Supporting others: RL Lizzie in action

Every year, a dedicated area at our Geelong Waurn Ponds campus is allocated to exclusively housing and supporting the needs of the large number of Doctor of Medicine students who choose to study at Deakin.  

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bartetzko, is currently in her second year of a Doctor of Medicine, and a qualified Nurse and Midwife. Having first made the move to living on campus at Deakin from Queensland in 2020, Lizzie plays an important role within the Geelong Waurn Ponds residential medical precinct by assisting students’ transition to university and residence life.  

As part of her role as a dedicated Residential Leader in this tailored living learning environment, Lizzie is responsible for organizing regular study sessions, dinners, walks and exam or assignment debriefs to support this cohort through their busy and sometimes stressful study schedules.  

Lizzie recently facilitated a special clinical skills session with the help of fellow resident and Doctor of Medicine student, Brian Rose in our new Town Hall building. This session covered clinical skills covered in recent weeks including vital signs, wound dressings, injections, cannulation and venipuncture, providing a supportive environment for students to put into practice important clinical skills.  

“As a Nurse and Midwife, education is a big part of my role,” notes Lizzie. “I love the opportunity to share my clinical experience with others and really enjoy teaching. It was awesome to see student’s enthusiasm for hands-on experience and to watch their confidence grow over the session! Especially in these uncertain times, where COVID-19 has impacted our ability to be in hospitals and other clinical spaces, I think it’s even more essential that we share our knowledge and support each other’s learning.”  

Based on positive feedback from those in attendance, Lizzie and Brian both hope to be able to facilitate another clinical skills session later in the year.