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
-
Rural allied health mentorship program creates opportunities for students and practice
Melanie Roll, a director and physiotherapist at Gen Health Hamilton, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of allied health professionals. Gen Health’s support begins with a work experience program for local secondary school students, where they can observe a variety of health services and participate in an annual careers night to explore allied health career pathways.
Upon moving to tertiary education, students are offered placements through a five-week program designed to transition them from observation to supervised practice and ultimately to seeing their own patients. In their final study year, they can apply for the mentorship program, which aids the transition into private practice.
-
“Nurses can do more, should do more and now they will do more”, The Hon Minister Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health.
Advanced Practice Nurses comprise 9% of the total nursing workforce, with 26,000 clinicians Australia wide. However although highly skilled, they are under-utilised and constrained to the full scope of practice. The Australian College of Nursing believes this needs to change. Nurse led models of care in which Advanced Practice Nurses play a significant role in service provision, must feature in the future. ACN President Professor Christine Duffield FACN states, “It’s now widely acknowledged internationally that nurses can provide a clinical and very valuable service that’s better suited to the healthcare needs of some consumer groups.”
-
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.
