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.“

Professor Angus Turner


McCusker Director Lions Outback Vision

Kimberley Based Team

Venice Bucao

WACHS Administrator Kununurra

Dr Pratik Chougule

Fellow

Stephen Copeland

Optometrist

Jessica Davis-Deutsch

Paediatric Screener/Nurse

Sarah Dobson

WACHS Administrator

Emma Douglas

Project Manager

Dr Abner Ferguson

Fellow

Rebecca Halliwell

Practice Manager

Dr Amy Kalantary

Accredited Registrar

Cass Lott

Administration Assistant

Suzie Luhrs

LOV Specs Manager

Margie O’Neill

Optometrist

Aaliyah Richardson

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Janet Richardson

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Olivia Stewart

Optometrist

Dr Yachana Shah

Ophthalmic Consultant

Claire Symons

Senior Administration Assistant

Dr Christine Tan

Senior Registrar

Dr Angus Turner

McCusker Director Lions Outback Vision

Perth Based Team

Dr Steven Bartnik

Consultant

Dr Aditi Chaturvedi

Resident Medical Officer

Jocelyn Drinkwater

Research Fellow

Rachael Dunne

Senior Administration Coordinator

Dr Gifar Hassan

Senior Registrar

Dr Ben Host

Consultant

Dr Olena Kubay

Fred Hollows Fellow

Melissa Manning

LOV Administrator

Dr Alex Savage

Resident Medical Officer

Christine Stott

Deputy Director LOV

Gary Smith

Vision Van Operator

Sian Turner

Albany Administrator

Kerry Woods

Aboriginal Eye Health Coordinator

Helen Wright

Visiting Optometry Services Coordinator
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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.

Dr Pratik Chougule

Fellow

Dr Pratik Chougule completed his Ophthalmology training from Sankara Eye Hospitals, India followed by a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology, strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. He has a keen interest in cataract, strabismus and neuro-ophthalmic disorders with an experience of over 10 years as an ophthalmologist. Strongly driven towards teaching and research, Pratik has been involved in several teaching programs for residents and fellows and has authored numerous publications.

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.

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 Abner Ferguson

Fellow

Abner Eli Grijalva Ferguson is an ophthalmology Fellow with Lions Outback Vision, currently working in Western Australia as part of the organisation’s regional and outreach eye-care services.

He brings broad international clinical experience, having worked across Mexico, Israel, Spain, and New Zealand, and has a strong commitment to medical outreach and global eye health. Through Rotary International, Abner has participated in outreach projects in Honduras, India, and Gabon, supporting the delivery of ophthalmic care to underserved communities.

In Honduras, Abner also helped establish an annual cataract surgery campaign, contributing to the development of a sustainable program aimed at reducing preventable blindness. These experiences strongly align with his passion for improving access to high-quality eye care in rural, remote, and resource-limited settings.

Abner values collaborative, patient-centred care and enjoys working within multidisciplinary teams. He is particularly motivated by initiatives that combine clinical excellence, education, and long-term community impact.

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.

Dr Amy Kalantary

Accredited Registrar

Amy completed her medical training in Perth Western Australia. She has also completed a Masters in Ophthalmic science through the University of Sydney. She is currently a second year trainee with RANZCO and has worked across multiple sites including SCGH, Hobart and RPH. She worked as a registrar with LOV in 2023 and is looking forward to rejoining the team for three months this year. She is interested in general ophthalmology, paediatrics and plastics and cannot wait to work with the team and patients in Broome.

Cass Lott

Administration Assistant

Originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, Cassandra is a recent arrival to the Kimberley region, bringing with her a warm, approachable demeanour and a strong background in hospitality. Now working as a receptionist, she draws on her customer service experience to create a welcoming first impression for patients and visitors. Cassandra’s transition to the Kimberley reflects her adventurous spirit and enthusiasm for connecting with new communities in this vibrant part of Australia.

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.

Aaliyah Richardson

Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Starting in November 2024 with LOV, Aaliyah Richardson is a proud Bard and Yawuru woman with strong Zimbabwean heritage. Having spent her entire life on Yawuru Country in Broome, Aaliyah is deeply connected to the land and community. She has a passion for all things creative, from woodworking to writing, and is dedicated to advocating for the protection of Country and Mob. Known for her friendly and approachable nature, Aaliyah strives to be a positive presence in the community. When she’s not in the clinic, you can often find her driving the LOV vehicle, ensuring patients have a safe ride to and from their appointments.

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.

