Dr Mackean is a descendant of the Waljen clan of the Wongai Peoples of the Goldfields region in Western Australia. She graduated from the University of NSW in 1999 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and was joint winner with Dr Kelvin Kong of the Alumni Award for Achievement. Dr Mackean is presently a trainee with the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Dr Mackean currently works as a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University SA and was recently awarded a Staff Award for Outstanding Contribution to the University. She is the current President for the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and works with governments, organisations, communities and individuals to bring about positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.