Sarah Elliott is working as a Project Lead with DHCRC, the Consumer’s Health Forum of Australia and Curtin University, reimagining healthcare in Australia and providing direction for future digital healthcare delivery, anchored in the patient experience.
Before I came to Australia…
I grew up in a small town in South Devon, a very beautiful part of the UK that I’ll always hold close to my heart, with rugged coastlines, pastural land, and lots of rain. I moved away to study, completing an Honours degree in Human Biology and starting a PhD, but sadly the funding fell through in the early stages, so I refocused and sought out an alternative pathway.
My early career involved…
Ten years as a Clinical Research Project Manager, working on several high-profile oncology studies, where the highlight was obtaining approval and subsequent registration of a now routinely used monoclonal antibody in the treatment of breast cancer.
The work that led me to my current role was…
After three children and an extended period of maternity leave, I did a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Newcastle in Port Macquarie, earning the Faculty Medal, then spent six years in clinical practice which helped me shape and define my area of interest in healthcare research. My passion lies in research to improve the patient journey, finding out how we can get the most favourable outcomes and experience for the patient or consumer.
As a health professional working for NSW and ACT Health, I constantly used digital health to support healthcare delivery and could see both its incredible possibilities and also the limitations placed on digital health within the clinical workplace.
My current research involves…
As the Project Lead for Curtin University, embedded at the Consumers Health Forum, Canberra. I am involved with two DHCRC projects: Reimagining healthcare in Australia: the journey from telehealth to 21st century design; and Determining consumer preferences and experiences regarding telehealth and embedding the consumer into reimagining healthcare in Australia. Both projects involve research anchored in the patient experience. These projects align beautifully, given my passion for patient advocacy and improving the patient experience, and will help provide unique consumer insight into the development of virtual care.
My favourite bit of technology is…
Our robot vacuum cleaner. We have a long-haired Border Collie called Missy, and a short haired moggy called Ravioli (my daughter’s choice of name!). Without our robot vacuum cleaner, our house would resemble a barbershop!
The top three things on my to-do list today are…
Clean the filter on the robot vacuum cleaner, take a “stand and stretch” break from the computer every hour, and complete my work deadline!
When I’m not working or studying, you’ll find me…
Walking my dogs, doing ‘hot yoga’, and enjoying a glass of good red.
