Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Timeline

Kirsty McLeod

Sydney,Australia

Summary

Experienced and results-driven healthcare leader with a strong background in commissioning and delivering mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug, and psychosocial support services. Demonstrates proven leadership in clinical governance, with a focus on quality, safety, and continuous improvement. Skilled in leading multidisciplinary teams, integrating services across sectors, and using data to drive strategic planning and performance. Collaborative and person-centred, with a strong track record in stakeholder engagement, co-design, and delivering measurable system improvements aligned with organisational goals.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Clinical Services Manager

Wentworth Healthcare, Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network
01.2022 - Current
  • Provided strategic clinical leadership and operational oversight to ensure high-quality referral pathways and service delivery across mental health, psychosocial support, and related programs.
  • Championed the use of the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) tool within intake services and promoted its adoption in General Practice. Applied best-practice project management and commissioning principles to program development, aligned with regional planning, prioritised needs, and organisational objectives.
  • Optimised resource utilisation to reduce unnecessary demand, enhance service efficiency, and improve uptake of evidence-based care options. Built and maintained strong stakeholder relationships, ensuring governance standards were upheld across teams and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
  • Led staff to achieve program outcomes and KPIs, while driving innovation and identifying new funding and service opportunities to meet local needs. Delivered quality improvement initiatives by analysing performance data, identifying trends, and implementing targeted interventions.
  • Managed budgets and negotiated vendor contracts to ensure cost-effective, high-quality clinical service delivery.

Nurse Manager Surgical Stream

St Vincent’s Public Hospital
02.2002 - 07.2021
  • Led the Surgical Stream to ensure high-quality, efficient care across Intensive Care, Theatres, Day Procedure Centre, Trauma Services, Surgical Inpatient Wards, and Medical Imaging, overseeing 650 FTE staff and 180 inpatient and outpatient beds. Accountable for the implementation, compliance, and communication of clinical policies and procedures, with active participation on the organisation’s Policy and Procedure Committee.
  • Developed and implemented a daily operational management system to monitor safety, staffing, clinical concerns, and activity planning, enhancing responsiveness and collaboration. Recruited and retained skilled staff, driving ongoing professional development including COVID-19 preparedness training.
  • Achieved financial targets through effective budget oversight and early identification of cost-saving opportunities. Led Clinical Governance across the Stream, including policy development, consumer engagement, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Successfully managed Accreditation preparation and outcomes, introducing unit-based Quality and Safety Boards to showcase audit results and improvement initiatives. Chaired the Wound Care Committee and contributed to annual point prevalence audits to support best practice in clinical care.

Interim Director of Nursing and patient Flow

St Vincent’s Hospital
09.2016 - 03.2018
  • Member of Senior leadership and Executive teams
  • Coordinated operational support for patient flow activities, aligning resources and teams to meet patient care needs efficiently.
  • Fostered effective interdepartmental collaboration through open communication with departmental managers.
  • Reviewed nursing rosters to balance clinical care needs with financial sustainability.
  • Led the organisation-wide Falls Prevention Working Party, successfully developing and implementing preventive strategies.
  • Improved patient discharge efficiency by introducing rapid daily multidisciplinary huddles to address delays and implement mitigation plans.
  • Built a team culture centred on continuous improvement, learning, and accountability.
  • Conducted root cause analyses and established daily clinical safety huddles to proactively manage and mitigate risks.
  • Led investigations into clinician performance concerns, and implemented systems to align service delivery with organisational strategies.
  • Managed a nursing workforce of 1,500 FTE, achieving a $1.5 million reduction in nursing and agency expenditure through sound financial oversight and corrective actions.
  • Monitored nurse-to-patient ratios and skill mix to ensure safe, high-quality care based on individual patient needs.
  • Implemented a tool to identify and initiate close observation for high-risk patients, improving patient and staff safety.
  • Championed nursing engagement in clinical practice innovation, including a collaborative nursing handover review with ANU linguistic specialists.
  • Maintained a skilled nursing workforce through strategic recruitment and continuous training programs.
  • Led daily coordination of clinical staffing and patient flow with a structured, outcomes-focused approach.
  • Cultivated relationships with benefactors to enhance patient care by developing sponsored nursing education pathways.

Nurse Manager Acute Program

St Vincent’s Hospital
02.2012 - 03.2014
  • Provided leadership, guidance, and support to the 700 FTE within the portfolio, which included Emergency, Intensive Care, Theatres and in patient wards.
  • Provided Strategic direction to the portfolio, fostering a positive culture of improvement.
  • Increased efficiency of care through in-depth evaluations of current nursing practices and care delivery approaches, as demonstrated in the Pre-Admission Clinic review and subsequent redesign.
  • Lead Accreditation for the portfolio.
  • Directed and conducted recruitment, hiring, and training of personnel.
  • Accomplished financial targets through sound administration of fiscal operations.

