On Monday 12 May, International Nurses Day, we recognised the amazing team of Nurses we have with us at estara.

Thank you for everything you do and the heart you put into the support and care you give. Hear from our Nurses below on what their job means to them and why they do what they do.

Kate - Registered Nurse:

"Why did I become a nurse? I’ve always had a strong social conscience and the desire to help others. My favourite quote is from the late, great Muhammad Ali who said that 'Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth'. It is a great privilege to be able to help people in their time of need and I am extremely grateful for my career in nursing and all it has taught me and brought into my life."

Maria - Registered Nurse:

"It’s wonderful when a career and a passion come together, that's how it feels working as a nurse with estara."

Rachael - Spinal Nurse:

"For 16 years, being a spinal and cancer nurse has been more than a career, it’s been family. My patients trust me during their most vulnerable moments, and that bond is irreplaceable. Their confidence in my advanced skills, compassion, and care brings purpose, pride, and meaning to every single day!"

Meet our Spinal Nurses below.

Taylor is a dedicated and personable Registered Nurse with a strong passion for spinal cord rehabilitation and patient-centred care. With experience across Anaesthetics and Recovery, Spinal Nursing, and Clinical Nurse Practice Consulting within the disability sector, she brings a well-rounded and safety-focused approach to her practice.
Taylor is particularly passionate about supporting individuals living with spinal cord injuries to maximise their independence, confidence, and overall quality of life. She values building genuine connections with her patients and takes pride in creating a supportive and empowering environment throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Alongside her spinal work, Taylor also practices in cosmetic nursing, where she combines clinical precision with an eye for detail to help clients feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. She believes that both areas of nursing are deeply connected, centred on enhancing well-being, restoring confidence, and helping people feel like the best version of themselves.
Outside of nursing, Taylor enjoys keeping active, whether it’s running the tracks or pushing through a BodyAttack session at the gym and unwinding with a good vanilla latte.
Rachael Leonardis is a highly experienced Registered Nurse with over 15 years in the profession, specialising in spinal cord injury rehabilitation and oncology nursing.
She is currently part of the estara team while continuing her work at the LMH Cancer Centre. Known for her compassionate approach and strong rapport with both patients and colleagues, Rachael was recently honoured with a nomination for the Nursing Excellence Award.
Before entering nursing, Rachael trained and worked as a qualified pastry chef, bringing creativity, precision, and patience to her practice—qualities she now applies in healthcare. Her background as a state gymnast and competition shooter has also shaped her discipline and resilience.
Outside of work, Rachael enjoys travelling the world, exploring the countryside, and spending time with her three chihuahuas. She has a passion for cooking, teaching, and connecting with people, and hopes to one day own a hobby farm while continuing to experience new cultures abroad.
Wendy is an Enrolled Nurse with over 35 years of experience in spinal and general rehabilitation. She is highly experienced with a background in spinal cord injury management, neurological conditions and multidisciplinary rehabilitation care.
She has spent the majority of her career at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, as well as at Morris 4 Ward and the Repat Precinct. Across those years, she has worked in ward-based care, outpatient services and X-ray/diagnostic departments.
Her clinical expertise covers spinal cord injury management and long-term care. She is skilled in continence management, skin integrity assessments and wound management and neuropathic pain and altered sensation management. She conducts functional ability assessments and supports people with their mental health and holistic wellbeing. She also has experience in management of conditions including Spina Bifida, Spastic Paraparesis and Cerebral Palsy.
Her rehabilitation work covers orthopaedic rehabilitation, including amputee care, Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation and support for neurological conditions such as Stroke, Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis.
Wendy takes a person-centred, holistic approach to care, listening carefully to each person's goals and adapting her support to what matters most to them. Her practical knowledge of long-term disability management is a strength she brings to estara along with her multidisciplinary and collaborative skills to ensure people have the right support around them.
Outside of work Wendy makes the most of her downtime enjoying travel, reading, horses and cooking.

Learn more about our Spinal Nurses

Meet our Registered Nurses below.

With more than 33 years of nursing experience, Kate brings deep clinical knowledge to estara. Her career spans work on the Oncology, Medical, Emergency, and Surgical wards at the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH), with her final 11 years at WCH spent in the Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, often leading the unit, managing trauma and retrieval admissions from South Australia and the Northern Territory, organising staff, and overseeing the Code Blue emergency response team.
Before joining estara, she worked as a Pharmaceutical Representative across SA and the NT, spent three years as a Community Registered Nurse in aged care, and held a role in executive management with an aged care provider.
At estara, Kate works within the Quality Team and oversees the training of Support Workers in high intensity skills and writing the health plans they use in clients' homes. She also develops the processes and competencies for Support Workers to ensure that estara is providing the highest quality of workers and care for clients.
Outside of work, she is a 7-time Ironman finisher, a 13-time half Ironman finisher, and recently completed a 56km ultra-trail marathon in New Zealand. She is a committed supporter of animal welfare regularly donates her time and money to organisations including the RSPCA, Guide Dogs SA, and Meals on Wheels.
With more than 30 years of nursing experience across Australia and the Philippines, Maria brings a rich mix of clinical and academic expertise to estara.
In the Philippines, Maria built a distinguished career in nursing education, spending more than 15 years as a clinical instructor to nursing students. She holds a Master of Arts in Nursing with a specialisation in Nursing Administration, completed several units towards a Doctor of Education, and served as both a Community Coordinator and Assistant Program Head at a Philippine university. She also acted as a research adviser and thesis defence panel member for Master of Arts in Nursing students.
After gaining her Australian nursing registration in 2002, Maria worked across a range of roles including as a Support Worker, Assistant Nurse and Registered Nurse with several agencies, before joining estara.
At estara, Maria works within the Quality Team as a Registered Nurse Consultant, drawing on her clinical and education background to develop training, processes and competencies for Support Workers, with a focus on ensuring every client receives consistent, high quality care.