Introducing the newest member of the Hepatitis Queensland team – Rachael. Rachael has recently come on board as a Project Officer to coordinate and deliver activities aimed at improving liver health for Queenslanders.

When did you start at HQ?
July 2021

What excites you about the role?
I love the diversity of my role and that I’m learning so much about liver health. I can be doing anything from writing funding submissions, coordinating promotional material, involved in community events or liver health and hepatitis C clinics. I’m also motivated knowing that the work I do is helping people who may not have sought help otherwise. I love working with the Hepatitis Queensland team, a dedicated, fun team of people who enjoy what they do.

What’s something you’ve learned in the past week?
As I’m new to the hepatitis space, I’m learning new things every day. What I’ve learned that has resonated with me the most is that liver cancer is the fastest increasing cancer death in Australia. It’s a reminder to take care of our precious liver – an incredible organ, and we can’t live without it.

How do you define success?
Knowing that the work I do is making a positive difference to the health of Queenslanders, always looking for better ways of doing things and enjoying the work at the same time.

What work did you do before joining HQ?
Before joining Hepatitis Queensland, I worked in the alcohol and other drug harm prevention space. My role focussed on increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors for alcohol and other drug harm across Queensland. Before that, I worked in women’s health with a focus on chronic disease prevention. I worked for over a decade in human resources in a previous life, but I knew I had to find my way back to the health sector.

What’s the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I’m showing my age, but my first job was at the local Video Ezy store in my hometown. The store doubled as the town’s movie theatre, which meant free videos and movies for me!

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love spending time with family and friends. I love the outdoors and keeping active with bushwalking, jogging, cycling, and swimming and if I can catch up with friends at the same time, even better. One of my favourite pastimes is reading. I’m not limited to any one genre and always have at least one book on the go. I’m also looking forward to travelling again post Covid-19 restrictions.

What’s a fun fact about you people may not know?
My party trick is a very passable impersonation of a baby’s cry.