Kelly Leggett

Clinical Nurse Consultant, Senior Life Care Planner
& Medico Legal Manager
RN GradCert Wound Care, CNLCP

Meet Kelly 

Can you tell us about your background and qualifications?
I’m a Registered Nurse, graduating from Western Sydney University in 2005. While studying my Undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing degree I also obtained a Certificate in Dementia Care through the University of Woolongong.

In addition to this, I also hold post-graduate qualifications in Wound Care from Monash University and a Diploma in Business Management. Most recently, In 2020, I became an internationally certified Nurse Life Care Planner and hold registration with the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners.

What led you to pursue a career in disability healthcare?
While completing my Bachelor of Nursing degree, I worked as an Assistant in Nursing in the Residential Aged Care and Paediatric Disability sectors. Upon graduation as a Registered Nurse, I continued working in these fields where I discovered my passion for community-based disability healthcare.

How much experience do you have in the disability sector?
I’ve worked with individuals living with disabilities for over 23 years in various settings, including respite facilities, long-term residential facilities, and the community, covering metropolitan, regional, and rural areas in both NSW and WA. I find great satisfaction in helping individuals living with disability lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

What areas of healthcare are you most passionate about?
Throughout my career, I’ve developed a deep passion for working with those with catastrophic injuries and resulting disabilities, particularly in the areas of wound care and nurse life care planning. This passion led me to complete my Nurse Life Care Planner certification in 2020 with the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners. Since completing this certification my passion for this area of nursing and healthcare has continued to grow.

What skills and expertise do you bring to your role?

Working with adults and children with a broad range of disabilities, including catastrophic injuries. In addition to this, as the parent of a child living with Autism, I have an intimate and personal knowledge of caring for a child living with a disability.

Working with the Aged Care community, particularly individuals living with dementia and other neurological conditions.

Wound consultancy and management, with a particular interest in pressure injury prevention and management, and Neurogenic continence management.

Ventilation and respiratory management, particularly managing ventilator-dependent patients living in the community.

Nurse life care planning and medico-legal reporting.

Long-term catastrophic injury case management, as well as the training and mentoring of Registered Nurses and disability support staff.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I live in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales with my husband, two boys, and our pet Macaw, Valerie.

I also have a passion for landscape photography and love spending my weekends capturing nature’s beauty with my camera.