Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of suicide and mental distress. If you feel affected, support is available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or reach out to a trusted health professional.

Welcome to 2026. This episode is all about men’s health, with an emphasis on mental health.

The latest Nursing Australia News (03:45) Primary care boost, PHC Nurses Day, hospital funding deal

Segment 1: A Chance for Change (05:43)

A chance for Change. Thats the name of a grassroots organisation that wants to break apart the stigma that stops so many of us from opening up and talking about how we’re feeling. A change for change was started by a bunch of blokes – a bunch of tradies and a decade later its still going strong. One of the organisation’s directors, Nathan speaks with Leith and I from a personal and organisational perspective, and he shares some alarming stats.

Segment 2: The Pollie who couldn't talk to a doctor (22:15)

Dan Repacholi is a member for Hunter in NSW and Special Envoy for Men's Health. A few years ago, Dan was too embarrassed to speak with anyone - especially a doctor - about his weight. Dan says too many men forgo seeing a doctor out of feeling embarrassed, not knowing how to talk about an issue, or because they're under the impression that they need to be “tough” and just move on. Dan finally did see his dr and since then his health has changed dramtically. For nearly a year, Dan’s been on a mission to make it more normal for men to talk openly about their health to each other, their family members and their doctors. Dan is an MP, former tradie, olympian, father and husband.

Handy Links:

Lifeline - 131114

Beyond Blue - 1300224636

A Chance for Change

A Chance for Change - instagram

A Chance for Change - Facebook

Dan Repacholi - Instagram

Dan Repacholi - Facebook

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Heart Foundation Walking

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Hi everyone — have you listened to Nursing Australia’s Summer Series yet?

Suzanne Blackeby joins Matt as his summer co-host, and together they introduce us to the 2025 APNA Award winners.

Episode 3 came out on Monday - Matt kicks things off with a very funny story involving a far too-tight wetsuit and dangling from a helicopter… before he and Suze wonder whether they might be getting old and a little jaded.

Then we meet Matthew Fox, the 2025 APNA Nurse Graduate of the Year. Matt is a fourth-generation nurse — but he didn’t start his nursing career until after a life-changing event in his twenties.

In Episode two, Matt and Suze chat summer plans — including Suze’s new slushy machine, which she’s commandeered from her son — and in the outro Matt reveals his very intriguing past on a reality TV show…

We also meet Bell Davis, winner of the Pursue Excellence Award. Bell is coordinating a groundbreaking new model for ADHD co-management — the first of its kind.

And all the way back in episode one, Matt and Suze unpack the APNA Awards and introduce us to positive disrupter Hayley Hodgson — an advanced practice nurse leading bold primary care models that strengthen care in rural communities.

We hope you enjoy meeting all of our APNA Award winners in this special Summer Series and enjoy a few conversations with Matt and Suze.

🎓 Proudly brought to you by Southern Cross University (SCU).

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Amazing Nurse Stories | Nursing Australia Summer Series 2026

We’ve saved the best ’til last.
Episode three features Matthew Fox, winner of the 2025 APNA Nurse Graduate Award. After a life-changing event in his late 20s, Matt found his way into nursing.

Five years ago, he couldn’t have imagined this life.

Today, that’s exactly where he is. Along the way, Matt has tapped into a deep passion for nursing and primary healthcare — quietly pulling him toward what’s next.

Help! The Matts are taking over!!

Suzanne Blackeby is back too! She co-hosts with Matt throughout all the Summer Series eps - yay!! 🎉🏄🏼‍♀️🍸

Register & Discover the APNA Nurse Awards

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Amazing Nurse Stories | Nursing Australia Summer Series 2026

This summer, the Nursing Australia Podcast presents a special three-part Summer Series: Amazing Nurse Stories — profiling some of the most inspiring nurses of 2025 and the real-world impact they’re making across Australian healthcare.

Suzanne Blackeby is back too! She co-hosts with Matt throughout all the Summer Series eps - yay!! 🎉🏄🏼‍♀️🍸

Episode two features Bel Davis, winner of the 2025 APNA Pursue Excellence Award. Bel is an ADHD Co-Management Co-ordinator in Northern NSW. She enables access to ADHD care through GPs in order to reduce long wait times needed to see specialists. The new model is the first of its kind and promises to change the way people with ADHD and neurodivergence can access diagnoses and care. To find out more about Bel's work, visit hnc.org.au

Hosted by Matthew St Ledger, Suzanne Blackeby, and Leith Alexander, and produced by Leith Alexander and Matthew St Ledger, this bite-sized Summer Series is designed for nurses, health professionals, and anyone interested in primary care, rural health, advanced nursing practice, and healthcare innovation.

