Richard Grills

King Charles III’ first birthday honours have recognised the achievements of several Australian eyecare professionals.  

The University of Melbourne’s Dr Sandra Staffieri was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to paediatric ophthalmology as an orthoptist and vision researcher; University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton received an AO for her distinguished service to optometry and tertiary education as a researcher, mentor and role model. Members of the Order of Australia (AM) awards were given to Clinical Associate Professor Andrew Chang , Sydney University, for significant service to ophthalmology and retinal surgery as a clinician and educator; the late Richard Grills, founder of Designs for Vision, for his significant service to community eye health and the ophthalmic optics industry; Flinders University Distinguished Professor Justine Smith, for significant service to ophthalmology, particularly research and education; and UNSW’s Conjoint Professor Arthur Ho, for significant service to optometry as a researcher, designer and educator. Dr Brett O'Donnell, from Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. 

Dr Sandra Staffieri OA

Richard Grills was further honoured by Australia’s Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA), which has established two prizes with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, to reward graduate achievements in orthoptics and low vision, respectively. Grills was closely associated with both universities as a long-term educator and was passionate about both subjects, said ODMA CEO Amanda Trotman.  

The inaugural UTS ODMA Richard Grills Memorial Prize was awarded to Queensland orthoptist Melinda Mo, while the inaugural UNSW low vision prize will be awarded in 2024, said Trotman. “All of us would have loved for Richard to have enjoyed hearing this news himself. He touched and improved the lives of so many people and it has been heartwarming to see the amount of industry acknowledgement for both Richard’s expertise and the wonderful human being he was.”