SA Health | Covid-19 Emergency Response Program | Government of South Australia

$7.2B Public Health Global Pandemic Response

Role: Principal Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

Sector: Government | Healthcare | Emergency Response

Environment: Major Emergency Declaration under the Emergency Management Act

Overview

The COVID-19 Vaccination Program was delivered under SA Health during a declared Major Emergency, forming part of Australia’s critical public health response to the global pandemic.

The program required rapid mobilisation of large-scale vaccination clinics, real-time communication of evolving health directives, and coordinated engagement across government, healthcare providers, and the community.

Role & Scope

As Principal Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, I led strategic communications and stakeholder engagement across multiple high-volume vaccination clinics, supporting statewide vaccination delivery during a highly dynamic and time-sensitive period.

Operating at the intersection of government, healthcare and frontline operations, I acted as a central communication interface — translating complex and rapidly evolving public health directives into clear, actionable guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Led communications and stakeholder engagement across multiple vaccination sites (Wayville, Adelaide CBD and Kilkenny)
Developed and delivered strategic communication plans aligned with SA Health and government directives
Translated complex and frequently changing health mandates into clear operational messaging
Managed multi-channel communications including digital, on-site, media and internal communications
Supported the rollout of clinics, campaigns and vaccination events across diverse community groups
Collaborated with government, clinical teams and frontline staff to ensure alignment and delivery
Ensured messaging accuracy, compliance and consistency in a high-risk, high-pressure environment

Key Achievements

Statewide Delivery: Managed communications across multiple high-volume vaccination clinics, ensuring consistent delivery of rapidly changing public health directives
Campaign Leadership: Led the Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Booster Campaign during a critical phase of the pandemic response
Operational Impact: Developed real-time communication frameworks that enabled efficient clinic operations in a fast-moving, high-risk environment
Community Engagement Innovation: Designed and implemented a large-scale engagement initiative at the Wayville vaccination hub, transforming the site into a themed, family-friendly environment to improve accessibility, reduce anxiety and support vaccination uptake

Capability Highlights

Project Highlights & Media

Selected project initiatives and public-facing communications include:

Adelaide Showground Super Vaccination Clinic – Kids Engagement Initiative
Large-scale community engagement concept designed to improve accessibility, reduce anxiety and support vaccination uptake
👉 View Project Article

Novavax Clinic Opening – Project Communications
Supporting the rollout of new vaccination pathways through targeted communications and stakeholder engagement
👉 View Project Article