ODA profile: Being you is your superpower
Sonya Broadhead, a long-time optical dispenser in New South Wales, shares her career journey and evolving perspective on the industry. She emphasizes that while technical skills are essential, the core of her profession is building human connections and providing personalized care.
Why it matters
It highlights the human-centric evolution of specialized healthcare roles in the retail optical sector.
<img class="size-medium wp-image-25158 alignright" src="https://www.insightnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Optical-Dispensers-Australia-300x129.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="129" />
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"><b>MEMBER PROFILE</b>
</span><span class="s3"><b>Name:</b> Sonya Broadhead</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s3"><b>Position:</b> Director/optical dispenser/co-owner</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s3"><b>Location:</b> See Side Optical, Thirroul, NSW</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s3"><b>Years in industry:</b> More than 28</span><!--more--></p>
[caption id="attachment_59227" align="alignleft" width="190"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-59227" src="https://www.insightnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2-Headshot-Sonya-a2c89dc5-a5c2-47f5-8dcd-dc37b2a3d1bf-190x300.jpg" alt="" width="190" height="300" /> Sonya Broadhead.[/caption]
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>1. What inspired you to pursue an optical dispensing career, and how has your perspective changed over time?</b></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2">I was looking for a rewarding career when an opportunity came through Bruce and Robyn Porter, who introduced me to the optical industry.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">What attracted me was the stability. What kept me here was the ability to provide genuinely personalised care to people.</span></p>
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