Specsavers welcomes largest cohort of graduates in 2023
Specsavers has welcomed a record number of graduates into the fold in 2023, with 168 newly-qualified optometrists joining the business across Australia and New Zealand in the first week of
February.
The record number of new graduates joining Specsavers is the largest single intake the business has ever accepted into its Graduate Program since its inception, and is a 29% increase on the previous year.
158 of the graduates have taken up roles across Australia in both metro and regional stores, and 30 have joined our New Zealand business.
“The size of this year’s graduate intake indicates our mission to change lives through better sight and hearing is resonating strongly with optometry students, and that this new generation of optometrists recognises the value of evidence‐based clinical practice in enhancing patient outcomes for Australians and New Zealanders,” said Specsavers Professional Recruitment Director Raj Sundarjee.
The newest members of the Specsavers family were officially welcomed into the Specsavers Graduate Program at the annual Specsavers Graduate Induction event on February 27 and 28, held at Crown Conference Centre in Melbourne, the first face‐to‐face event of its kind since 2020. This year’s Graduate Induction event provided information about Specsavers vision and values, and the business, as well as topics that included professional development and conduct, and an overview of eye health stakeholders such as RANZCO, Glaucoma Australia, Diabetes Australia, government, and the technology available in‐store.
Small workshops, facilitated by a range of Specsavers specialists, provided opportunities to discuss topics including professional communication, therapeutics, Medicare, contact lenses and ophthalmic lenses. These were a highlight for the graduates as they provided opportunities to acquire in‐depth information on topics highly relevant to clinical practice.
The event is the first development event in the Specsavers Graduate Program, a structured, two year development program that provides our graduates with clinical and commercial knowledge to grow their clinical skills and expertise, and offers a combination of professional events, courses and experiences designed specifically to enrich personal and professional growth.
The program, which is built around three areas: continuing education and professional development; commercial and inter‐professional perspectives and formal feedback, aims to provide graduates with the clinical and commercial knowledge and skills they need. It is delivered through workshops, online programs, visitation programs, case studies, presentations, development meetings and clinical skills training and seminars.