Hannah Diviney: Changing the narrative from page to screen

“I love people, and I love storytelling. That’s always been the fundamental core of what excites me,” Hannah says. “All of these things that I do – whether it's writing or activism or acting or media work – are avenues of that.”

Hannah embodies this passion in every aspect of her life. “With my disability, cerebral palsy…when I was initially diagnosed, my parents were told that I would never walk, talk, or feed myself. Then by some luck and kind of combination of early intervention and the fact that I took to it like a duck to water, I'm obviously able to talk,” Hannah shares. “I started to recognise the literal privilege of having a physical voice – and being able to use it.”

Growing up in suburban Sydney, Hannah recalls the challenges of high school – a time when advocacy became less of a priority. “When I was a teenager, I rebelled against the idea. I didn't want to be defined by my disability.” Taking on three major works for her Year 12 studies was a coping mechanism that triggered self-doubt in her writing ability. “I was of the assumption that if I buried myself in as much work as possible, it would make the kind of uglier parts of my high school experience less ‘potent’”.

Hannah’s uni experience couldn’t have been more different. “As someone who majored in creative writing, I was so lucky to learn from the guidance of Shady Cosgrove, Chrissy [Christina] Howe and Joshua Lobb among others,” Hannah recalls. She admits the release of her first book, I’ll Let Myself In, “was the realisation of a childhood dream – something I wouldn't have been able to do if my self-belief in my writing hadn't been reignited at uni."

Hannah at her UOW graduation ceremony in 2021. Image: Supplied.

I'll Let Myself In is an account of Hannah's life told through personal essays, reflecting on the underrepresentation of people with disabilities sharing their own stories. The book has rave reviews from readers with a 4.25-star rating on Goodreads, and glowing endorsements from Zoe Foster Blake, Grace Tame and Turia Pitt.

Hannah’s journey to authorship is anything but typical. Before enrolling at UOW, she had already carved out a niche for herself in the Australian media landscape, writing for platforms like Mamamia and leading a global campaign for Disney to debut a disabled princess. Hannah’s activism didn’t stop there.

In 2023, she made headlines again, successfully advocating for pop stars Lizzo and Beyoncé to remove ableist slurs from their lyrics. In December, Hannah will address the National Press Club of Australia. “People with disabilities are human, we’re not meant to be siloed,” she says. “We need people with disabilities in every room where decisions are being made and power is present.”

Her talent isn’t confined to the written word. She recently starred in the award-winning SBS series Latecomers, where she played Sarah, a young woman with cerebral palsy navigating the complexities of dating. “Latecomers explores the intersection of disability and sexuality,” Hannah explains, adding, “the romantic relationships side of things is so unseen, but it’s so needed on our screens.” The series went on to win Best Online Comedy or Drama at the 2024 AACTA Awards and became the first SBS series to be picked up internationally.

Hannah's nomination for the 2024 UOW Alumni Awards in the Young Alumni category is yet another accolade in a long list of achievements. “Is it too soon for me to be nominated?" she laughs. "It seems surreal considering I've only been out of university for three years. But I'm so grateful.”

Modesty aside, it’s clear Hannah is making a profound mark on society through unapologetic artistic freedom. “I'm exploring all sorts of different stories that I think need to be told and working out how I can also build a career for myself behind the scenes and behind the camera,” she says.

“I don’t have to stay in a specific lane – there doesn’t need to be a cap to my ambition, or the contributions I make to the world. I just want to make sure what I do is meaningful, and I’ll do everything I can to make that happen.”