Gunnedah optometrist Timothy Duffy has received the prestigious Josef Lederer Award for Excellence in Optometry in 2017. Christine Craigie, President of Optometry NSW/ACT, presented the award at Super Sunday in Sydney on 12 March.
Mr. Duffy said the award was entirely unexpected. “You just do the thing you do and you do the best you can for people,” he said. “I accepted the award as one of many rural optometrists who don’t share the limelight.”
Mr. Duffy grew up in Dubbo and began practising in 1983. He opened Tim Duffy Optometry in Gunnedah in 1985 with the support of a part-time receptionist and two pieces of equipment. Thirty-two years on, he has two practices, multiple pieces of equipment, and 17 staff; 11 in Gunnedah and six in his Narrabri practice.
Mr Duffy said one of the most rewarding aspects of being a rural optometrist was the opportunity to work every day to resolve complex eye health issues and in doing so, make a significant difference to people’s lives. He said addressing a wider range of problems increased the scope of practice and demanded more skills, knowledge and experience. “Rural optometrists are here to provide patients with better access to eye care, within a scope of practice that meets each patient’s needs.”
I accepted the award as one of many rural optometrists who don’t share the limelight
Respected as an early adopter of ocular therapeutics and advanced diagnostic and imaging equipment, Mr. Duffy says optometry has come a long way since those early days in Gunnedah. “The equipment we have is worlds away from where I started, which makes optometry so stimulating – we can do so much more for our patients. On top of that, over the years we have built excellent relationships with local GPs, hospitals, pharmacists, and ophthalmologists in Sydney, Tamworth, Newcastle and Dubbo who are very happy for us to co-manage patients with them and to initiate treatment when it is required. With CareFlight on hand, we can manage urgent cases by flying patients to the most appropriate facility. It’s so wonderful to have been able to build up this scope of practice and in the years ahead, I am looking forward to passing my practices on to the four fantastic young optometrists I have working for me now. I hope they can continue to evolve our scope of practice without being driven by profit alone.”
Speaking at the award presentation, Ms. Craigie described Mr. Duffy as a leader within his local community and a regular supporter of many local charities.
“Early in his career he developed excellent skills in diagnosis, management, treatment and referral of eye disease, and acquired the most advanced diagnostic and imaging equipment… Importantly, he has demonstrated by example the genuine value of high-quality therapeutic optometric practice to local GPs and ophthalmologists.”
The prestigious Josef Lederer award was named after the late Emeritus Professor Josef Lederer and nominations for the award are made in confidence. Previous winners include the late Professor Brien Holden, Professor Brian Layland and OA NSW/ACT current President Christine Craigie.