A Torres Strait Island woman on track to become the first female Indigenous ophthalmologist has been named the Australian National University’s (ANU) 2025 Alumni Volunteer of the Year for her commitment to community service and contributions to Indigenous ophthalmology.
In an ANU press release, Dr Hannah Wood said she felt “very privileged to have been nominated for this award, let alone receive it. I am so excited for the future of ophthalmology in this country”.
ANU said that after studying politics at the university and working as a parliamentary researcher, Dr Wood returned to the university to study medicine. This switch was motivated by her experience on a parliamentary project to improve school outcomes for children in the Northern Territory.
“It showed me that often what’s lacking is opportunity,” she says. “These are really bright kids who have such a great future ahead of them that just need to be supported at the right time.
“And if there are things that were creating barriers for them, such as poor sight or poor hearing, it can really affect their trajectory.”
Dr Wood believes providing culturally sensitive care is a way to chip away at the systemic barriers that can put people off seeking healthcare.
She took this belief on the road when she volunteered with Lions Outback Vision Van as a medical student.
ANU said the experience helped her to understand the importance of providing a friendly and approachable face to discuss medical issues outside the sometimes “unfriendly” clinical environment.
She has also pushed for changes to stereotypical views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients within medical curriculums.
“We should be shifting as practitioners to make people feel more comfortable and feel safe within our space,” she said.
“And I’m really pleased to see that the way this manifests is that so many of my colleagues have a much more gentle and thoughtful approach to how we treat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.”
Her team at the Ear Eye hospital runs an outreach clinic through the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. This means care is supported and guided by an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, so that as much care as possible “can be facilitated in a more culturally safe and comfortable environment”.
More reading
AIHW report highlights progress and identifies gaps in Indigenous eye health service
Diabetic retinopathy in Indigenous Australians
The Voice to Parliament – what a ‘yes’ vote would mean for Indigenous eye health
