--- title: Finding the confidence to be heard date: 2026-06-04T00:00:00+10:00 author: Courtney Hayles canonical_url: "https://maib.tas.gov.au/news/finding-the-confidence-to-be-heard" section: News --- # Finding the confidence to be heard Posted 04 June 2026 | [Article,](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news?c=article) [Community](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news?c=community) Through the About Me program, Clarissa found the confidence to speak up, share her story and advocate for better healthcare. For Clarissa\*, speaking up in healthcare settings was never easy. “When I used health services, they made me feel like I shouldn’t be there and I should just leave,” she said. “I didn’t know how to express myself and I felt like they were looking down on me.” Clarissa recently participated in the About Me program, delivered by the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania and supported by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board Injury Prevention and Management Foundation. The About Me program supports participants to better understand themselves, share their story and find the right supports. There are four About Me modules, with participants able to choose the areas that best suit their needs, including Employment, Education, Healthcare and Disability Support. The first module usually takes around 10 weeks of one-hour weekly sessions, with additional modules completed more quickly. Participants work one-on-one with a project officer to explore their strengths, interests, goals and inspirations, as well as the supports and accommodations they might need. Clarissa worked closely with her project officer Emily through the Healthy Me module, which focuses on improving confidence and outcomes in healthcare settings. As she worked through the program, that began to change. Step by step, Clarissa built a clearer understanding of her own health goals, alongside the confidence to talk about them. She learned to identify the barriers she encountered when trying to access health services and how to explain those barriers in ways others could understand. One of the most powerful parts of the program for Clarissa was creating her own podcast-style recording using her own voice. The recording shares her health goals, preferences and what support looks like for her, giving healthcare providers a clearer understanding of who she is and what she needs. “It will help make sure they know how I feel so I don’t have to explain myself every time,” she said. “I haven’t had a chance to show it to anyone yet but as soon as I see someone new, I will be using it.” Before commencing Healthy Me, Clarissa rated her confidence and skills in accessing good healthcare at three out of five and after finishing the program, that increased to five out of five. “Once they listen to my podcast, they will understand me better and not judge me,” she said. Through Healthy Me, Clarissa has found confidence, choice and the ability to advocate for herself. “I want to thank the About Me program, because it’s made me feel like I’m a person,” she said. “When accessing healthcare services in the past I wouldn’t say anything, I’d clam up and avoid things, but now I can say how I feel.” \**The name used in this case study has been changed for privacy and confidentiality purposes.* ![BIAT 1](https://maib.tas.gov.au/volumes/images/Images/Articles/_2048xAUTO_crop_center-center_70_none/14332/BIAT-1.webp) BIAT project officer Emily Newman and Pansy. ## **How to be involved** The About Me program is available to: - MAIB clients - People with a disability living in Tasmania - People with a disability in other states and territories, where capacity allows Visit [About Me program](https://aboutmeplus.com.au/) for more information. [ #### Next post ### Helping young Tasmanians make safer choices BodySafe is helping young Tasmanians think twice before taking risks, using real lived experience to spark honest conversations about road safety, injury prevention and personal responsibility. ![Paraquad 1](https://maib.tas.gov.au/volumes/images/Images/Articles/_600x600_crop_center-center_none/14330/Paraquad-1.webp) ](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news/helping-young-tasmanians-make-safer-choices)