Bernie graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 1990 before taking up her first position as a general optometrist in Perth in 1991. Bernie worked as a general optometrist for five years and during this time developed an interest in children with special needs and learning difficulties.

Bernie completed a Graduate Diploma in Education at Edith Cowan University in 1996 and then took a teacher placement in a Pilbara primary school, teaching middle and upper primary. Following the completion of her teaching placement, Bernie then worked as a locum optometrist in a behavioural optometry practice - and finally discovered how vision and learning could meet.

The following years saw Bernie gain experience in Behavioural Optometry through her clinical practice in a number of well respected Behavioural Optometry practices in the Perth Metropolitan area. Her clinical experience was complemented by a 12 month Behavioural Optometry course through the University of New South Wales and her entry into the Fellowship of Behavioural Optometry Program.

Not forgetting adult’s eyecare needs, Bernie has been involved in the completion of written manuals and the delivery of Primary Eyecare programs overseas. These programs were written in association with the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) and Bernie delivered these programs to local nurses in both East Timor and Vanuatu.

Bernie constantly seeks to enhance her knowledge on the importance of a well developed and fully functional visual system and how this links to our ability to learn. To this end she attends a number of national and international conferences on the topic each year.

Bernie strives to promote and educate parents, teachers, health care professionals and the wider community that vision is more than just sight. It is one of our most powerful sensory systems and is vital in allowing us to interact with and learn from our environment.

Bernie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry) from the Queensland University of Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Education from Edith Cowan University and is a member of the Optometrist Association of Australia (OAA), Australian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO), West Australian College of Teaching (WACOT), Optometric Extension Programme (OEP), Provision and the Autism Association of WA.

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