Our Optometrist Team
Heidi Hunter – Optometrist & Managing Director
Heidi is a true Novocastrian, having grown up in Lake Macquarie before moving to Sydney for university in 1996 and graduating from UNSW in 2000. Before joining the practice she spent time consulting with a local ophthalmologist, a laser refractive surgery clinic, and many optometric practices in the Newcastle region.
As well as looking after patients, Heidi is on the national board of the not-for-profit Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia and the past NSW/ACT President of Optometry Australia. She is dedicated to educating colleagues on RGP (rigid gas permeable) custom contact lens fitting, such as for keratoconus and corneal grafts, and has lectured at conferences throughout Australia on various clinical topics, and an invited presenter at industry meetings in Singapore, Japan and Vietnam.
Amidst raising two teenage boys, she lectures about eyes and vision to university students, school teachers, GPs, nurses, and pharmacists. She is a clinical supervisor of optometry students for Flinders University, Deakin University, and the University of NSW, and a past writer for Mivision and optometric speaker on ABC radio.
Heidi’s professional interests include myopia control, and anything and everything to do with contact lenses. Heidi also enjoys the challenge of solving problems people are having with their existing glasses, including multifocals (progressives).
Click here to make an appointment to see Heidi for a thorough eye and vision check.
Rishmie Steel – clinical Optometrist
Rishmie is a highly experienced optometrist, nearing a decade since graduation. Originally from Sydney, Rishmie moved to Newcastle in 2016 and settled down with her husband and gorgeous border collie puppy. She has been a volunteer optometrist for primary school vision screenings, the Hunter Homeless Connect, and charity outreach programs in regional Australia.
Rishmie’s professional interests include paediatric (children’s) and behavioural optometry, including treatment of lazy eye (amblyopia) and accommodative esotropia (‘cross-eyes’), as well as how vision problems can relate to learning difficulties but of course sees patients of all ages at Custom EyeCare.
Throughout her career, Rishmie has always enjoyed looking after people to ensure their visual needs are met. After graduating Optometry at UNSW, Rishmie went on to complete further professional study with a Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses. Rishmie’s passion is contact lens fitting, especially to those who’ve had no confidence to try contacts in the past. She has experience in designing custom contact lenses for managing myopia, keratoconus, corneal grafts and other corneal conditions.
Besides being a highly qualified Optometrist, Rishmie is also a certified optical dispenser and is able to assist with all of your glasses fitting and adjustment needs.
Click here to make an appointment with Rishmie.
Nadeen Kassid – clinical Optometrist
Nadeen is an experienced Optometrist, originally from New Zealand. Nadeen moved to Newcastle in 2016 where she fell in love with the change of pace and lifestyle.
Over the years, Nadeen has found her passion in building relationships with her patients while troubleshooting all ranges of eye problems from red eyes, focusing and blur issues, to managing complex eye conditions after surgeries, trauma and paediatrics.
Nadeen is an ophthalmic medicines prescriber, meaning she has advanced skills in diagnosing and managing various eye diseases. If you have any visual symptoms like blurred vision, you have macular degeneration, glaucoma, or a family history of eye disease, or are concerned about your child’s worsening eyesight, then Nadeen is the optometrist you should meet.
Nadeen loves spending time with her husband & 2 young children. You may even find Nadeen at Merewether Beach with her beautiful dog Leo.
When you see Nadeen you are guaranteed a good chat and a thorough eye and vision check. Click here to make an appointment with Nadeen.
Krysta Murray – clinical Optometrist
Krysta grew up in Toronto, Canada before moving to Australia in 2010. She graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2008 with a Doctorate of Optometry and has since practised in a number of locations across Australia, including Melbourne, Canberra, Port Macquarie before moving to Newcastle with with her three stepdaughters and two fur babies.
During her studies, Krysta was the recipient of several academic awards and scholarships, and co-authored a published research article in Experimental Brain Research exploring the effectiveness of computerised vision training. Her passion for helping others has extended beyond Australia too, having participated in a medical mission to Jamaica.
Krysta is an ophthalmic medicines prescriber, meaning she has advanced skills in diagnosing and managing various eye diseases. If you have any visual symptoms like blurred vision, you have macular degeneration, glaucoma, or a family history of eye disease, or are concerned about your child’s worsening eyesight, then Krysta is the optometrist you should meet.
Krysta’s professional interests include medical retina and myopia control. She particularly enjoys the combination of science, problem-solving and patient care that comes with optometry, and the opportunity to help people get the most out of their vision. Outside of work she is passionate about weightlifting and fitness, and considers her daily workout a non-negotiable!
When you see Krysta, you can expect a good chat, plenty of care and a thorough eye and vision check. Click here to make an appointment with Krysta.
Lauren O’Kane – clinical Optometrist
Lauren is currently on maternity leave until 2027. Rishmie, Nadeen and Heidi are looking after her patients.
