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Meet the Team

Lions Outback Vision has a dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about improving the eye health of rural and remote Australians and committed to making eye health care services available irrespective of where they may live.

“It is a wonderful thing to be a part of this great tradition – the first mass screening programs for glaucoma by the Lions Eye Institute began in the 1960s – and it is exciting to see what can be achieved with technology in protecting the eye health of some of our most vulnerable citizens.“

Associate Professor Angus Turner


McCusker Director Lions Outback Vision

Kimberley Based Team

Kathrine Auburn

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Venice Bucao

WACHS Administrator Kununurra

Stephen Copeland

Optometrist

Jessica Davis-Deutsch

Paediatric Screener/Nurse

Sarah Dobson

WACHS Administrator

Morag Connell

Ophthalmic Nurse

TBA

Rebecca Halliwell

Practice Manager

Emma Douglas

Project Manager

Dr Aksh Handa

Unaccredited Registrar

Suzie Luhrs

LOV Specs Manager

Margie O’Neill

Optometrist

Trish Pepper

Kitchen Hand

Joshua Prasad

Optometrist

Alex Ramirez

Pilbara Challenge Screener

Dr Vaibhav Shah

Ophthalmic Consultant

Janet Richardson

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Ceire Turner

LOV Food Coordinator

Melanie Tillet

LOV Kiosk Manager

Dr Yachana Shah

Ophthalmic Consultant

Dr Angus Turner

McCusker Director Lions Outback Vision

Perth Based Team

Jocelyn Drinkwater

Research Fellow

Dr Steven Bartnik

Accredited Registrar

Rachael Dunne

Senior Administration Coordinator

Dr Olena Kubay

Fred Hollows Fellow

TBA

Melissa Manning

LOV Administrator

Dr Marcel Nejatian

Resident Medical Officer

Dr Qiang Li

Resident Medical Officer (Research)

Christine Stott

Manager LOV

Dr Alex Sherrington

Resident Medical Officer

Gary Smith

Vision Van Operator

Dr Don Tran

Unaccredited Registrar

Sian Turner

Albany Administrator

Kerry Woods

Aboriginal Eye Health Coordinator

Helen Wright

Visiting Optometry Services Coordinator

Perth Office

2 Verdun Street,
Nedlands WA 6009

Phone: 08 9381 0802
Email: info@outbackvision.com.au

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Kimberley Hub

45 Frederick Street,
Broome WA 6725

Phone: 08 9381 0801
Email: northwest@lei.org.au

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Kathrine Auburn

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Kathy is from Kununurra and joined LOV in November 2023 after moving few years earlier to see what Broome had to offer. Kathy previously worked as an Aboriginal Health Worker for Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service for many years and has experience working in clinic helping diabetic patients get regular screening as well as running programs in community. Kathy is enjoying learning more about eye health and encouraging the community to look after their eyes.

Venice Bucao

WACHS Administrator Kununurra

Venice has lived in Kununurra for a number of years and holds a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance. Venice worked in paid employment at the Allied Health Department with WACHS (WA Country Health Service) in Kununurra throughout year 11 and 12. During the traineeship she was attending schooling and attained her WACE to graduate.

Stephe Copeland

Optometrist

Stephen is an optometrist who completed his degree at the Queensland University of Technology. He has worked as a clinical optometrist in country NSW, QLD, the Top End and the Kimberley. Stephen joined Lions Outback Vision in early 2014 in the role of a part-time Research Fellow working in the areas of telehealth and outreach service delivery. He also organises and delivers visiting optometry service visits to the north west of Western Australia and is a certified CASA examiner.

Jessica Davis-Deutsch

Pediatric Screener and Registered Nurse

Jessica is a registered nurse, who has graduated with her Bachelor of Nursing Science degree from James Cook University. She commenced her professional journey in a private Ophthalmology clinic in Queensland before relocating to Broome. Since September 2021, Jessica has been an valued member of the Lions Outback Vision team, where her responsibilities encompass a range of tasks, including conducting school vision screenings, coordinating outreach clinics, and performing clinical screenings at the Kimberley Hub.

Sarah Dobson

WACHS Administrator

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and has gained experience in events management, fundraising, and health promotion. Originally from Melbourne, she has lived and worked in Broome for 11 years.

In 2021, Sarah began working with Lions Outback Vision, focusing on improving eye health in remote areas. She is also a volunteer at Broome Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station and a mother to two young children.

Morag Connell

Ophthalmic Nurse

Morag grew up on South Africa before going to University in London and then completing her nurse training at Brighton University. Morag has worked as an ophthalmic nurse since 2005 in various countries including UK, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Australia. Morag has experience of working in Eye Clinic and Theatre and having joined Lions Outback Vision in 2024 is excited to gain experience in rural and remote ophthalmology.

