Optometrists

Micheal Knipe is an experienced optometrist having graduated from the University of NSW over 30 years ago. Since graduating he has completed a number of postgraduate courses and is registered to prescribe therapeutic drugs in Tasmania. He is a Fellow of the Victorian College of Optometry and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

During his career Micheal has been active in professional affairs being involved in the Optometrists Association and the Contact Lens Society.

He is currently Board Chairman of the national ProVision Eyecare Network. Micheal also attends the Eye Clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital where he provides eyecare at a general clinic.

Micheal is involved in general optometric practice including eye diseases, the older eye, ocular photography, colour vision, sports and occupational vision and eyecare. He also has a special interest in contact lenses and participates in practice based clinical research collaborating with international contact lens manufacturers involving new lens designs and materials.

Bruce completed his Optometry degree at the University of NSW, and has worked in private practice in Newcastle and Adelaide. On returning to Hobart he joined his father John Palmer in the practice at 153 Liverpool St, where he is still based.

When John Palmer retired in 1993, Bruce joined the partnership of Sims, Knipe, Maver & Pereira. The Liverpool St practice was still known as "Palmer Optometrists" for a long time – carrying on the family name but in association with Total Eyecare. More recently it is known as a Total Eyecare practice.

As a clinically focussed optometrist, Bruce values highly the independence of non-corporate optometry, combined with the support that a large professional partnership like Total Eyecare provides.

Andrew Maver graduated in optometry at Melbourne University in 1978 and he came to Tasmania in 1979.

Andrew completed a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Clinical Optometry in 2001 and was in the first group of Tasmanian optometrists to be endorsed to prescribe therapeutic drugs for eye conditions in 2002.

Andrew has been a consultant at the Lions Low Vision Clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital for the last 15 years and he currently is the co-ordinator of volunteer optometry services in East Timor.

Andrew Koch trained in Optometry originally at the University of Melbourne.

He also has professional qualifications to practice in the UK, and is registered in Tasmania to prescribe therapeutic drugs for eye conditions.

He has completed postgraduate study in business administration (Latrobe University). Andrew has held a long standing interest in working to assist developing countries,having been involved in eyecare, health and training programs in Tanzania, Bangladesh and more recently, in East Timor.

He has developed special interests in contact lenses, laser refractive surgery, children's vision, and occupational vision correction.

Wesley Robertson gained his optometric qualifications in Queensland at QUT. He practiced in rural Queensland for 2 years co-managing with General Practice Medicine before venturing south to Tasmania.

Wesley is Total Eyecare's resident computer consultant and has developed a keen awareness of the rapidly expanding field of Information Technology.

He has pursued special interests in advanced ophthalmic lens design and aged care with frequent visits to local nursing homes on the Hobart's eastern shore.

Bev graduated in Optometry at the University of New South Wales. She moved to Devonport on graduating and worked extensively on the North West coast for ten years. Bev later moved to Hobart where she purchased her own practice in Moonah.

In 2001 Bev merged her practice with Total Eyecare and now manages the New Town practice. She also provides home visits to local nursing homes and has a special interest in aged care.

Bev has just completed two terms representing the profession on the Optometrists Registration Board.

Brett received his undergraduate optometry training at the University of Melbourne and graduated at the end of 2001. On completion of his studies, he returned to his home state of and spent 5 years practicing in rural and metropolitan Quensland.

Brett moved to Tasmania with his wife in 2006 to practice with Total Eyecare. Since arriving he has completed QUT's Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics which allows him to prescribe eye drops for some eye diseases. He is also completing his fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry.

Brett has an interest in general optometry and contact lenses.

Joanna Lindsay (née Hudnott) completed her Bachelor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne in 2000, after several years in the field of Dental studies. After graduation, Joanna practised privately in Geelong, Victoria and completed her postgraduate studies in Ocular Therapeutics in 2004. The following year she relocated to Hobart to join Total Eyecare.

Joanna has a keen interest in all aspects of Optometry and in particular enjoys the challenge of new technology in diagnosing and co-managing the treatment of eye disease.

Diane Jones graduated in Optometry at the University of New South Wales in 1999, after which she worked in Launceston Tasmania for 6 years. During that time she also provided optometry services to Beaconsfield, George Town and Burnie.

Diane was endorsed to prescribe therapeutic drugs for eye conditions in 2003 and has particular interest in children’s vision, macular and diabetic eye disease.

Diane moved to Hobart in 2005 to join Total Eyecare. Diane is the continuing education coordinator for the optometrists and staff of the Total Eyecare Practices. She is also overseeing the progress from paper to digital clinical records for all Total Eyecare Practices.

Annabel graduated in Optometry at the Queensland University of Technology. She is originally from Toowoomba in Queensland and moved to Hobart in December 2006.

She joined Total Eyecare in 2008. She aims to complete the graduate certificate in ocular therapeutics by 2009.

Annabel has an interest in general optometry and dry eye therapy.

Byron Harrison qualified FSMC in London and has since practiced in England, S.Australia, West Australia and Victoria.

He specialises in children's reading problems and is the co-author of VAS Theory, hailed by Britain's leading Educational Psychologist as ' The Most Exciting Development in Literacy in a Decade'. He is also the co-author of 'Reading Through Tears' a book showing the successes and the sadness of being a child with reading problems and has co-written both a book of prose and poetry and the script for a stage musical. He founded a studio and gallery for graduate potters, is a former Municipal Counsellor and Honorary Probation Officer.

He is a competitive public speaker and has lectured to teachers in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. He is currently designing software (www.theharrisontest.com) enabling teachers and administrators to both diagnose and manage literacy in schools.