In this final episode of the current series of Your Nurse Voice Matters, Wendy reflects on the courageous stories shared by guests throughout the season.

Episodes covered topics from personal transitions, burnout recovery, and wellness advocacy, to advancing nursing roles and addressing challenging healthcare issues like dementia and voluntary assisted dying.

Wendy closes with a heartfelt passage titled It Takes Courage to Be a Nurse, sharing personal experiences that highlight the emotional, ethical, and professional challenges nurses face daily.

The episode serves as an invitation for more nurses to share their stories, fostering connection, inspiration, and resilience.

If you would like to be a guest on Your Nurse Voice Matters contact Wendy https://calendly.com/healthyoptionsnow/generalenquiryzoom

For further information https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/

Sandi Hadden’s Journey to Nurse Practitioner & Advocacy for Voluntary Assisted Dying, Courage, Palliative Care, and Advocating for Patient Choice.

In this episode, we sit down with Sandi, a dedicated Nurse Practitioner specializing in Aged and Palliative Care. Sandi takes us through her inspiring and determined journey—from training at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in 1984 to navigating roles in general medical nursing, oncology, and eventually, palliative care.

Her experience working with cancer patients facing end-of-life care deeply influenced her career path. She shares how she knocked on doors to secure her first palliative care role and how her passion led her across states, from Melbourne to Queensland and back to Victoria. Along the way, Sandi pursued postgraduate studies, gained leadership experience as a Director of Nursing, and ultimately answered the call to become a Nurse Practitioner—a goal she achieved in 2015.

Sandi also opens up about her involvement in the Voluntary Assisted Dying movement, discussing the complexities, ethical considerations, and the impact on patients and families. Her perspective provides a thought-provoking look at end-of-life care and the evolving role of nurses in advocating for patient choice.

Join us for this compelling conversation about courage, career transitions, and the power of compassionate care.

If you would like to get in touch with Sandi or be a guest on this podcast, make contact today at https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/

For Wendy's Monthly Seminars on "Nurse Career Navigator" Register here https://bit.ly/NurseCareerNavigator

Are you feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or struggling to find balance in your work and life? In this episode, we sit down with Celeste Cleary, a powerhouse in emotional intelligence, well-being, and workplace transformation. With over 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and health coach across regional, rural, and remote Queensland and Canada, Celeste understands the unique challenges professionals face.

Celeste shares how individuals and organisations can build emotionally intelligent teams, reduce stress, and create healthier, more engaged workplaces. Through dynamic workshops, coaching, and leadership strategies, Celeste empowers teams to reduce turnover, boost productivity, and thrive.

Her approach, grounded in positive psychology and real-world experience, offers practical tools to help you cultivate resilience, embrace change, and create sustainable habits for long-term success. Whether you're a leader looking to enhance your team’s well-being or an individual seeking strategies to manage stress and build balance, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Tune in and discover how small shifts can lead to big transformations in both your work and personal life!

Celeste’s contact details are:-

Website: https://www.flourishingwellness.com.au/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/celestecleary

Facebook Group: "The Thrive Collective: Strong women, balanced lives!" Link to join: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1HFsUAjo63/

If you would like to be a guest on this podcast, make contact today https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/

Welcome to today’s episode, where we dive into the heart of nursing—compassion and connection. I’m Wendy Trevarthen, and joining me is the incredible John Rosenberg, a nursing leader whose career has been defined by his deep commitment to caring for others, through direct clinical work, research and teaching/mentoring.

John has spent decades shaping the way we think about nursing, emphasizing the vital role of human connection. From his early days at the bedside to influencing healthcare policies, his career highlights include groundbreaking initiatives that have strengthened patient-nurse relationships and improved outcomes.

In this conversation, John shares his wisdom on why compassion isn’t just a trait but a skill nurses must cultivate. He reflects on moments that shaped his philosophy and offers insights on preserving empathy in an increasingly fast-paced healthcare world. Prepare for an inspiring discussion that will reaffirm why meaningful connections remain at the heart of our profession

With over 40 years in nursing, Toni has dedicated her career to improving care for older adults and people living with dementia. As the first Nurse Practitioner in Aged Care and Delirium within the acute hospital system, she pioneered new ways to support some of the most vulnerable patients. From community health to palliative care, Toni’s experience is vast, but her passion remains the same—ensuring that patients are always at the centre of care.

