How Vyasa took his optometry career from Australia to Ireland

When Vyasa first started thinking about a career in health, he never imagined it would eventually take him from Queensland to Tasmania, and then across the world to Dublin. Now a CORU-registered optometrist, he is settling into life at Specsavers in Ireland. His journey reflects a taste for adventure and a willingness to seek out new opportunities.

Where my journey began

In high-school I realised I wanted to have a career in health. I liked science and maths, and the idea of helping people using the knowledge from those subjects made sense. I considered other health careers at first, like medicine, dentistry and audiology, before stumbling upon optometry. At a school careers event I spoke to a young optometrist who was very passionate. He encouraged me to learn more, so I booked my very first eye appointment with my mother’s optometrist. I asked her questions about her job and what she said stuck with me.

Years later the first man went on to own a Specsavers store, and the lady who did my eye test ended up as my supervisor during my university placement.

After graduating from the Queensland University of Technology, I moved all the way down to Tasmania for my first professional job as an optometrist. It was quite different to my tropical home and I liked the adventure of exploring a new place. I worked there for about a year and a half and started thinking of what was next.

Why I chose Ireland and Specsavers

During my placement years I spoke with many professionals who had great stories about their time working overseas. When I decided I wanted to make the move myself, I started looking at roles here in Ireland. I had visited my friends here before and loved the atmosphere and the people. It was also simpler to register as an Australian optometrist in Ireland compared to the UK where I have extended family.

Before leaving I very nearly joined a Specsavers store down in Tasmania. I was already familiar with Specsavers as have been a well-established brand back home for years, and many of my peers also work in Specsavers stores around the country. One of the things that really appealed to me was working in a larger and busier store. In Tasmania I was mostly a solo clinician, which was great for learning to be independent. Although, I missed discussing cases with my peers, and I preferred being around other optometrists who I could learn from. Specsavers felt like the right fit.

Moving from Tasmania to Ireland

In Australia I started my CORU application and got an Irish working holiday visa. This visa allowed me to work in Ireland but with some limitations. While waiting for my CORU application, I flew to Europe and lived with my extended family in the UK and France while adventuring around different countries. Over a pint of Guinness visiting Dublin, a friend of a friend suggested I apply for my British passport since my father was born in England. This would grant me living and working rights due to the Common Travel Area agreement between Ireland and the UK. So, after mailing some documents around the world, I became a British citizen. This made things much easier as I no longer needed a visa to work.

My CORU registration took quite a while. After I applied, the registration system was updated so I had to jump through a few extra hoops. There were a few times I thought it might all fall through, but once the registration was finally approved and I received my British passport, I was all set.

Support from the Specsavers team

The job application process was super smooth. I reached out directly by email and was directed to the Specsavers international optometrist website. Specsavers even help with CORU registration, which I didn’t know about. I filled out my details on the website and was then asked to do a one-hour online assessment, which I completed whilst travelling in Prague. After I passed the exam, I had an excellent conversation with Paul and Chris from the recruitment team, and soon I was in touch with Kevin, one of the directors of my Specsavers store. Everyone was really friendly. They walked me through working at Specsavers and what to expect living in Dublin. My biggest worry was finding accommodation, so they sorted me out with a hotel for my first two weeks moving over. That was extremely helpful and it gave me time to navigate Dublin, familiarise myself with the store, and later find a place for myself.

Life working in Ireland

Work here is steady and can get busy, but I wanted that. I’d seen the Specsavers workflow in Australia, but I hadn’t worked in it myself. I soon got used to the different store areas and the delegation of responsibilities. The pre-testers do the imaging and pressures for me, and the contact lens staff do the contact lens teaches and ordering. This allows me to focus more on the role that only I can do, and I’m developing more and more thanks to my team. I’m loving life in Dublin. I expected the weather, but what surprised me more was how much people talk about it. Here the rain is more frequent, but usually quite light. Back in Queensland you would be soaked by the rain in seconds if you got caught in a shower. I’m certainly more appreciative of a sunny day too, which can be easy to take for granted back in Australia.

Everyone has been so friendly and really shown that famous Irish charm. My team are all very professional and it’s a pleasure to work with them to serve the visual needs of our patients.

My advice for optometrists looking to work in Ireland

Some of my university friends have already started their applications to come and work here in Ireland. The main thing I would say is that the CORU registration can take many months. It took me one year, so I’d say it’s best to get registered first before making travel plans.

What’s next for me

I was fortunate enough to travel in Europe while waiting for my registration so I feel satisfied with my adventuring so far. I’m still deciding whether I’d like to specialise in an area of clinical optometry or focus more on the business side of my career. For now I want to get more experience and confidence as a full-time optometrist. I’m looking forward to developing as a clinician, building a routine, and enjoying my life here at Specsavers and in Ireland. Green is my favourite colour after all.