Rachel Chipere's journey in optometry began with a double degree in Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science) and a Masters in Optometry from Flinders University in South Australia. Joining Leongatha Optometrists in 2017 as a fresh graduate, Rachel quickly fell in love with practising in a rural, independent setting. By 2020, she became a co-owner of the practice, embracing the opportunity to provide personalised, patient-centered care.
"I joined Leongatha Optometrists as a graduate and loved every single part of it. I was thriving! Practising independently means I can tailor each examination specifically for each patient’s needs, from completing extra tests to reviewing and taking as much time as needed."
Rachel's connection to the community grew naturally. Five years on, with two kids, she and her family have made South Gippsland their home, enjoying life by the coast in Inverloch. "We truly feel like locals and love being part of this community!"
Throughout her career, Rachel has amassed extensive experience in general optometry. She co-manages complex ocular disease cases with local ophthalmologists and performs thorough children's vision assessments. "Every day is different, from removing foreign bodies and treating red eyes to managing diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma patients. Seeing children from as young as one year old always adds a fun spin to things and I love it."
Rachel's skills extend to fitting advanced contact lenses, including those for keratoconic patients and post-corneal graft contact lens fittings. She completed the Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses through the Australian College of Optometry (ACO-CACL).
When she's not at the practice, Rachel loves spending time by the beach with her husband and kids, enjoying the beauty of the coastal lifestyle.