Olivia Stewart

Optometrist

Olivia is an optometrist who joined LOV Specs Broome in 2026. She completed her Doctor of Optometry at the University of Western Australia after a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Genetics). Olivia has experience working in independent optometry practices in Perth and completed clinical placements in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, in Esperance and at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in India. She is committed to delivering comprehensive eye care to patients across the Kimberley.

 

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.

Claire Symons

Receptionist

Claire is a warm and welcoming Receptionist at LOV, with a background in aged care. Passionate about helping others, Claire is planning to advance her career by upskilling from enrolled nurse to registered nurse in 2025. Outside of work, Claire is an active social member of her local community, enjoys spending time at the beach for sunset, and cherishing her close-knit circle of friends. Claire’s positive attitude and caring nature shine through in everything she does, both professionally and personally.

Dr Christine Tan

Senior Registrar

Christine holds a Bachelor of Biomedicine (Neuroscience) and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne, along with a Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Science from the University of Sydney. She has worked as an ophthalmology registrar at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Wellington Regional Hospital in New Zealand, where she developed strong clinical skills while immersing herself in diverse cultures and exploring the beautiful landscapes of Aotearoa. Passionate about eye health and going the extra mile for others, Christine brings kindness, adaptability, and genuine care to her clinical practice. She is excited to join the Lions Outback Vision team this year.

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 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.

Dr Steven Bartnik

Consultant

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 completed the first 4 years of his ophthalmology specialist training within the
Western Australia Training Network and his final year of ophthalmology training at Lions Outback Vision, as the Telehealth Fellow providing telehealth consultations to regional WA, and outreach services to Kalgoorlie. In 2025 he is supporting consultant to the outreach team with a focus on building our capacity in Kalgoorlie.

Dr Aditi Chaturvedi

Resident Medical Officer

Aditi graduated from University College Dublin with honours in 2023. After completing her
intern year, she relocated to Perth to continue her training and is now part of the Lions
Outback Vision team, focused on improving access to eye care for people living in regional
and remote Western Australia through outreach clinics, telehealth, and research.

Aditi has a strong interest in ophthalmology and innovation, and is particularly passionate
about making high-quality eye care more scalable and accessible for disadvantaged
communities. She is involved in corneal research with the Lions Eye Institute, including work
recognised as an Australian Vision Research (AVR) “Notable Abstract” at the RANZCO 2025
Congress in Melbourne. Having previously sat the Duke-Elder Examination and collaborated
with AI-driven innovation teams such as PeriVision and SightTrack, Aditi is proud to be part
of the Lions Outback Vision team this year.

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.

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 Gifar Hassan

Senior Registrar

Gifar is an ophthalmology registrar with a strong commitment to improving access and equity in eye health care across Australia. She graduated from Monash University in 2019 and holds a Master of Public Health, reflecting her dedication to population-level health outcomes.

Gifar has gained diverse clinical experience across tertiary referral centres, including the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and rural hospitals throughout Victoria. She worked on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic, further strengthening her understanding of healthcare challenges in underserved communities.

Passionate about addressing health inequities, Gifar is particularly interested in providing outreach services to ensure all Australians have access to quality ophthalmology care, regardless of their location.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Gifar is an avid AFL player and coach, and a strong advocate for inclusion in sport.

Dr Ben Host

Consultant

Dr Benjamin Host was born and raised in Perth and completed his medical studies at the University of Western Australia, graduating with Honours. He undertook his ophthalmology training in Western Australia, followed by a fellowship in oculoplastic and cornea surgery at Royal Perth Hospital. He then completed a paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship, as well as a subsequent fellowship in retinoblastoma at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada. During his time at SickKids he carried out research focused on the genetics, diagnosis and treatment of this paediatric eye cancer.

In addition to the Lions Outback Vision, Dr Benjamin Host works as a consultant ophthalmologist at Perth Children’s Hospital and Lions Eye Institute and serves as the lead ophthalmologist for the Western Australian retinoblastoma service. He is deeply committed to providing quality ophthalmic care to all Western Australians, including those in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, and regularly provides outreach services to these areas.

Dr Benjamin Host’s broad clinical and surgical training, together with his research interests, equip him to provide comprehensive ophthalmic care to patients at every stage of life.

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 Alex Savage

Resident Medical Officer

Raised in Melbourne, Alex graduated from Monash Medicine in 2022 and later completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Newcastle. With a passion for ophthalmology and global eye health, he is excited to join the LOV team in 2026 and is motivated to contribute to improving the quality and accessibility of eye care for Western Australians through research and clinical outreach. Outside of his work with LOV, Alex enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family.

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.

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.

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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