You have a part to play

Thank you to Hannah McPierzie, disability consultant, advocate and educator, for sharing a powerful and thought-provoking presentation with staff and students at our recent seminar titled 'You Have a Part to Play: Making Healthcare More Accessible and Equitable'.

Drawing on both lived and learned experience, Hannah called on us to see patients as whole people, not simply through the lens of a single health discipline. Through honest and often vulnerable reflections on her own experiences navigating healthcare with an acquired disability, she highlighted the barriers people can face, including the exhausting reality of having to repeatedly retell their story, re-explain their needs and advocate for themselves. 

Hannah also highlighted the importance of incorporating lived experience into the education of future health professionals, helping students develop a deeper understanding of accessibility, equity and patient-centred care from the beginning of their careers. 

What made the session so impactful was not only the message, but Hannah's remarkable gift for communication. Her humility, authenticity and willingness to share personal experiences created a space for reflection, learning and meaningful discussion. Many attendees spoke afterwards about how moved they were by her presentation. 

We left inspired to find ways to help bring about some of the changes that Hannah talked about, with Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Melbourne School of Health Sciences staff planning to further involve Hannah in our leadership and teaching programs.