Champion in Action, March spotlight: Clementine Glikson
At just 15 years old, Clementine Glikson from Australia proved that being knowledgeable has no age limit and that learning can save lives, even across borders. Although Australia is a rabies-free country, Clementine wanted to be part of the solution and completed GARC’s Rabies Educator Certificate. She is driven by a passion for science, health, and wanting to make a difference. Her commitment has had a real-world impact when she was able to share potentially life-saving advice with a friend following a dog bite in rabies-endemic Bali. This March, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, Clementine shares her story with us to highlight the power of education, confidence, and empowering Future Rabies Champions to eliminate rabies for everyone.
What first sparked your interest in rabies and public health, especially living in a country like Australia where rabies is not present?
My interest in rabies and public health began through completing foundational courses like Basic Life Support, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Infectious Diseases through the National CPR Foundation and Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Control (VICNISS). These courses helped me to understand how preventable diseases can still have life-changing consequences, particularly when people lack awareness or access to reliable information. Even though Australia is free from rabies, learning about infectious diseases sparked my curiosity about global health challenges and how different communities experience very different risks. It made me realize how important education is for my own community’s safety, as well as to understand how to support people from around the world facing other health challenges.
How did you discover GARC and decide to enrol in the Rabies Educator Certificate?
I discovered GARC while researching reliable, science-based information about rabies. When I came across the Rabies Educator Certificate, I was immediately drawn to the idea of learning accurate, practical knowledge that could help protect both people and animals. Enrolling felt like a meaningful way to turn my curiosity into action. I wanted to understand how rabies can be prevented and how education can reduce harm, especially in communities where access to information and healthcare is limited.
What parts of the course stood out to you the most, or changed the way you think about rabies and prevention?
Learning that around 50 000 people die from rabies every year (roughly one person every nine minutes) was confronting for me. When I shared this statistic with friends in Australia, many were shocked, as they assumed rabies had been eliminated worldwide. This really highlighted how damaging misinformation and lack of awareness can be, even in countries where rabies is no longer present. It reinforced for me just how powerful education can be in preventing unnecessary suffering and death.
Can you describe how it felt to use what you learned to help a friend in a real-life situation involving a dog bite in a rabies-endemic country?
Bali is a very popular travel destination for Australians, but many travellers are unaware that rabies is still a risk there. In Australia, people are generally comfortable approaching and patting unfamiliar dogs, and this mindset contributed to my friend’s grandmother being bitten by a dog while walking along a beach in Bali. Because the bite seemed minor and she felt fine, she did not initially think that she needed medical treatment. My friend contacted me for advice, knowing I had recently completed the Rabies Educator Certificate and the Rabies Healthcare Course. By sharing what I had learned, I was able to explain the risks and stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical care. It was incredibly rewarding and humbling to realize that my education had a real, potentially life-saving impact. This was especially true as my friend had once joked that my rabies knowledge would probably never be useful!
Did that experience change how confident you feel about speaking up or giving advice in health-related situations? Why or why not?
Absolutely. It significantly increased my confidence. Knowing that my advice was based on credible, science-based education helped me feel more comfortable speaking up. This experience showed me that even as a young person, sharing accurate information can genuinely change outcomes. It reinforced the importance of education, self-belief, and having the courage to speak up.
What are your interests or plans for the future? Do you see yourself working in health, science, animal welfare, or another field?
I have always been fascinated by science, particularly marine biology, and I am inspired by women like Marie Curie. I admire her dedication and how her discoveries created lasting global impact. I love learning through documentaries and exploring how people, animals, and ecosystems interact. I am still very young, so I do think I need to keep my options open but I know I want a future that involves learning, discovery, and making a positive difference. Watch this space!
What would you say to other young people who might think they are “too young” or “too far removed” from rabies to make a difference?
Even as a teenager living in a rabies-free country, I found myself in a situation where my knowledge helped guide a friend’s grandmother toward urgent medical care after a dog bite in Bali. I was able to explain the importance of vaccination and what symptoms to monitor. Knowing all of this helped me potentially save a life. This experience showed me that age and geography should never limit us in at least trying to make a difference. Education matters, and you never know when what you have learned might help protect someone else. Everyone has the power to make a difference, sometimes in ways you least expect.
Did Clementine’s story inspire you to make a difference? Enrol for our Rabies Educator Certificate today – click here.
The Communities Against Rabies initiative is supported by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Boehringer Ingelheim.