Cassandra Haines

Cassandra is the Course Coordinator for Optometry at Flinders University and a Lecturer within the College of Health and Enablement. Her primary teaching areas are paediatric optometry and binocular vision, and she also contributes to clinical skills teaching, lectures and clinical supervision across the optometry program, including at the Flinders Health2GO clinic.

Cassandra is completing a PhD in children’s vision screening, investigating how school based vision screening can more effectively identify children with visual disorders. Her research focuses on the development of an evidence based screening protocol that is practical for use in schools and supports the early detection and appropriate referral of children with vision problems.

As part of this work, Cassandra leads a Flinders University outreach vision screening service that provides vision screening to children in the community. The service has screened more than 1,000 children to date, providing an important link between research, clinical education and community eye care.

Cassandra has also held senior leadership, advocacy and governance roles outside of the university. Most recently, as State Lead Manager at Optometry Australia, she led state based advocacy, government relations and stakeholder engagement nationally, including engagement with government and Ministers, development of policy positions and state budget submissions, and coordination of advocacy priorities across Australia. This followed her role as South Australian Lead and earlier work as a Policy and Advocacy Advisor, where she contributed to national policy, clinical guidelines and professional advocacy. Cassandra also served as a Director of Optometry South Australia and, following its amalgamation, Optometry Victoria South Australia, contributing to governance and strategic direction of the profession. She has additionally worked as a Professional Content Curator for Myopia Profile, developing professional education for optometrists in myopia management.