Interim Nurse Manager Population Health Program

St Vincent’s Hospital
08.2011 - 03.2012
  • Provided leadership, guidance, and support to the 450 FTE within the portfolio, which included Aged Care, Emergency, Community, Rehabilitation and palliative care
  • Provided Strategic direction to the portfolio, fostering a positive culture of improvement.
  • Increased efficiency of care through in-depth evaluations of current nursing practices and care delivery approaches, as demonstrated in the Pre-Admission Clinic review and subsequent redesign.
  • Lead Accreditation for the portfolio.
  • Directed and conducted recruitment, hiring, and training of personnel.
  • Accomplished financial targets through sound administration of fiscal operations

Emergency Department Nurse Manager

St Vincent’s Hospital
04.2007 - 03.2012
  • Provided leadership and operational oversight to 120 FTE nursing staff within a high-acuity Emergency Department.
  • Collaborated with the Director of Emergency to deliver strategic direction across nursing, allied health, clerical, and medical teams.
  • Planned and optimised patient care through effective use of nursing processes and evidence-based practices.
  • Proactively identified and addressed care deficiencies, resulting in improved outcomes and patient experience at St Vincent's Emergency Department.
  • Recruited, retained, and developed a skilled nursing workforce, leading continuous education and professional development programs.
  • Introduced advanced clinical nursing roles, including the implementation of a Rapid Assessment Team, to enhance patient flow and care quality.
  • Led the operational management of a major Emergency Department rebuild, ensuring minimal disruption to care and alignment with clinical needs.
  • Oversaw the implementation of a co-located Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC), improving access to timely mental health crisis support.

Nurse Unit Manager Emergency

St Vincent’s Hospital
04.2003 - 03.2007
  • Provided clinical leadership to the nursing team ensuring that clinical practice and delivery of care was consistent with best practice.
  • Increased efficiency of care through in-depth evaluations of current nursing practices and care delivery approaches.
  • Coordinated effective interdepartmental collaboration through open communication between Nursing Unit Managers and team leaders throughout St Vincent's acute inpatient wards.
  • Ensured staff roistering met patient care needs, skill mix and maintained budget.

Registered Nurse – Aged Care

Benevolent Society
11.1999 - 02.2006

Registered Nurse – Aged Care

Benevolent Society
11.1999 - 02.2006
  • Worked on a casual basis as the Registered Nurse in-charge over morning, evening, and night shifts. Worked an average of 12hrs per week, covering planned and unplanned leave.

Registered Nurse – Emergency

St Vincent’s Hospital
02.2002 - 03.2003

Registered Nurse – Emergency

Sydney Hospital
02.2001 - 02.2002

Registered Nurse – Emergency

Sydney Hospital
02.2001 - 02.2002

Registered Nurse – New Graduate Program

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
01.2000 - 02.2001

Registered Nurse – New Graduate Program

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
01.2000 - 02.2001

Education

Executive Leadership Development Program -

St Vincent's Health Australia
11.2015
12 month Program

Graduate Certificate - Clinical Redesign

NSW Health
02.2006

Master - Health Services Leadership

Australian Catholic University
11.2005

Graduate Certificate - Emergency Nursing

College of Nursing
02.2003

Bachelor - Nursing

Australian Catholic University
11.1999

Skills

  • Registered Nurse
  • Effective solutions development
  • Staff engagement
  • Time management
  • Budget management
  • Complex Problem-solving
  • Customer relations
  • Communication
  • Networking
  • Decision-making
  • Collaborative leadership skills

Accomplishments

  • Inaugural Mental health Month Event for NBMPHN.
  • Achieved 30% growth in free mental Health Services for the NBM region throughout 2024.
  • lead role in the development of business case for advocacy for safe assessment area for substance affected individuals at St Vincent's.
  • Achieved $1.5 m financial recovery in Director of Nursing portfolio
  • Developed Nursing Scholarship program to support career development and retention

Certification

  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Authority (AHPRA) – Registered Nurse (Division 1) General
  • Registration Number: NMW0001204667
  • Date of Initial Registration: 1999-12-17
  • Registration Expiry: 31/05/2025
  • Conditions: Nil

Timeline

Clinical Services Manager - Wentworth Healthcare, Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network
01.2022 - Current
Interim Director of Nursing and patient Flow - St Vincent’s Hospital
09.2016 - 03.2018
Nurse Manager Acute Program - St Vincent’s Hospital
02.2012 - 03.2014
Interim Nurse Manager Population Health Program - St Vincent’s Hospital
08.2011 - 03.2012
Emergency Department Nurse Manager - St Vincent’s Hospital
04.2007 - 03.2012
Nurse Unit Manager Emergency - St Vincent’s Hospital
04.2003 - 03.2007
Nurse Manager Surgical Stream - St Vincent’s Public Hospital
02.2002 - 07.2021
Registered Nurse – Emergency - St Vincent’s Hospital
02.2002 - 03.2003
Registered Nurse – Emergency - Sydney Hospital
02.2001 - 02.2002
Registered Nurse – Emergency - Sydney Hospital
02.2001 - 02.2002
Registered Nurse – New Graduate Program - Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
01.2000 - 02.2001
Registered Nurse – New Graduate Program - Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
01.2000 - 02.2001
Registered Nurse – Aged Care - Benevolent Society
11.1999 - 02.2006
Registered Nurse – Aged Care - Benevolent Society
11.1999 - 02.2006
NSW Health - Graduate Certificate, Clinical Redesign
Australian Catholic University - Master, Health Services Leadership
College of Nursing - Graduate Certificate, Emergency Nursing
Australian Catholic University - Bachelor, Nursing
St Vincent's Health Australia - Executive Leadership Development Program,
Kirsty McLeod