Two Orthoptic students from Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in Austria have successfully completed their final-year clinical placement at the La Trobe Eye Clinic, marking the first-ever hosting of international students at the clinic.
“Throughout their month-long placement at the La Trobe Eye Clinic, Selina Janesch and Johanna Lohinger seamlessly integrated themselves into our environment and demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting their clinical and academic requirements,” says Dr Linda Malesic, La Trobe’s Clinical Placement Coordinator for Orthoptics.
“We have seen the value of hosting international students like Selina and Johanna, and we are excited by the prospect of welcoming more in the future.”
Selina reflected on her placement at the La Trobe Eye Clinic as being an incredibly rewarding experience.
“During my time at the clinic, I have been able to develop my clinical and professional skills, but it’s the people that have made it a truly special experience. The clinic is such a friendly and supportive working environment, and the gratitude of patients after their eye examinations left me feeling fulfilled by the work I was doing and the positive impact an orthoptist can have,” says Selina.
Johanna is looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills she gained while at the La Trobe Eye Clinic to her future career as an orthoptist in Austria.
“It was such a valuable learning experience for us. We were supported to work independently and take the lead in examining patients and writing up our clinical findings. We also got to learn new examination methods and techniques,” says Johanna.
The La Trobe Eye Clinic is a student-led university orthoptic service based a La Trobe’s Bundoora campus. It was established to create a real-world student learning opportunity, address shortages in clinical placements and provide on-the-job experience in paediatric orthoptics for students.
Find out more about the La Trobe Eye Clinic.