REBECCA HALLIWELL

Practice Manager

Rebecca joined the Lions Outback Vision team in 2023. Her background in business development, operations management and stakeholder engagement spans over 10 years. Rebecca spent her childhood living regionally in Western Australia and she is passionate about supporting the provision of quality health services to remote and regional communities. Rebecca is very grateful to have joined the team as the Practice Manager for the Kimberley Hub.

Emma Douglas

Project Manager

Emma joined the team in April 2023, after a short break from working while raising her daughters. Emma holds a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and has a broad interest and varied experience in public health project management and research. She started her career in the NGO sector, then after living in a remote community in the Pilbara for 2 years, Emma developed an interest in Aboriginal, regional and remote health and has since held roles with Telethon Kids Institute and the Department of Health Data Linkage Branch. Emma has lived in regional WA for five years in total and has a passion for improving the lives of people living in regional and remote places.

Dr Aksh Handa

Unaccredited Registrar

Aksh migrated to Perth with his family when he was 15 and completed his medical education at UWA. A part-time job with an ophthalmologist during undergrad, and a stint with Lions Outback Vision as a medical student piqued his interest in outreach ophthalmology. After working for two years at Royal Perth Hospital, he was excited to take on the rewarding and hands-on role as an RMO on the Vision Van. In 2023 he looking to expand his understanding of the realities of rural and remote medicine undertaking the Unaccredited Registrar role, split between Perth and Broome.

Suzie Luhrs

LOV Specs Manager

Suzie joined LOV in August 2023 after working in Optometry for 20 years. Suzie is a long time Broome local who enjoys giving back to the community.

Margie O’Neill

Optometrist

Margie O’Neill is an optometrist and eye care coordinator who has lived in and travelled extensively across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia for over two decades. Outside of W.A. she has experience in remote communities in NSW and the Northern Territory, acquired while working with the Brien Holden Vision Institute; with Pacific Island communities in Kiribati, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea; while working with Fred Hollows New Zealand. She has worked in several African regions with the Sightsavers School Health Integrated Programme based in the U.K. She has also worked as an optometric volunteer in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ghana, and East Timor. In 2003 she was awarded a World Council of Optometry scholarship. Her other awards include a Brien Holden scholarship, the Theo Kannis award for clinical optometry, the university of NSW alumni award, and Australia’s local hero award in 2006. In 2010 she was a finalist in the Australian of the year awards. Margie has made an incredible difference to many of WA’s most remote people, giving them the vision most of us take for granted.

Trish Pepper

Kitchen Hand

Trish is a well known Broome local. After retiring from her career in health promotion, delivering programs across the Kimberley, Trish has joined us at LOV Food. Trish has a passion for art and cooking.

Joshua Prasad

Optometrist

Raj is originally a Sydney local who fell in love with the WA landscape. He graduated in Optometry from Deakin University where an emphasis was placed on rural and regional health care. His career has spanned from the Far North QLD, regional WA, and Sydney before settling to Perth with his partner and rescue heeler dog Chilli. His work with the Fred Hollows Foundation at the Pacific Eye Institute and completion of the Grad. Cert. in Public Health and Leadership in Eye Care has fostered his passion for community health care in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Alex Ramirez​

Pilbara Challenge Screener

Alex has been working for LOV in various roles for many years. His current role has him travelling the Pilbara offering screening for people with diabetes. He has previously driven our Vision Van and held the position of Eye Health Coordinator which was again focussed on screening in remote communities. Alex has a passion for healthy living and enjoys being out of the office and in community.

Dr Vaibhav Shah

Consultant

Dr Vaibhav Shah completed his medical degree at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in India. He completed his ophthalmology training and a vitreo-retina fellowship at Aravind Eye Hospital in Coimbatore, India. During his residency he was responsible for teaching post-graduate students and Fellows in the department. Vaibhav trained as a Vitreo Retina Fellow in in at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital under Professor Ian Constable from January 2017 to December 2018.

Janet Richardson

Aboriginal Eye Health Worker

Janet (Puertollano) Richardson, is of Baard and Yawuru Ooranyg/Ngala Jandu (Salt Water woman) Heritage from the Dampier Peninsula in the West Kimberley Region. Janet enjoys Camping, Fishing, Shelling and all sports, AFL (Eagles) and NRL (Storm)
She had the pleasure of meeting Professor Fred Hollows back in 1978, when BRAMS (Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service) was established, the first Community Controlled Medical Service outside of Alice Springs NT. From there Janet worked with the Fred Hollows Foundation, where her interest in Eyes started. Janet has been in the medical field since she was 15 years old, trained as an Enrolled Nurse, Technical Assistant with PathWest, then RPL to Aboriginal Health Practitioner to take on the role of Eye Health Coordinator in the East Arnhem Region for 15 years and WACHS Trachoma Coordinator for 12 months before returning to East Arnhem Land to retire and come back home.