After leaving Queensland Health in 2021, she took on a new challenge as an NDIS Support Worker, focusing on younger-onset dementia. Even in retirement, her advocacy hasn’t stopped. She’s a consumer representative on an End-of-Life Care working group and a founding committee member of the upcoming Death Expo in 2025.

In this episode, we explore Toni’s career, her research into patient-centred care, and how she continues to push for change in dementia care and end-of-life conversations. What has she learned about the health system, and where does she see the future of aged care heading? Tune in to hear her insights, stories, and the lessons that have shaped her journey.

Claire Kelly is a highly experienced specialist cancer nurse, HCANZA Accredited Health & Wellness Coach, and Cancer Wellness Coach's founder. With over 3 decades of clinical experience, specialising in cancer, women’s health, and evidence-based health and wellness.

With an extensive career in oncology and palliative care, Claire has a reputation as a clinical leader and has led a range of national supportive care programs and innovative cancer and palliative care support programs in Australia and UK and has led and published research studies.

Claire was recognised as one of the UK’s Top 10 Cancer Nurses and has extensive experience in providing supportive care to clients and their families throughout their cancer experiences. She is the author of Wellness Coaching Australia’s Cancer Coaching Course, a consultant with Sage Women’s Health and Director of Queensland’s Advanced Breast Cancer Group.

Claire is dedicated to providing compassionate, person-centered support for individuals and their families experiencing a cancer diagnosis and living with and beyond cancer. Claire offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support the individual and their loved ones, ensuring that clients' holistic health and well-being goals are acknowledged and supported with compassion and expertise.

You can contact Claire here -

https://cancerwellnesscoach.com/

If you would like to be a guest on this podcast, make contact today https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/

Christine Boucher spent over 20 years working in the healthcare industry as a

Registered Nurse, specialising in Cardio-thoracic Intensive Care, travelling

internationally working in England, France and the USA. Transitioning from nurse to health coach she is the CEO of her company Wellness Worx, working with Government organisations, small and medium businesses designing and delivering their strategic 12-month Health and Well-Being Plans. Facilitating a fleet of wellness workshops and coaching individuals, and leadership teams to build strong team dynamics, optimally performing individuals and healthy organisational cultures.

Christine resides by the beautiful lakes of East Gippsland and describes herself as an engaged and empathetic relationship builder. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, Diploma Critical Care Nursing, Diploma Bowen Therapy, Level 3 Health & Wellness Coaching and a Master’s in Business Administration.

Christine believes that workplaces are the new frontier of the healthcare industry and early intervention, working proactively, implementing strategic wellness plans that can disrupt and ultimately change the trajectory of people's health journey keeping them out of hospital, and contributing to their workplace, community and the economy. She is on a mission to see all workplaces implement a standard wellness position to care for their most valuable asset, their people.

You can contact Christine through

www.wellnessworx.com.au

Her gift for you today is her survey -

https://ww-burnout-survey.scoreapp.com/

If you would like to be a guest on this podcast, make contact with Wendy today https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/

Michelle is a registered nurse with almost 3 decades of experience in Australia's busiest emergency and critical care units. Alongside her demanding career, she faced the challenges of managing a new family business and raising three young children, which brought about stress and anxiety.

Michelle continued to work hard, care for everyone else and one day found herself in the depths of stage 12 burnout and suffering severe health issues including alcoholism. With her husband away and their children still asleep, this moment Michelle realized she needed to change her life or face dire consequences.

Taking matters into her own hands, Michelle embarked on a journey of self-recovery. Faced with limited access to professional help in regional Australia, she dedicated herself to learning about physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Today, Michelle is a leading coach, helping nurses not only overcome burnout, but also to reach their true potential and create a life they love! Michelle shares her amazing story and strategy with people struggling or seeking to improve their life and business.

She shares her story, her passion and her big reasons why she does what she does in this Episode of Your Nurse Voice Matters, from Burnout to Thriving.

You can find out more about Michelle at www.thehealthyhappynurse.com