Natasha Barnard-French

Growing up in Wagga, Natasha remembers many long trips up the Hume Highway to the Camden Haven in the summer holidays to spend time at a real beach!

 

After completing an Optometry Degree with Honours from UNSW in 1993, Natasha went on to complete a research Masters in the neuroscience of vision development and specific learning disorders including dyslexia. Her interest in children’s vision had her make a trip across the Nullabor to Perth where she worked in specialty behavioural  optometry and vision therapy practices for 10 years.

 

During this time Natasha continued her study and in 2000 was awarded a Fellowship from ACBO ( Australasian College of Behavioural Optometry), the highest award offered by the organisation. She was also a founding member of a now well-established aid organisation called Equal Health, and travelled to India and Zimbabwe providing vision care to remote communities.

 

In 2009, Natasha moved from Perth to Laurieton with her daughters to visit her parents who had made the Camden Haven home. This began an unexpected but happy move to the area. Natasha set up vision therapy services in both Laurieton and Lighthouse Plaza.

 

In 2015, Natasha established her own Optometry practice at the Lake Cathie Health Complex. The practice offers the full range of optometry services for all ages.

 

Natasha is passionate about ensuring that appropriate vision solutions, including vision therapy, are available to children to address any vision-related learning difficulties they may have.

 

Outside work, Natasha is very involved with the regional music community. She is an accomplished pianist and flautist. She enjoys playing flute with Sinfonia MNC, as well as engagements with the Players Theatre Productions and Glasshouse lunchtime concerts. Her daughter Abi is a violinist and she keeps Natasha busy with piano accompanying and taxi services.

 

Within her research area of vision development, Natasha is now looking at researching the specific visual / auditory processes behind learning to read English and learning to read music.