Professor Beth Armstrong
Director
From a Speech Pathology background, Beth has worked in health and academic leadership roles for over 20 years focused on multidisciplinary clinical practice and research. Beth is a passionate advocate for rural health services, research capacity building and increasing the rural health workforce. She leads a national multidisciplinary team of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal researchers focusing on brain injury rehabilitation and the provision of culturally secure health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She has been an invited speaker at national and international multidisciplinary health conferences, has produced 138 journal publications and attracted over $9m in competitive grant funding.
Abigail Lewis
Senior Lecturer, Clinical Education
Abigail is a senior lecturer (clinical education) and is happy about her move to the South West. She is passionate about rural placements, ensuring students are well prepared prior, supported during and experience interprofessional and reflective opportunities. She values relevant training and support for placement supervisors. Her experience as the Clinical Coordinator for ECU’s Speech Pathology program for 14 years and working in the paediatric disability field, prepared her for this role.
Fiona Hildebrand
Lecturer, Clinical Education
Fiona Hildebrand is driven to improve the quality of health care for people residing in remote Australia. She has practised primary health care in some of the most far-flung remote places such as Aboriginal communities, minesites, immigration detention centres and once she worked on an island resort in the Whitsundays (which actually wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds). She worked for scabies prevention and ear disease projects that were rolled out across the top end of the NT.
Dr. Norman Brandon
Lecturer Optometry
Dr. Norman Brandon is an academic optometrist at the University Department of Rural Health, working in collaboration with the South West Aboriginal Medical Service to run an eye care program. As both a university lecturer and clinician, he provides primary eyecare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while training UWA optometry students in clinical skills. He also fosters valuable cultural awareness by offering students outreach experiences in Aboriginal communities.
Fiona Cooper
Business Manager
As Business Manager, Fiona is responsible for operational and financial management, compliance, and contributing to the strategic development of UDRH SW. With more than 25 years of leadership experience within the WA private health care industry, her passion for the South West and healthcare close to home, inspires her dedication to attracting healthcare professionals to the region.
Huong Tu
Executive Assistant to Professor Beth Armstrong
Huong Tu is a proud mother of three beautiful children, she finds immense joy and fulfillment in her family. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Huong brings over 11 years of diverse experience from local government, where she has consistently demonstrated a passion for continuous learning and self-improvement.
Belinda Williams
Student Systems Coordinator
Belinda has a background in small business and local government with a passion for the arts and community.
Cathy Phillips
Occupational Therapy Placement and Education Advisor
Cathy is an occupational therapist with a strong background in education and business. Cathy is particularly committed to supporting allied health students, especially in rural placements, where access to hands-on learning can be challenging. Her expertise in both clinical practice and education makes her an invaluable mentor, ensuring students are well-equipped for their future careers.
Ben Avery
Exercise Physiology Placement and Education Advisor
As an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Ben specialises in helping people recover from musculoskeletal injuries through physical rehab, with a particular interest in ankles, knees, and hips. He gained valuable experience in both private practice and the workers’ compensation system, and also enjoys mentoring practicum students as they develop their skills in the field.
Fiona Black
Nursing Placement and Education Advisor
Fiona is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years clinical experience qualifying in 2001with a Bachelor in Science, Nursing degree at Edinburgh University. Fiona started her career overseas working for 2 years in the Falkland Islands in a rural and remote setting then returned to the UK for a year before she immigrated to Australia.
Wayne Goodrem
Paramedicine Placement and Education Advisor
Wayne is an Intensive Care Paramedic, with over 25 years of clinical experience, spanning E000 emergency response, flight paramedicine, and remote medical care in communities, mining, oil, and gas sectors. He has worked in complex operational environments, including the Solomon Islands as a rescue flight paramedic and with AUSMED’s Ebola Response Team.
Emily Jackson
Speech Pathology Placement and Education Advisor
Emily Jackson is a Speech Pathologist who has lived in the South West since 2019. Emily has varied experiences across both the adult and paediatric populations within the acute hospital setting, private practice, NDIS and public outpatient community clinics.
Jess Ellis
Social Work Placement and Education Advisor
Having worked and lived in the rural and remote areas for a decade, Jess is passionate about rural health. On top of her broad base of understanding rural living conditions, Jess also spent another 7 years working in the higher education sector, specialising in student placements for allied health services. She is dedicated to offering students enriching, hands-on experiences that benefit their education and the community they serve.
Karyn Hetherington
Health Discipline Placement and Education Advisor
Karyn is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Child and Adolescent Health Nurse who grew up in the South West of Western Australia. Karyn moved to Perth after high school to complete a Bachelor of Science Nursing at Curtin University and began her career as a graduate nurse at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Fiona Collins
Dietetics Placement and Education Advisor
Fiona is a discipline advisor for Dietetics and Nutrition with the UDRH SW team.
Work with us
Be part of the solution. Together we can work towards building a stronger and more sustainable rural health workforce in the South West – ultimately improving the health and well-being of those in rural and remote areas.
