Wendy is an Acute Pain Nurse Consultant at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and, alongside her colleague Kim Choate, established Victoria’s only nurse-led Acute Pain Service Perioperative Pain Clinic. The clinic supports patients with chronic and complex pain, offering holistic care before, during, and after surgery.

“Pain today is more complex than it was 20 years ago,” Wendy explains. “Our care has to be holistic. We try to support patients in every way we can.”

Wendy was recently awarded a scholarship through the Chief Nursing Officer’s Leadership and Excellence Award – providing her the opportunity to pursue specialist training while balancing a full clinical workload and family responsibilities as a working mum raising a teenage son.

“The scholarship gave me the financial freedom and space to learn new skills while still being there for my family,” she says. “Without this support, studying would have felt impossible.”

Beyond the reognition for her leadership and commitment, Wendy continues to mentor colleagues in her team.

Outside the hospital, Wendy balances her professional life with family, Latin dancing, and quiet moments with her two cats.

Her story exemplifies the impact of investing in nursing excellence – showing how one nurse’s growth can ripple across a team and elevate care for countless patients.

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