My Objective: A healer has a special place in the community, is a promoter of health who will always regard persons who have taught them their craft, from this I have learnt and carried throughout my whole life the responsibility and honesty to maintain confidentiality entrusted to me for my job performance.

Ceire Turner

LOV Food Coordinator

Ceire is a qualified chef and teacher who takes her inspiration for educating people about healthy food choices from her time working as a trainee chef with Jamie Oliver. Ceire has introduced the LOV Food Program, a fun and interactive approach to teach students about the relationship between eye health, diabetes (good and bad sugars) and the foods we eat whilst providing practical cooking tips for easy, healthy meals. Ceire is currently supporting community and school classes in Broome.

Melanie Tillet

LOV Kiosk Manager

Melanie joins LOV with a range of experience in health, including ophthalmic assistant and optical dispenser, disability employment and catering. After many years of travelling, I have chosen to settle in Broome where I can share my love of food and community.

Dr Yachana Shah

Consultant

Yachana completed her primary ophthalmology training and cornea fellowship in India. She worked as a corneal consultant at Aravind Eye Hospital before relocating to Western Australia. Here, she pursued a Pediatric Ophthalmology fellowship at Perth Children’s Hospital, followed by a Fred Hollows Foundation Fellowship with Lions Outback Vision for a year in Broome. She then went on to receive advanced training in cataract and anterior segment diseases under Prof. Graham Barrett at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth. Yachana aims to extend her expertise to remote areas and public healthcare facilities across Western Australia.

Dr Angus Turner

McCusker Director Lions Outback Vision

Dr Angus Turner is a Western Australian ophthalmologist based at the Lions Eye Institute. He completed medical training at the University of Western Australia (UWA), before studying at Oxford University and completing a Masters of Evidence Based Medicine. Ophthalmology training was undertaken in Melbourne, followed by post-graduate training at University of Sydney in refractive surgical procedures.

As Director of Outback Vision, Dr Turner is actively involved in the delivery of specialist outreach services to remote and Indigenous communities in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Great Southern, and South West regions.

Dr Turner is an Associate Professor at UWA, where he is engaged in a number of research projects at the Lions Eye Institute, focusing on service delivery for remote and Indigenous people. Dr Turner is also an ophthalmology teacher for the Rural Clinical School.

Jocelyn Drinkwater

Research Fellow

Jocelyn completed a PhD on ophthalmic complications of type 2 diabetes in 2021. She is a registered nurse, with a Master of Public Health. She has been involved in a range of research projects in her previous role at the University of Western Australia, primarily working on The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II. She joined the team in 2022 and is working to increase the research capacity of Lions Outback Vision, with the aim of improving health outcomes for those living in remote WA, who are often disadvantaged. She is particularly interested in diabetic retinopathy screening.

Dr Steven Bartnik

Accredited Registrar

Dr Steve Bartnik completed his medical degree at The University of Sydney before coming to work as a Resident at Lions Outback Vision in 2017. He has since completed the first 4 years of his ophthalmology specialist training within the Western Australia Training Network. Now in his final year of ophthalmology training he is excited to be back working at Lions Outback Vision as the Telehealth Fellow providing telehealth consultations to regional WA, and outreach services to Kalgoorlie.

Rachael Dunne

Senior Administration Coordinator

Rachael has over 18 years’ experience working in retail optometry in metropolitan and regional stores, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge in customer service, team leadership, operational planning and administration. Rachael joined the Lions Eye Institute in 2021, working as a Team Leader in the Retinal Clinic, responsible for the rostering and overseeing of support staff, liaising with doctors and ensuring the smooth running of the clinics. In 2023 she joined the LOV team as Senior Administration Coordinator, using her combination of skills, knowledge and lived experience in rural communities, to support the team in delivering services and offer the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Dr Olena Kubay

Fred Hollows Fellow

Dr.Olena Kubay is an Overseas and Australian Trained Specialist with more than 17 years of practical experience in Ophthalmology (including 10 years working as an Ophthalmologist in Australia).

She underwent her specialist training at Zaporizhye State Medical University and passed her written and clinical Specialist exams with high distinction. After this program residency graduates are fully equipped to begin a career in general ophthalmology or to pursue further fellowship training.

Upon completion of her specialist training in Ukraine, she embarked on advanced Ophthalmology training in the most prestigious and well known places around the world.

Melissa Manning

Administrator

Melissa joined the Lions Eye Institute medical records scanning department in July 2020. In February 2023, she made the transition to Lions Outback Vision. Since then, she has been proud to contribute her expertise to our mission of providing vital eye care to underserved communities across the Outback.

