REPRESENTING THE PROFESSION THAT IMPACTS INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND COMMUNITIES
With
Michelle Oliver,
Chief Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapy Australia
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Adelaide | November 2025
Michelle Oliver is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with nearly two decades of leadership and clinical expertise across the mental health, homelessness, and disability sectors. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia and is a registered practitioner with AHPRA.
As the Chief Occupational Therapist at Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA), she leads national strategies to advance clinical excellence, drive workforce development, and champion sector-wide advocacy. Her leadership is crucial in shaping OTA’s influence within the health and disability systems.
Prior to her current role, Michelle served as the Principal Occupational Therapist at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, gaining a deep understanding of complex care environments. She is a recipient of a SA Health award for her commitment to consumer, carer, and community participation, and is a public advocate for evidence-based practice and high-quality care.
Source: Supplied
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Cardiologist broadens Tasmania’s surgical abilities
Dr Heath Adams is a Tasmanian born, bred and educated interventional and structural cardiologist who works at Hobart Private and Royal Hobart Hospital and is a researcher through the Menzies Research Institute.
Dr Adams clinical interest and expertise is in the management of aortic stenosis, valvular heart disease and acute coronary syndromes. Dr Adams performs coronary interventions including stenting, and structural heart interventions including TAVI, mitral edge to edge repair, mitral valve replacement and left atrial appendage closure. In 2020, Heath performed the first TAVI in Tasmania, is the clinical lead for the local program at the Royal Hobart Hospital and is a nationally accredited TAVI practitioner.
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Improved access to technology needed for people with Type 2 Diabetes needing insulin
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) provides subsidised products for diabetes management; however, disparities exist in access to technology between those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. While continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are subsidised for Type 1, they are not available for Type 2 diabetes. ADEA advocates for equitable access to these essential tools, emphasising that all individuals with diabetes deserve the resources necessary for optimal management and reduced risk of complications. Without such technologies, many are forced to rely on finger pricking, which can be inconvenient and unsafe in settings such as the workplace and in higher education.
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Early detection & surveillance guides for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer remains one of Australia’s deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates hovering at just 14%, with little improvement over several decades. Often called the ‘silent killer’, the disease frequently presents with minimal or vague symptoms, resulting in late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Pancare Foundation is leading the rollout of new clinical resources and surveillance guides to support healthcare professionals in identifying at-risk patients and promoting early detection.
