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MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Sonya Broadhead<\/p>\n
Position: Director\/optical dispenser\/co-owner<\/p>\n
Location: See Side Optical, Thirroul, NSW<\/p>\n
Years in industry: More than 28<\/p>\n
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Sonya Broadhead.<\/p>\n
1. What inspired you to pursue an optical dispensing career, and how has your perspective changed over time?<\/p>\n
I was looking for a rewarding career when an opportunity came through Bruce and Robyn Porter, who introduced me to the optical\u00a0industry.<\/p>\n
What attracted me was the stability. What kept me here was the ability to provide genuinely personalised care to people.<\/p>\n
Early on, I thought the job was about glasses and vision correction. Today, I see it as being about people, relationships and helping individuals feel confident, comfortable and cared for. The technical side remains important, but the human connection is what makes the profession so rewarding.<\/p>\n
2. What are the most influential moments and people that led you to this point?<\/p>\n
Several mentors have shaped my career. The Porters gave me my start. Bruce taught me practical skills such as repairs and problem-solving, while Robyn taught me about fashion, styling and helping patients feel good in their eyewear.<\/p>\n
Rachel Magennis taught me lens edging and frame fitting, while Brett Magennis shared valuable business knowledge and helped me understand what it takes to run an independent practice.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most significant lesson came from Steve King, who taught me to recognise my own value and capabilities, and his wife Dianne. I will always be grateful for the confidence they helped rebuild.<\/p>\n
3. What\u2019s something you know now that you wished you understood at the start of your career?<\/p>\n
Nobody else can be you \u2013 that\u2019s your\u00a0superpower.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to compare yourself to others or think success comes from the perfect business name, location or fit-out. But businesses are built by people. The values you hold, the culture you create and the way you treat patients and staff are what drive long-term success.<\/p>\n
4. Can you share a moment where you made a significant impact on patients\u2019\u00a0lives?<\/p>\n
I often think patients have made a bigger impact on me.<\/p>\n
One long-term elderly patient spoke about loneliness and mentioned that a local bridge had crossed his mind. I knew this was more than an optical appointment \u2013 it was a person I needed to check on. Since then, I\u2019ve made a point of keeping in touch. People don\u2019t always come into an optical practice because they\u2019re rough on their glasses. Sometimes they\u2019re simply looking for connection.<\/p>\n
On a more visual note, I remember when a three-year-old child received her first high-plus lenses. As she put them on, she reached out and touched her mother\u2019s face as if seeing it clearly for the first time. My colleague Natalie was in tears. For patients and families, these moments can be life\u00a0changing.<\/p>\n
5. What innovations in eyewear or technology are you most excited about, and why?<\/p>\n
The move towards truly personalised lenses excites me the most. I believe Rodenstock is ahead of the game, but Hoya\u2019s new myopia lenses are exciting too.<\/p>\n
When I started in optics, we used pens to mark pupils on lenses. Today, technologies such as the DNEye Scanner and ImpressionIST system capture thousands of measurement points and provide a detailed understanding of how a person\u2019s eyes\u00a0function.<\/p>\n
Designing lenses around the individual rather than relying on averages has been a game changer. We can deliver levels of accuracy, comfort and visual performance that weren\u2019t possible earlier.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m also excited by the growth of myopia management. The opportunity to influence a young person\u2019s visual future rather than simply correcting vision is one of the most rewarding developments our industry has\u00a0seen.<\/p>\n
6. What skills or qualities do you believe are most important for an optical dispenser to thrive in today\u2019s market?<\/p>\n
Technical knowledge is important, but communication, empathy and adaptability are the most critical skills.<\/p>\n
Patients have access to more information than ever and often arrive with questions or misconceptions. Being able to listen, educate and guide people through their options is\u00a0essential.<\/p>\n
Technology will continue to evolve, but the ability to build trust and relationships remains at the heart of great patient care.<\/p>\n
7. How do you ensure your skills and knowledge stay up to date and current in such a fast-moving industry?<\/p>\n
Continuous learning. I regularly attend supplier training, webinars, conferences and industry events. The ODA has been a fantastic resource for education and industry\u00a0updates.<\/p>\n
One of the greatest strengths of our industry is the willingness of people to share knowledge. As a business owner, I also learn from my team. Every staff member brings different strengths and perspectives, and often the best ideas come from the people around you.<\/p>\n
I stay curious. The day you think you know everything is the day you stop growing.<\/p>\n
8. Why did you become a member of ODA, and what value do you see in the\u00a0organisation?<\/p>\n
When ODA was founded, joining was an easy decision. I believe in professionalism, education and supporting the future of optical dispensing. ODA provides access to CPD, industry updates and a network of like-minded professionals passionate about patient care.<\/p>\n
ODA is an important advocate for the profession, helping ensure the skills and contribution of qualified optical dispensers continue to be recognised and respected.
I\u2019m proud to be part of that journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MEMBER PROFILEName: Sonya Broadhead Position: Director\/optical dispenser\/co-owner Location: See Side Optical, Thirroul, NSW Years in industry: More than…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":813729,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[64,63,105],"class_list":["post-813728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=813728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/813729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=813728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=813728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=813728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}