Our primary goal is to improve the vision, ocular health and quality of life for our patients. We collaborate with your primary health care provider to maximise clinical care. We provide services in the following areas:
Many of our services are bulk billed through Medicare. Services that attract a fee are charged at a modest rate to reflect the education and community service focus of the clinics. We have an extensive range of high quality, modestly priced spectacle frames, sunglasses and contact lens solutions for all patient and prescription types. These, together with prescription lenses, are subsidised by the Deakin optometry program.
Your primary care optometrist, GP or ophthalmologist can refer you to our Waurn Ponds clinic. To book an appointment at Waurn Ponds email us or phone +61 3 5227 8280. To book an appointment at our Lorne clinic, please call the Lorne Medical Centre on +61 3 5289 4333.*
Our two optometry practices provide ocular health care by Deakin optometry students, supervised by experienced, registered clinical optometrists.
Our industry-aligned optometry practice is primarily based in a purpose-built facility at our Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. It's equipped with a fully fitted optometry practice for examination and a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose clinical skills laboratory.
Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
School of Medicine (Optometry)
Building DD, Level 3
Nicol Drive North
Waurn Ponds VIC 3216
We also run an optometry clinic at Lorne Medical Centre. This provides students with the opportunity to run consultations in close proximity to GPs, physiotherapists, rehabilitation services and other allied health professionals.
Lorne Medical Centre
230 Mountjoy Parade
Lorne VIC 3232
The clinic was developed to give Master of Optometry students the opportunity to provide diverse optometric care, particularly in emerging and expanding areas of clinical practice. Thanks to the clinic, our students can gain real-world experience in an authentic clinical setting, helping everyday patients with their ocular health needs.
Learn about visual health issues and gain discipline-specific knowledge and skills to be work ready. Graduate in just three and a half years with Australia’s only accelerated Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry course.
We bring together clinical expertise from the Faculty of Health’s School of Medicine. The clinical staff comprises of an experienced team of optometry professionals:
Nick is the Clinical Director and is responsible for the overall operations and management of the Waurn Ponds and Lorne clinics. He is one of the lead advanced dry-eye clinicians and also a lecturer in optometric clinical skills. Nick's research interests lie in clinical trials of ocular surface disease.
James is a professor of optometry and Optometry Course Director. His practice is in full scope optometry, with a particular interest in the management of the ocular manifestations of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, glaucoma, dry eye advanced imaging and electrodiagnostics. James is a CASA Credentialled optometrist and provides care at the Waurn Ponds and Lorne clinics.
Heather is an associate professor in the optometry course and is Head of Optometric Clinical Placements. Her special interests are in glaucoma management and the treatment of retinal diseases. She works at the Waurn Ponds clinic and also in the glaucoma monitoring clinic at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
Larry is an associate professor in optometry who, while trained as a biomedical engineer, is a lead investigator in the assessment of ocular motor disorders. He has also been a consultant to industry and government and is a Gold Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Larry collaborates with our clinicians to provide the only eye movement and analysis clinic in Australia.
Linda is Head of Clinical Assessment in Optometry and senior lecturer in optometric clinical skills. She has practiced full scope optometry for over 20 years and has extensive experience with contact lens fitting and paediatric eye care including visual information processing delay. Linda also coordinates clinical trials with a focus on dry eye research. Linda provides care in our Waurn Ponds clinic.
Alex is a senior lecturer and is Head of Optometric Clinical Skills. She has over 20 years of experience as an optometrist and educator. She has clinical and research interests in high myopia (shortsightedness), medical retina, providing outreach care, patient-centred care, infection control and sustainability in eye care. Alex provides care at the Lorne clinic.
Lucy is a lecturer in optometry and vision science and manages our Lorne optometry practice delivery. She practices full scope optometry and has a keen interest in anterior eye disease including dry eye. Lucy is currently on parental leave but we look forward to seeing Lucy again later in 2024.
Alissa is a lecturer in optometry and vision science and a lead clinician in our advanced dry eye, contact lens (soft, rigid and ortho-k) and myopia management clinics. She has extensive experience in full scope optometry with a special interest in the management of anterior eye disease. Alissa provides care primarily at our Waurn Ponds clinic.
Colin is a lecturer in optometry and vision science and has a special interest and broad experience in paediatric optometry and binocular vision disorders. He coordinates the Deakin University School Vision Screening Program and Clever Eyes + paediatric clinic at our Waurn Ponds clinic.
Ereeny is a lecturer in optometry and vision science. Her research interests include anterior ocular disease, particularly red eye. She is a full scope optometrist and has worked across a range of clinical practices where she has diagnosed and managed a diverse range of ocular diseases. Ereeny provides care at our Waurn Ponds clinic.
Chris is a lecturer in optometry and practises full scope clinical optometry. His clinical and research interests include glaucoma co-management, advanced dry eye and paediatric (including myopia control). He also has a special interest in providing care to outreach, school and Aboriginal community health organisations. Chris primarily provides care at our Waurn Ponds clinic.
Carol is an optometry teaching scholar and private consulting optometrist, practicing full scope optometry. While her scope of practice is broad, she has particular interest in chronic eye conditions including management of corneal dystrophies, glaucoma and retinal disease. Carol provides care primarily at our Lorne clinic.
Steve is an associate lecturer in optical dispensing. He has a career that spans some 40 years in optometric practice management, optics and eye care solutions. He has a wealth of knowledge in providing prescription solutions to a broad scope of ocular health needs. Steve coordinates the front-of-house operation at our Waurn Ponds clinic.
*Please note that appointments at Lorne Optometry Clinic are available every second Thursday. While it is a full and comprehensive clinic operation, there are certain specialist services that we are unable to provide. Please enquire when booking your appointment to ensure that we can provide the best possible outcome for you.
Your primary care optometrist, GP or ophthalmologist can refer you to our Waurn Ponds clinic. To book an appointment at our Lorne clinic, call the Lorne Medical Centre.
Waurn Ponds Optometry Clinic
eyeclinic@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 5227 8280
Lorne Optometry Clinic
Lorne Medical Centre
+61 3 5289 4333
