The coming years present an opportunity for optometrists to move forward together, nationally aligned and locally responsive, united by a shared commitment to high quality eye care and a strong future for our profession in Australia.

Having spent several years within Optometry Australia’s policy team, I have had the privilege of witnessing a period of genuine transformation for our profession. National policy reform is rarely swift, but it is driven by persistence and sustained collective effort. Over recent years, this approach has delivered important wins, most notably the significant progress towards oral medications prescribing achieved in recent months. This marks an important development in how optometrists contribute to contemporary clinical practice and patient care, and our evolving role as primary healthcare practitioners.

I am delighted to now step into the role of State Lead Manager, a position that offers a unique vantage point across the integrated state divisions. With a new Chief Executive Officer, Mark Nevin, joining us at the beginning of this year, there is strong momentum and real optimism. Addressing optometry oversupply and maldistribution, improving workforce conditions, and supporting optometrists at every stage of their careers, and continuing to advance the profession towards oral medications are ambitious goals. Above all, there is a renewed emphasis on unity across the profession nationwide.

DIFFERENT STATES, DIFFERENT REALITIES

Each integrated state division has its own challenges, successes, and advocacy priorities, all of which directly influence day-today optometric practice. One of the great privileges of my new role is having a front row seat to the extraordinary volume of work being undertaken by our integrated State Lead optometrists to respond to these local realities.

Queensland State Lead, Prajna Vidyasagar, continues to work closely with regional hubs to strengthen collaborative care, bringing optometrists and general practitioners together, and ensuring optometry voices are heard within government institutions and departments. This includes the submission of strong state government budget proposals and advocacy platforms aimed at improving collaborative care and practising to full scope, to improve optometry care for both patients and practitioners.

In Victoria, Isaac Curkpatrick has entered his second year as State Lead, leading important work in the children’s vision space. He is coordinating leaders across the sector to call on government to deliver a universal pre-school vision screening program, drawing together the strongest elements of existing initiatives across the state into a cohesive and scalable approach. This is alongside a substantial regional series program, providing the opportunity to focus on individual areas and their specific clinical, workforce and access priorities.

As Tasmania moves towards a future focused on preventative health within a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, Tasmanian State Lead, Tori Halsey, has been ensuring that optometry is not only heard but actively involved. Her recent government budget submissions have highlighted the importance of improving family education and awareness around myopia, alongside proposals to modernise the subsidised spectacle scheme. At the same time, she continues to bring together Tasmania’s close knit optometry community with local healthcare practitioners to enhance both eye care and broader holistic health outcomes for residents.

In South Australia, I have continued our advocacy for universal pre-school vision screening, meeting with almost every Member of Parliament over the past year. Alongside this, we are supporting multiple local collaborative care projects, with a particular focus on working together to address the hospital waiting times crisis and improve opportunity for optometry across the state.

Collectively, these initiatives are designed not only to improve patient outcomes and strengthen clinical practice, but also to drive appropriate demand for optometric care, helping to address workforce pressures associated with oversupply and distribution across the profession.

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER

One of the greatest strengths of a national organisation is the ability for states and territories to learn from one another. Programs can be piloted in one jurisdiction, refined through experience, and then adapted to suit the unique needs of other regions. Advocacy issues raised by members are addressed continuously by State Leads, ensuring responses are timely, relevant, and locally informed.

I encourage members to reach out to any of the State Lead team. It is these engaged optometrists, advocating for improvements for themselves and their patients, who enable us to work effectively with government. State Leads are well placed to ensure advocacy, continuing professional development, early career engagement, and other initiatives are thoughtfully designed and tailored for each individual state.

CONNECTION AND LEARNING

The spirit of collaboration is reflected in an exceptional conference calendar for 2026. Darwin Interactive from 18–19 April promises not only beautiful weather but engaging and diverse CPD opportunities. Melbourne Interactive follows from 2–3 May, continuing this strong educational offering.

And of course, I am very much looking forward to our next Optometry Clinical Conference, from 9–10 August at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The momentum is already building, carrying forward the energy from last year’s event in Melbourne.

Cassandra Haines is Optometry Australia’s State Lead Manager and State Lead for South Australia.