🎓 Proudly brought to you by Southern Cross University (SCU).

Short, inspiring, and easy to listen to — Amazing Nurse Stories is your summer soundtrack for nursing leadership and the future of healthcare.

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Amazing Nurse Stories | Nursing Australia Summer Series 2026

This summer, the Nursing Australia Podcast presents a special three-part Summer Series: Amazing Nurse Stories — profiling some of the most inspiring nurses of 2025 and the real-world impact they’re making across Australian healthcare.

Suzanne Blackeby is back too! She co-hosts with Matt throughout the all Summer Series eps - yay!! 🎉🏄🏼‍♀️🍸

Episode one features Haley Hodgson, winner of the 2025 APNA Positive Disruptor Award. An advanced practice nurse and rural health innovator, Haley is leading bold, nurse-led primary care models that improve access, strengthen rural health services, and shows what’s possible when nurses work to their full scope. To find out more about Haley’s work and the community health services she’s part of, visit macleanmedical.com.au

Hosted by Matthew St Ledger, Suzanne Blackeby, and Leith Alexander, and produced by Leith Alexander and Matthew St Ledger, this bite-sized Summer Series is designed for nurses, health professionals, and anyone interested in primary care, rural health, advanced nursing practice, and healthcare innovation.

🎓 Proudly brought to you by Southern Cross University (SCU).

Short, inspiring, and easy to listen to — Amazing Nurse Stories is your summer soundtrack for nursing leadership and the future of healthcare.

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Welcome to our SEPTIC special. In Part One, THE MOTHER, Mary Steele shares her life-changing encounter with sepsis. In Part Two, THE CLINICIAN, Brett Abbenbroek guides us through the vital knowledge that can help save lives from sepsis.

The latest Nursing Australia News (04:10) Dangerous age bias, Queensland’s workforce crumble, and Florida’s very own fake nurse fiasco.

Segment 1: THE MOTHER (06:25)

Mary Steele tragically lost her young son to organ failure as a result of infection - or so she thought. It wasnt til years later, that a doctor told her the organ failure was actually due to sepsis, and that her son’s death was preventable. Mary shares her story with us.

Sepsis Australia @steelemaclaire

Segment 2: THE CLINICIAN (21:40)

In part 2 of our septic special, Brett Abbenbroek gets into the nitty gritty – the facts, the stats and the steps we can take when faced with sepsis.

Sepsis Australia

Handy Links:

DISCOVER SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY (SCU)

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HOST A NURSING STUDENT AT YOUR WORKPLACE

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

From loss and resilience to literary triumph — nurse and author Rhonda McCoy opens up about her life and debut novel Crow. Plus, we peer into the world of cyber and financial security — and why nurses could be the next big targets.

The latest Nursing Australia News (04:35) Aussie CDC, Nursing Emergency, Lung screens, and Festival of Nursing 2026

Segment 1: THE CROW (06:55)

Segment 2: STOLEN: Understanding Financial Crime (41:30)

Handy Links:

KEEPING SAFE ONLINE!

GRAB A COPY of Rhonda McCoy's novel CROW

APNA Workforce Survey - Have YOUR SAY!

APPLY TO BE PART OF FESTIVAL OF NURSING 2026

HOST A NURSING STUDENT AT YOUR WORKPLACE

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

A content note for Australian listeners: this episode discusses suicide and domestic violence. If you need support at any time, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. For international listeners: Please see links below for global crisis support services, or Google ‘crisis support’ in your area.

The latest Nursing Australia News (00:00) Chronic gaps, tackling health challenges in Berlin, and Trump pharma tariffs.

Segment 1: DV (00:00) Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue in our communities, with incidents occurring at increasingly alarming rates. As health professionals, how do we recognise the signs—and what referral pathways exist for our patients, and for ourselves?

Segment 2: Suicide Prevention (00:00) Health professionals are not only on the frontline of suicide prevention for patients — they’re also part of a higher-risk group themselves when it comes to suicide and suicidal ideation. This is everybody’s business. So, what do we still need to learn, improve and do better in this space? RN Esther Sole joins us to explore exactly that.

Handy Links:

Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia

APNA Workforce Survey - Have YOUR SAY!

DV Alert Australia

FLORENCE App by APNA

Subscribe to The Connect (our weekly newsletter)

Global Crisis Support Contacts:

AUS: https://www.lifeline.org.au/131114/

AUS: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

USA: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

UK: https://www.samaritans.org/

NZ: https://www.samaritans.org.nz/

SOUTH KOREA: http://www.counsel24.com/

INDIA: https://icallhelpline.org/

PHILIPPINES: https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger