REDUCING PATIENT ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING AND THE VALUE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE
With
Hannah McPierzie, Disability Consultant & Advocate &
Chair, Deafblind West Australians &
Non-Executive Director, Deafness Forum Australia
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Perth | October 2025
Hannah McPierzie is a globally respected presenter, disability advocate, and educator who offers a unique perspective on disability and communication. She lives with Neurofibromatosis Type 2, a rare degenerative condition, and has two auditory brainstem implants. After 15 years teaching in the disability sector, Hannah acquired disability herself in 2020, when life-saving surgery left her deafblind.
Combining her professional expertise with lived experience, Hannah’s advocacy highlights the barriers people with disability face when navigating health systems, particularly in relation to communication access. She works with universities, hospitals, research institutes, private companies, and government agencies to build critical awareness of disability and to embed inclusive practices into policy and service design.
As Chairperson of Deafblind West Australians, Hannah has led initiatives that strengthen peer support and outreach for people with deafblindness. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Deafness Forum Australia, where she contributes to national advocacy on hearing loss. Her projects have included making advance care planning accessible for people with sensory loss, delivering community awareness training, and supporting the next generation of young leaders with disability.
Hannah is a keynote speaker at national and international conferences, where she champions the role of lived experience in health professions education and systemic reform. Her work consistently addresses the challenges of fragmented systems, inaccessible communication, and the need for genuine inclusion in decision-making. Based in Perth, Western Australia, Hannah continues to drive change that prioritises dignity, accessibility, and equity.
Source: Supplied
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Orthopaedic surgeon driven to understand & manage infection
In tandem with his clinical practice, Associate Professor Tetsworth is deeply engaged in orthopaedic research, with a keen interest in infection management, infection control, limb salvage, bone defect reconstruction, biomarker development for infection, bone growth hormone delivery, and the use of 3D printed models for reconstructing segmental bone defects.
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Role of the Chief Nursing Officer
Professor Alison McMillan PSM spoke with Australian Health Journal about the role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Alison was appointed as our Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in November 2019.
In June 2021 Alison was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to driving the Government’s national health response priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to infection prevention measures.
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Raising awareness, engagement and inclusion of Allied Health
Anita Hobson-Powell holds the position of Chief Allied Health Officer for the Australian Government within the Department of Health and Aged Care. With a background as an exercise physiologist and extensive experience leading allied health professional associations*, she has been entrusted with three main priorities. First, she aims to raise awareness about the significance of allied health professionals and their role in the healthcare system. This involves ensuring that decision makers and individuals engaging with health services understand the contributions of allied health professionals.
