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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