Lauren is a Newcastle local who first started working with us in 2012, as our bright-eyed 18 year-old receptionist in her gap year before heading away to uni to study Optometry. After being away at Deakin University in Geelong she returned for 6 months in 2015 to complete her final clinical placement before graduating.
After graduating in 2016, Lauren spent the next 7 years working in a well respected independent practice in Muswellbrook which she thoroughly enjoyed. Over that time she got married, and welcomed her first child into the world, before moving back home to Newcastle a few years ago. We’re love having Lauren as part of our team.
Lauren’s favourite part of being an Optometrist is making peoples lives a little better or easier, simply by improving their vision.
Practice Staff
Jess – Qualified Optical Dispenser
Jess completed her Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing qualification in her early days of working at Custom Eyecare. Prior to joining our team in 2019, she had already clocked up a few years practical experience working in a local Newcastle clinic.
She’s an expert at nearly all facets of our practice from reception, to pretesting, to dispensing. You will often find her helping people choose a frame that’s a perfect match for their face! Jess enjoys a challenge and is always willing to find solutions with difficult frame repairs.
Jess is always smiling and brings loads of laughter and fun to the workplace. Her quick wit and sense of humor will bring joy to anyone who meets her.
Bernadette – Qualified Optical Dispenser
Bernie joined us as an Optical Assistant, switching careers after years in the healthcare setting. She caught the optics bug and now rocks the role of a certified Optical Dispenser. You’ll spot her doing all sorts of things around the practice from pretesting, to reception, to dispensing you the perfect spectacle frame.
Bernie made the move from Port Macquarie to Newcastle 4 years ago, to improve her healthcare experience and find a career that she was passionate about.
Bernie spends her spare time as a musician, playing multiple different instruments (her favorite is the acoustic guitar!) and listening to all genres of music.
Ash – Qualified Optical Dispenser
Ash has been working in optics since 2013 and became a qualified Optical Dispenser in 2018. She is very familiar with family run small businesses and high quality patient care. Before moving to Newcastle and joining the Custom Eyecare team she worked for an independent family owned group of optometry practices in Perth.
You’ll find Ash at reception, assisting with your eye examination or helping you find the perfect frame.
Outside of work Ash enjoys trying new restaurants and cafes around Newcastle with her partner or spending time with her sausage dog Sizzle.
Jacinta – Qualified Optical Dispenser
Jacinta started working in optics as an after school/weekend job while attending high school in Newcastle, she quickly discovered a real passion for the industry. Jacinta has been working in optics ever since, most recently becoming a qualified Optical Dispenser in 2023.
Having worked across a wide range of optical practices, from independent businesses to larger corporate practices, Jacinta has built a broad scope of knowledge and experience. She prides herself on her optics knowledge and genuinely loves helping people find the right eyewear. You’ll most likely get her help picking your glasses, which is her favourite part of the job. She loves a funky frame choice!
Outside of work, Jacinta spends her spare time being creative: making art, teaching piano, singing and guitar, or finding creative ways to move her body through hula hooping, rock climbing and aerial sports. Otherwise, you’ll find her at home hanging out with her two cats.
Jonah – Optometric Technician
Jonah is an Optometric Technician who works with us part time. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Business at the University of Newcastle, with aspirations to explore opportunities in the business world.
When you come to see us, Jonah will assist the optometrist with eye testing and scans as part of our comprehensive consultations, as well as helping around the practice.
Outside of work and university, he enjoys spending time with close friends and family. On the weekends, you’ll find him enjoying one of Newcastle’s many beautiful beaches or exploring the city’s latest lunch spots.
Ryan – Optometric Technician
Ryan is an Optometric Technician who works with us part time. He is currently studying for the HSC at Merewether High.
Outside of school hours, you will find Ryan taking retinal photos and eye scans as part of our comprehensive consultations, assisting with patient files, and helping around the practice.
He enjoys spending his time at Glenrock mountain biking and playing basketball.
Heidi, Rishmie, Nadeen and Lauren are ophthalmic medicines prescribers, meaning they all have advanced skills in diagnosing and managing various eye diseases and conditions.
Your optometrists at Custom Eyecare are all fully qualified members of the Optometrists Association Australia (OAA), and stay up to date with the latest eyecare research by regularly attending conferences & seminars in order to not just meet but exceed the minimum continuing professional education (CPE) requirements of the Association and the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA).
Your qualified optical dispensers at Custom Eyecare are members of the Australian Dispensing Opticians Association (ADOA), which only accepts members who have the Certificate IV Optical Dispensing qualification and who are licensed with the Optical Dispensers Licensing Board. Members of ADOA are not only competent and experienced but also abide by a code of ethics. This means you can trust their advice when choosing your frames and lenses.
If you’re interested in finding out more about employment or a career in optometry or optical dispensing, please click here.