“I am immensely proud to be part of the Lions Outback Vision family, where we’re not just changing lives – we’re illuminating futures. Together, let’s continue to light the path to better eye health and brighter futures for all”.

Dr Marcel Nejatian

Resident Medical Officer

Marcel moved from South Africa to the sunny shores of Perth when he was 12. He completed his medical training at The University of WA and gained a broad range of experience as a junior doctor across Perth’s public hospitals. It was here that Marcel discovered his passion for ophthalmology and the impact it can have on individuals and their communities. He is deeply interested in serving communities that struggle to access eye care, and he is undertaking a master’s degree to further explore service delivery options to such communities. This, coupled with a love for travel and adventure, makes him extremely honoured to be a member of the Lions Outback Vision Team.

Dr Qiang Li

Resident Medical Officer Research

Born and raised in Perth, Qiang graduated from UWA Medicine in 2021, with High Distinction. Passionate about ophthalmology and global eye health, Qiang is delighted to join LOV’s team in 2024 and is driven to play his part in improving the standard and accessibility of eye care for all Western Australians through research, clinical outreach and telehealth. Outside of his LOV duties, Qiang is a UWA Clinical Lecturer in ophthalmology and has recently partnered with the John Fawcett Foundation to cofound ‘JFF CREATE’, a volunteering initiative aimed at empowering junior doctors to fight global blindness.

Christine Stott

Manager Lions Outback Vision

Christine joined Lions Outback Vision in June 2016 after holding executive roles in the not-for profit sector since 2010. She has also held senior executive roles in the mining industry – the last being Vice President for health safety environment and community at BHP Billiton Nickel West. Her many years’ experience within the mining industry including senior management roles in health, safety, community and sustainable development. She brings a background in strategic planning and business development, contract management and operational development and has implemented community and health programs in regional and remote communities as well as prisons and community centres.

Christine has a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Education, starting her working life as a secondary school teacher at Guildford Grammar School. She has lived and worked in regional communities in Western Australia and Queensland.

Dr Alex Sherrington

Resident Medical Officer

Alex is a passionate junior doctor committed to delivering accessible eye care to remote communities throughout Western Australia. A graduate of Curtin Medical Schools inaugural cohort, with a diverse medical background including training with the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia in Albany, Alex completed an internship at Royal Perth Hospital and residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney where he completed terms in ophthalmology and ophthalmology related quality and safety . His love of rural ophthalmology led him to complete his final year medical school elective with the Lions Outback Vision Van where he is now fortunate enough to work.

Gary Smith

Vision Van Driver

Gary joined the LOV Vision Van team in 2022 as one of our van operators. He brings with him many years of customer service, logistics, warehousing and stock control experience and has run his own painting business. He is experienced in driving, operation and maintenance of mobile equipment, and prides himself in his ability to identify operational issues and potential problems and opportunities to provide solutions.

Dr Don Tran

Resident Medical Officer

Don is a doctor in training with a passion for providing high quality eye care in low resourced settings. After completing his medical degree at The University of Melbourne and undertaking his internship and surgical resident years in metropolitan hospitals, Don became fully immersed in regional healthcare and has worked in various rural locations across Victoria, New South Wales, and now Western Australia. With the knowledge and skills gained in his Master of Biostatistics, Don hopes to broaden current understanding of eye health and care. In his downtime, Don enjoys swimming and hiking, as well as travelling and exploring new places.”

Sian Turner

Albany Administrator

Sian Turner is the administrative support for Albany and it’s surrounds. She has worked with Lions Eye since 2019. In her past life she worked as a physiotherapist at a major tertiary hospital in the city and wrote her PhD whilst working in this role. Now, as well as living in the area and managing our Great Southern patients she also ‘manages’ to look after her three beautiful children and enjoys writing kids books on the side!

Kerry Woods

Aboriginal Eye Health Coordinator

Kerry has been working in various roles in Aboriginal health for the past 25 years. She started working from the ground up into management, overseeing staff and implementing and evaluating community health programs. Kerry joined the team in November 2016 and is involved in assisting with the organisation, coordination and delivery of eye clinics to Aboriginal patients provided by Lions Outback Vision. Kerry spent 18 months in Broome as part of the North West Hub team and has now returned to Perth to support patients in the Pilbara, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields to get the best outcomes for their eye health.

Helen Wright

Visiting Optometry Services Coordinator

Helen has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from James Cook University in Queensland. She lived and worked in the Kimberley for 20 years, and has been involved in the Northwest Eye Program since 2009. She now coordinates the Visiting Optometry Services program to the Pilbara and Kimberley, including running a low cost spectacle program to remote communities across the North of Western Australia.

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