity within our field."
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In the spirit of reconciliation Optometry Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.