
Makes learning feel rewarding and fun.
Encourages creativity and critical thinking.
Always approachable and easy to talk to.
Always supportive and inspiring to all.
Encourages students to explore new ideas.
Dr Liesl Heinrich is a Lecturer and Educational Designer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Monash University. Her academic background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Monash University, awarded on 6 December 2012, with the thesis titled 'Understanding adolescent loneliness: longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships with attachment, emotion regulation, and coping.' She also holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology from the University of Melbourne, awarded on 5 April 2003, focused on 'Null hypothesis testing versus confidence intervals: A comparison of students’ inferences,' and a Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice from Monash University, awarded on 29 October 2015. Heinrich commenced her career at Monash in 2003 as a psychology lecturer, developing an online video-based tutorial program for third-year students in research design and analysis. From 2013 to 2014, she was Psychology Teaching and Learning Coordinator, where she flipped first-year classes, created online lessons, and co-developed the Professional Transitions Program with the Careers Unit. As Project Officer from 2014 to 2018, she co-developed the Moodle-based iSAP (Integrating Science and Practice) platform, including multimedia case studies and the interactive 'The Story of Breast Imaging' module. Since 2016, in her role as Educational Designer, she collaborates on designing student-centred online learning for undergraduate and Master's courses in nursing and midwifery, coordinates NUR1013 'Indigenous health for nursing and midwifery practice' using action research to evaluate cultural safety education based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework, and applies learning analytics via Moodle to track student engagement.
Her research specializations encompass nursing education, case-based learning, Indigenous health curricula, and pedagogical innovations to bridge theory-practice gaps. Key publications include 'Facilitating Capability: iSAP – A Novel Pedagogical Intervention' (Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 2024, with Schliephake, Gasevic, Ilic, Williams, and Baird), 'Action research to implement an Indigenous health curriculum framework' (Nurse Education Today, 2020, with Wilson, Heidari, and Adams), 'Integrating Science and Practice: an innovative approach to bridge the theory practice gap' (2018 abstract), and 'The clinical significance of loneliness: a literature review' (Clinical Psychology Review, 2006, with Gullone). Heinrich has received major awards such as the 2021 Australian Awards for University Teaching for Programs that Enhance Learning (iSAP Team), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (NUR1013 Teaching Team, 2018), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (iSAP Team, 2018), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Teaching Innovation; School of Psychology Team, 2013), and School Award for Outstanding Contribution to Undergraduate Teaching (Psychology, 2008). These accomplishments demonstrate her significant contributions to innovative, inclusive education in health sciences.