We are very proud of our alumnae who are working on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic

We are proud to showcase our Sacré Cœur heroes, who share their incredible stories of personal strength and conviction during this pandemic. Thank you to our healthcare workers, for the acts of courage and kindness shown throughout our community. These reflections were received in April 2020.

We would love to share more of these stories. Please let us know if you or a classmate is involved in helping to combat the virus.

Contact Melinda Adams or phone 9835 2737

Kate Selir (2011)

Paramedic for London Ambulance Service

What does your role entail?

I am a paramedic so work on ambulances responding to medical emergencies in the city of London.

I work out of Westminster Ambulance station.

Have you moved from another role to handle COVID-19?

Yes, I have been moved to a COVID-19 support line that is a collaboration between London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade. One paramedic is paired with one firefighter who will drive the ambulance. This allows for more ambulances to be available on road to respond to medical emergencies.

What is the feeling/mood at your workplace?

Morale is high. Everyone is staying positive and being supportive of one another. I am lucky to be working with such great colleagues.

What does your home life look like in isolation?

I am living at home with my partner and another housemate. We unfortunately don’t have an outdoor space but are allowed to go out once a day for daily exercise and for groceries/essential items. This walk outside once a day is a nice reprieve , particularly with the weather in London getting better.

Do you keep in touch with any friends from Sacré Cœur?

Yes I do. I am fortunate to have two close school friends living in London (Carly Saliba and Lucy Kruimel, 2011). I speak to them regularly and they have been a great support to me over this time.

Is there anything from your school days that still resonates with you today? Memories / songs etc.

When I was at Sacré Cœur I felt a great sense of camaraderie particularly with school sports. I feel very fortunate that I have that same sense of camaraderie at work, particularly at a time like this.

What keeps you going during this pandemic?

I just try to take it day by day and not over analyse things too much.

What would you like to tell everyone at this time?

Please continue to follow government regarding social distancing. This will help protect the vulnerable of society.

Emma Battagello (2009) HART Paramedic (Hazardous Area Response Team) at London Ambulance Service

I’ve worked as a HART paramedic for just over a year now. During normal operations, this role involves carrying my paramedic skill set forward to hazardous areas. Day to day responsibilities include urban search and rescue, including treating patients in collapsed buildings, trapped in car accidents, during terrorist incidents and at accidents involving chemicals. With the outbreak of COVID-19, my role has changed slightly. Initially I was a part of a community testing program, which aimed to reduce potential COVID-19 cases from presenting at hospital. By visiting each patient in the community, fully kitted with PPE, we could encourage self-isolation in patients with mild symptoms. As COVID-19 cases began to spike, London hospitals became quite overwhelmed. We were tasked with transferring COVID-19 positive patients between hospitals. On one occasion, we transported a patient 4.5 hours from London to Sheffield, the closest free hospital bed at the time! Treating patients whilst wearing a Tyvek suit, double gloves, a tight fitting face mask and plastic visor is really challenging! It’s really difficult to communicate with patients, and reassure them when most of your face is covered. Dexterity with assessing patients and administering drugs is also tough. I’ve also been involved in transferring patients into the quickly erected Nightingale hospital. Whilst a really impressive achievement, fortunately the NHS has coped quite well without relying too heavily on The Nightingale.

It’s been a challenging time working as a paramedic. At the beginning of April, all of London Ambulance Service were feeling overwhelmed. Paramedics were going off sick with COVID-19 symptoms, there was a gross shortage of ambulances, as they awaited deep cleaning post exposure to COVID-19 and we were receiving ambulance calls in the same numbers of New Years Eve. We were also being confronted with young, fit patients deteriorating very suddenly in the community. It was incredibly overwhelming, knowing that despite how hard you worked, there would always be many more patients waiting for an ambulance. Fortunately the Ambulance Service responded impressively. They added an extra 100 ambulances, offering bonuses for staff to work on their days off. They provided regular guidance on managing our own mental health, and ensured we had adequate PPE. Each Thursday night members of the public would clap in acknowledgement of our efforts. Feeling the support of London gave us the drive to keep going, even when we were separated from family and friends. While I’ve never worked so hard as a paramedic, I’ve also never felt so appreciated.

I cherish my days at Sac and the close friendships I’ve kept. Despite living in London for the past four years, catching up with old friends is like no time at all has passed. I’m so impressed by the incredible women that have emerged from my 2009 Class of Year 12. I’ve really come to appreciate the encouragement that was reinforced through my time at Sac. I’ve realised that not all young women are supported from Year 7 in whichever aspirations they hold. While being fortunate enough to have travelled a lot of Europe, I’m still in awe of the stunning Sac buildings. It always felt pretty special walking up the front driveway, through the beautiful gardens to see the lovely old red brick building.

Fortunately London appears to be passing the peak of COVID-19. It will be many months before life returns to normal, but we’re all hoping the lockdown reduces the chance of a second peak outbreak. I have so much appreciation for the public in the United Kingdom and Australia making sacrifices and staying at home. It’s made a huge difference in reducing hospital workload in London, and keeping the most vulnerable people in the community safe. We’re all pretty keen to be able to see friends again, but for the moment, the idea of treating patients without wearing head-to-toe PPE is getting me through this unprecedented time.

My thoughts go out to all the VCE students. I can’t imagine the uncertainty and impact this is having on their final study years. I wish them all well through this tough time. I’m sure they will look back on this period with pride on all their hard work.

Dr Alexandra Nikolsky 2005

Emergency Doctor at the Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland

Facebook post 29 April 2020

When alumna Alexandra Nikolsky walked out of the Burke Road gates for the last time in 2005, she was following in the footsteps of her Grandmother Denise Pitney (Prendergast 1946) and Mum Sarah Pitney Nikolsky (1972).

Her ambition was to play bass guitar in a rock band which was fitting as the 2005 Music Captain of the School.

Today she is on the world stage, but not as a rock star.

Dr Lexi is an Emergency Doctor at the Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland. You might not recognise her underneath all the PPE (personal protective equipment), but she is courageously caring for patients and battling on the frontline of this Coronavirus pandemic.

Thank you Dr Lexi and all healthcare workers in our School community. Your dedication, commitment and courage deserve our deepest gratitude and admiration. #couragexkindness

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