Your Nurse Voice Matters

Burnout, shift work, metabolic chaos—sound familiar? In this eye-opening episode of Your Nurse Voice Matters, we chat with RN and health coach Joff Ylarde, who takes us behind the scrubs and into the heart of a personal health transformation. Jof shares the raw reality of being a nurse who gave everything to the job—until his health forced him to hit pause.

Now 40 kilos lighter and off medication, Joff helps other nurses reclaim their energy, focus, and confidence through lifestyle change and low-carb nutrition. He opens up about shift snacks, stress coping, and how unspoken burnout creeps in—physically and emotionally.

If you're a nurse stuck in survival mode, this episode could be the turning point you didn’t know you needed.

🌟 Gold Nugget? Joff reveals the one thing every nurse must ask themselves before they even think about changing their health. You’ll want to hear this.

You can contact Joff with the contact details below.

 

Email: info@healthcoachjoff.com.au

Website: healthcoachjoff.com.au

 

If you would like to be a guest or if you know someone who may, here is Wendy’s link to make an enquiry https://calendly.com/healthyoptionsnow/generalenquiryzoom

 

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Sue Cosgrove—a nurse whose leadership journey began not in a boardroom, but in the heart of her rural community.

With decades of experience across clinical care and executive roles, Sue shares how values like compassion, advocacy, and connection have shaped her career. From the early days on the floor to navigating major systemic changes, she speaks candidly about the challenges of supporting teams, leading through crisis, and staying true to her purpose. Sue’s wisdom is grounded in lived experience, and her reflections offer clarity and strength to nurses at every career stage.

Now a mentor to future nurse leaders, she brings deep insight and humility to the conversation, reminding us that leadership is not about titles—but about service.

This episode is rich with heart, truth, and perspective—and just when you think it’s wrapping up, Sue leaves us with something quietly unforgettable.

You can contact Sue through her website https://zestagain.com/services/

If you are a Registered Nurse with a story to tell, or know one that has, reach back to me at

www.healthyoptionsnow.org

In this powerful episode, we meet Kylie Craven—The Real and Raw Nurse Mentor—whose journey from burnout to breakthrough is nothing short of inspiring. From failing high school to becoming a respected clinical leader in fast-paced emergency departments, Kylie's path proves that where you start doesn’t define where you can go.

After 16 years on the frontline, she hit stage 12 burnout—battling chronic pain, depression, and a system that prioritised KPIs over compassion.

Replaced before she even left the hospital, Kylie knew it was time for a change. She didn’t just recover—she reinvented. Stepping away from the bedside, she built a life of time, financial, and location freedom, and now empowers nurses around the world to do the same.

Through unapologetic truth, mindset coaching, and digital entrepreneurship, Kylie helps others rediscover their worth and lead with impact. This episode is raw, real, and full of heart—and just when you think she’s given it all, she drops something at the end you’ll want to hear.

You can contact Kylie through her social links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kylie.craven

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therealandrawnursementor/

If you are a Registered Nurse with a story to tell, or know one that has, reach back to me at

www.healthyoptionsnow.org

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://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/

 

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.

If you would like to reach back to john, make contact with me and I will put you in touch.

If you are a Registered Nurse with a story to tell, or know one that has, reach back to me at

www.healthyoptionsnow.org

 

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.

If you or an Registered Nurse has as story to tell, make contact with Wendy at 

www.healthoptionsnow.org