Aida Zeric

I completed the Masters of Orthoptics and was awarded the Lance-Jolly prize for achieving the highest overall mark in the course. I came to UTS from an Anatomy and Physiology background, having completed a Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of Sydney.

I decided to study Orthoptics because I wanted to work in healthcare, and thought that helping people see again would be a worthwhile and rewarding career, which it definitely is.

I chose UTS because it is the only university in Australia which offers the Orthoptics course.

The highlight of the course was going on my 2 week interstate/rural placement. I went to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane in my final year. On my second day I was entrusted to see patients unsupervised, and I got to assess 2-year-old triplets! Somehow I managed to assess all three of them while they were running around the room, it was a really funny and memorable moment that has stuck with me.

The course helped me to develop my clinical and analytical thinking skills. I have also made some life-long friendships with like-minded people in this course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would highly recommend it. All the lectures are supplemented by corresponding practical classes. There is an even mixture of both group assignments, as well as individual ones, which are mainly case based presentations or essays about different eye conditions.

As for the teaching staff, I’ve said time and time again that they go above and beyond for the students. But the key thing is that they do not spoon feed you everything, they motivate you to learn and think for yourselves. In practical and tutorial classes, which are normally around 10-12 students per class, the teachers make sure to come around and individually help everyone. They are he loveliest, most inspiring and approachable people you will ever meet.

I have worked full time at Westmead Hospital as an orthoptist in the eye clinic. It’s one of the largest and busiest eye clinics in Sydney and always kept me busy.

I plan to stay public hospital sector, but hopefully transition to a clinic that also sees children, as paediatric eye health has always been a big passion of mine and unfortunately I don’t see children in my current workplace. I also hope to return to UTS and join the teaching staff.

My top tips for future students is to keep on top of your studies, constantly revise throughout the semester so that you’re not just leaving everything to that last week prior to exams. Also, make the most of your clinical placements, be confident and willing to try!

A highlight of my time here was… Winning the Lance-Jolly Prize, as it was nice to be validated for all my hard work.

Aida is now working full-time over two clinics: one clinic in the private sector, and one in the public/community health sector. "Both clinics are predominantly paediatric, and what I like most about my job is the challenge that comes with assessing the vision and binocular function of children of a variety of ages. I also enjoy a seeing a child’s vision improve as they undergo treatment, and hearing all the cute and funny things they have to say throughout the consultation.”