Specsavers 2026 Excellence Award Winners Announced

Specsavers Australia and New Zealand proudly celebrated the winners of its four prestigious clinical awards at the Specsavers Clinical Conference (SCC) on the Gold Coast this weekend, recognising outstanding achievements in patient care, clinical excellence and emerging talent.  

The Dame Mary Perkins Award for Outstanding Patient Care, Doug Perkins Medal, Graduate Optometry Excellence Award and Early Career Optometry Excellence Award spotlight the stores and individuals who are changing lives through better sight. 

Doug Perkins Medal for Clinical Excellence 

Nick Gidas, Head of Clinical Performance at Specsavers, presented the awards and said: “These stores are outstanding examples of clinical excellence. In assessing finalists, we consider the impact they have on their patients and communities, including improvements in vision and eye health outcomes, patient feedback and their commitment to accessible, high-quality care. These two stores stood out for their unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients.” 

Dame Mary Perkins Award for Outstanding Patient Care 

The Dame Mary Perkins Award was judged by a panel of respected industry leaders, comprising Graham Perrett, Chair of Vision 2020 and Former Member of the Australian House of Representatives; Mark Nevin, CEO of Optometry Australia; and Dr Justin Mora who sits on the board of Eye Health Aotearoa, is a member of the NZ National Eye Health Clinical Network and is also Chair of the RANZCO Māori and Pasifika Eye Health Committee. 

Mr Perrett says the award plays an important role in recognising care that extends beyond the clinical setting. 
“As someone who has spent much of my career advocating for equitable access to healthcare, I’m continually reminded that the most powerful outcomes come when clinical expertise is matched with genuine human connection. This award shines a light on those optometrists who are not only delivering excellent care but are also making a tangible difference in people’s lives and communities." 

Mr Nevin highlighted the importance of strong clinical leadership as the optometry profession continues to evolve. “Optometry is moving through a period of significant change, and what gives me confidence is the calibre of practitioners leading the way. Strong clinical leadership is essential to ensuring patients receive the high standard of care they deserve. Across the profession, it is important to recognise and encourage those who lead by example, support their colleagues and help advance what great patient care looks like,” he said.  

Dr Mora says optometry plays a critical role on the frontline of healthcare and has the potential to address persistent inequities in eye health outcomes. 

“Across Aotearoa and even in Australia, we continue to see disparities in eye health outcomes that should not exist in a modern healthcare system. Frontline optometrists are uniquely placed to identify issues early, connect patients into the broader health system, and ultimately change the trajectory of someone’s health. This award is important because it recognises those practitioners who understand that bigger picture and are committed to delivering care that makes a real difference not just for individuals, but across communities.” 

Graduate and Early Career Optometry (ECO) Excellence Awards 

The 2026 Graduate Optometry Excellence Award winner is Jerry Mathias from Specsavers Karratha in Western Australia, and the Early Career Optometry Excellence Award Winner is Rafael Sy from Specsavers Ipswich in Queensland. 

Presented by Cindy Nguyen, Head of Professional Development, and Dr Natasha Fernandes, Head of Graduate Development, these awards recognise outstanding contributions from first- to fourth-year optometrists across Australia and New Zealand. 

“These winners exemplify the next generation of optometry - driven, compassionate, and committed to making a difference,” said Ms Nguyen.