From left: Mark Nevin, Cecily Rosol, and Tori Halsey
There is a clear sense of momentum building within Tasmania’s optometry sector, with continued collaboration and engagement placing the state in a strong position to deliver better outcomes for its communities.
Recent months have seen a high level of activity across Tasmania, and it has been great to see such strong and sustained engagement from members as we continue to advance key priorities for the profession. This contribution is making a tangible difference in how we advocate on your behalf.
Modernising the Spectacle Assistance Scheme
A major focus has been the review of the Tasmanian Spectacle Assistance Scheme. Feedback from members has made it clear that while the scheme remains essential, it is no longer aligned with the realities of contemporary practice. Rising costs, increasing demand, and changes in care delivery are placing growing pressure on a system that has not evolved in some time. In response to the clinical insights and experience of our Tasmanian members, we have developed seven recommendations aimed at modernising the scheme and supporting its long-term sustainability.
These recommendations centre on ensuring subsidies better reflect real world costs, reducing administrative burden so practitioners can focus on patient care, introducing a dedicated First Nations stream to improve equity of access, and aligning the scheme more closely with contemporary models of optometry. Ultimately, this work is about ensuring patients can continue to access care, while also supporting providers with a more practical, sustainable framework.
Advocacy in Action
These priorities have been reinforced through our pre-budget submission to the Tasmanian government, which highlights the need for targeted and ongoing investment in primary eye care, workforce sustainability, and scope of practice, particularly in regional areas where access remains a challenge.
We have continued discussions with the Health Minister’s Office, and during a visit from Optometry Australia CEO Mark Nevin, we met with the Shadow Health Minister, the Hon Sarah Lovell, Cecily Rosol MP, and Chief Allied Health Officer Kendra Strong. These meetings provided an opportunity to reinforce key issues and build broader understanding of the role of optometry within the health system.
Access remains a critical pressure point across Tasmania, and without appropriate policy settings, these gaps are likely to widen. Our advocacy is focused on ensuring optometry is recognised and supported as an integral part of primary care.
The establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health and Vision Care is a positive development. It provides an important mechanism to maintain engagement with parliamentarians and to keep eye health and optometry firmly on the policy agenda.
Low Vision CPD: Practical and Relevant
It was fantastic to see so many of our members at a low vision CPD event earlier this year. Led by Low Vision champion Paul Graveson, with support from Elise Wilson and Luke Burns, the session focused on practical application in everyday clinical settings. Feedback from attendees was positive, particularly in building confidence in managing patients with low vision and in providing clear, actionable strategies with a strong emphasis on translating knowledge into clinical decision making to support improved patient outcomes.
The event also provided a valuable opportunity for members to connect, share experiences, and discuss common challenges. In a smaller state such as Tasmania, these interactions play an important role in strengthening professional networks and supporting peer learning.
We were pleased to have Mark Nevin and Lisa Kingshott (Optometry Tasmania President) in attendance, which enabled further discussion on future directions, strengthening the association, and ongoing advocacy priorities.
Staying Connected
Ongoing engagement with members remains central to my work as Tasmanian State Lead. We recently hosted a few informal ‘coffee and collaborate’ sessions, providing an opportunity to bring together optometrists, pharmacists, and general practitioners.
These sessions have provided a useful platform for local connection, with plans to expand into more structured networking and CPD opportunities between optometrists and GPs later in the year.
Your insights from daily practice, along with feedback on policy and emerging challenges, directly inform our advocacy and help ensure our focus remains aligned with member needs. If there are issues you would like to raise, or feedback to share, I encourage you to get in touch. I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
TLC 2026: Looking Ahead
Tasmania’s Lifestyle Congress (TLC 2026) will take place from 19–20 September at Mövenpick Hobart. This flagship event continues to be a highlight of the Tasmanian calendar, and I’m looking forward to bringing members together for what promises to be a fantastic weekend of education, collaboration, and networking. TLC provides a valuable opportunity to step away from day-to-day practice, engage with high-quality clinical content, and connect with colleagues from across the state. I encourage you to keep an eye out for further details – it’s shaping up to be a great event.
Tori Halsey is the Tasmanian State Lead at Optometry Australia.
