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Our Approach

So much of our training at university and TAFE prepares us theoretically for our role in industry, but this ends at graduation. What happens after that? Our professional CPD and mentorship programs focus on giving optometrists and optical professionals a practical framework for growth.

Our Story

Realising that the ophthalmic industry in Australia is changing rapidly, Thao and Grant developed their award winning practice model to deliver a range of continuing professional development modules. 

Even more importantly we offer mentoring and regular contact programs which will embed your knowledge and grow your clinical and professional life.

Meet the Team

Combining practical optometry and optical dispensing with the latest in ophthalmic research and development we deliver the next level in professional development.

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Thao Hannaford MOptom, BOptom(Hons), Grad Cert Arts, BA

Co-Founder & Director

As a practising optometrist and educator, Thao brings a unique perspective to applied optometry and dispensing. She is the co-founder and director of the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics and co-owns a private independent optometry practice Hannaford Eyewear which was awarded the 2022 Australian Small Business Champion.

Thao has a love for learning which has resulted in her completing four university degrees. She has a special interest in myopia control, sports and children’s vision. Thao is involved in the supervision of 4th and 5th year optometry students in their clinical placement at the Hannaford Eyewear practice. In the past she was a visiting clinical supervisor to the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW and will commence this role again in 2020. Thao is a member of Optometry Australia, Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists and Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia.

Thao has been working in optometry practices for 22 years, 20 of those as a qualified optometrist. She has a strong focus on primary care optometry and full scope ophthalmic practise. Her experience and mentorship have developed a number of talented optometrists within the industry.

Thao is a doctoral candidate at the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University, Birmingham England researching the impact of ocular biometry on glaucoma diagnosis in practice.

Grant Hannaford BSc, BA(Hons), FBDO SLD (Hons)

Co-Founder & Director

Practising in optics with a career spanning three decades and working with optometrists, opticians, optical dispensers and students as well as industry, Grant is at the forefront of ophthalmic optics in Australia and internationally after being named the 2022 Silmo IOA International Optician of the Year. He is the co-founder and director of the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics and co-owns a private independent optometry practice Hannaford Eyewear which was awarded the 2022 Australian Small Business Champion.

Grant is a physicist, lens designer and qualified optical dispenser. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in physics and pure mathematics from the University of New England. Grant holds a qualification in spectacle lens design with honours from the UK under the tutelage of Professor Mo Jalie and is the first and currently the only qualified spectacle lens designer in Australia. He has an interest in research and photonics.

Grant is a Fellow of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and the Australasian Dispensing Opticians Association. He is also a senior lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science UNSW. He is the past Chairman of the NSW Optical Dispensers Education Trust and the past Vice President of ADOA (NSW). Grant also consults for various international education projects providing resources for best practice dispensing models. He has been awarded as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and is formally recognised by the Australian government for his charitable works in Mongolia and Nepal.

Grant is currently a doctoral canididate at the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University, Birmingham England researching emmetopisation and ocular biometric development in children.

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