IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTION TO STAFF AND PATIENTS Allied health leader shares career insights
With
Mirella Vagnarelli, Director of Allied Health – Women’s and Children’s Division
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA Health
People In Health Care segment
Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia | March 2025
Mirella Vagnarelli is a distinguished healthcare leader with proven expertise across South Australia and the United Kingdom, where she has successfully led large, multidisciplinary teams. Holding a Master of Business Administration (Health) from Flinders University, she earned Fellowship status with the Australasian College of Health Service Management in 2022. In 2023, Mirella was honoured as a scholarship recipient for the prestigious ‘Women in Leadership’ Program at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation.
Mirella thrives in dynamic, complex environments, demonstrating situational leadership and an exceptional ability to navigate challenges and drive strategic change. She is currently expanding her expertise by undertaking the AI in Healthcare specialisation at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, building upon her experience leading digital transformation and deploying emerging technologies aimed at improving patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, and overall service safety, quality and efficiency.
A registered Physiotherapist, Mirella is passionate about fostering meaningful connections with patients and embracing a person-centred, holistic approach to care. She continues to practice as a hospital-based clinician across a broad range of specialty areas. Her background, particularly in critical care and cardiorespiratory specialties, has provided her with deep insight into evidence-based practice. Before transitioning into leadership roles, Mirella developed skills in advocating for advancing the role of Physiotherapists and Allied Health Professionals in delivering high-quality, collaborative care. This is something she continues to do now with more impact than ever before as a Director of Allied Health.
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Unleashing the potential of Paramedic skills and knowledge
According to a prominent paramedicine academic and researcher, paramedics have the potential to provide much-needed care in the community, changing the traditional healthcare model. Research points to paramedics having a wider healthcare workforce impact based on their ability to identify and fix problems 24/7.
Dr. Brendan Shannon is Head of Postgraduate Programs in the Department of Paramedicine at Monash University and a member of The Australasian College of Paramedicine. His interests including refining healthcare models, to ensure underserved communities receive requisite care. These alternative care pathways, like outreach programs, can work out of hospitals to provide care in underserved communities with social and complex chronic conditions.
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The desire for primary care nurses to do more, be recognised and valued for the work they do
Denise Lyons is a highly experienced nurse with over 40 years in the profession, including more than 25 years dedicated to primary care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the United States in 1985 and, in 2012, became an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Australia. Currently, she serves as a primary care Nurse Practitioner in General Practice in Newcastle, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves the health and wellbeing of her community.
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Nurse led micro-suction earwax removal service continues success
At the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards in February, Earworx was recognised as the National Championing Health Award winner. Lisa Hellwege, the Clinical Director and Founder of Earworx, expressed her gratitude to the entire team and their patients for their trust and support. Earworx specialises in providing professional earwax removal services led by trained nurses using a procedure called microsuction.
