Learning with heart: NICU caregivers go the extra mile through UTAS study

16 Oct 2025

Less visible is the quiet dedication of several caregivers who, alongside their clinical roles, are also pursuing further study through the University of Tasmania (UTAS). It is an experience reshaping not only their own careers, but also the way the team delivers care to its tiniest patients.

One of these caregivers is Clinical Nurse Lincy Thomas, who will complete her Master of Clinical Nursing (Neonatal Intensive and Special Care) in November 2025. 

Lincy said completing her Master’s has been incredibly empowering.

“Coming from another country and building a career in Australia hasn’t always been easy,” she said. 

“This degree is about resilience, growth, and the belief that no matter where you start, with determination and support, you can thrive.”

Lincy’s journey began with a desire to deepen her clinical knowledge and align her practice with the highest standards of neonatal care. Despite the challenge of balancing shift work, study, and motherhood, she excelled, earning a place in the UTAS Role of Excellence for 2024.

She credits the St John of God Health Care and UTAS partnership as a key factor in making her success possible.

“Knowing the hospital supports this course made all the difference,” she said. 

“The curriculum is directly relevant to our practice and the course fosters both professional development and personal empowerment, setting nurses up for leadership and more senior roles.”

Lincy’s story is not unique in the unit. Fellow caregivers Christine Heald and Lee Pellicciotta have also undertaken postgraduate studies through UTAS, each bringing their own motivation and experiences.

Christine, who recently finished her Master’s degree, graduating in August 2025, never imagined herself as a the ‘academic-type’, however the encouragement from her family and the impact on her clinical practice kept her motivated.

“Honestly, I just wanted to understand my patients better,” she said. 

“But now I’ve gained confidence, a genuine love of research, and have attended a few national and international conferences.”

“I enjoy giving back to the profession I love.”

When asked how the degree changed her leadership, Christine said that acting as Nurse Unit Manager in the NICU really put that to the test. 

“The study gave me the tools to back decisions with evidence and to mentor the team through the same process. And it’s cemented one thing in particular — I’ll be a lifelong learner, no matter what position I hold,” she said.

Support from her manager and colleagues helped turn a daunting task into an achievable one. 

“When the team steps in to help you meet a deadline or swap a shift, you realise you’re not doing this alone.” 

For Lee, who is working toward her Postgraduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care, the journey has been more stop-start but no less impactful.

“I started in 2019 and had to pause a few times, so the flexibility to study the course online and at my own pace makes it so much more manageable when trying to juggle work, family, and study” Lee said.

“The course has increased my confidence by deepening my understanding of the deteriorating patient, the pathophysiology of different conditions and has helped me to work more cohesively with our neonatologists.”

All three caregivers agree that further study does not just benefit the individual, it transforms the unit.

“When more of us are engaged in ongoing education, we collectively raise the standard of care,” Lincy said.

“It also cultivates a culture of learning, innovation, and shared responsibility for quality outcomes.”

Christine points to better critical thinking and academic writing skills as tools that empower the team to interpret research more confidently and improve best practice guidelines.

“Ultimately, it’s our patients and their families who benefit most. And that’s what makes the effort worth it” she said. 

The partnership between St John of God Health Care and UTAS demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to supporting caregivers at every stage of their careers. It is a message that resonates internally, and one it proudly shares with prospective caregivers looking for an organisation that invests in their people.

“My advice?” Christine said.

“Forget the whole mountain — just take it one step at a time. Don’t wait for the perfect time, as it might never come.”

St John of God Health Care is proud to support caregivers like Lincy, Christine, and Lee on their learning journeys and provide an environment where excellence in care goes hand in hand with opportunities for professional and personal growth.