A nurse at heart, a leader by nature

That is where her story begins. And it is why, even now, leading a team and holding responsibility for the wellbeing of so many, Wima remains, at her core, a nurse. 

“When they smile back at you recognising your care for them, it makes it all worthwhile.” – Wima 

Where it all began 

When Wima was seven years old, she lost her mother. Her grandmother stepped in without hesitation, raising her with love and care. Many years later, when her grandmother’s own health declined, Wima was there, returning every ounce of that care. Losing her mother and grandmother shaped her with purpose. That experience of being held, and of holding others, became her compass and guided her into nursing. 

Her career has taken her through the high acuity demands of a Neurosurgical ward, into Acute Medical and Rehabilitation settings, and eventually into aged care. Each chapter built on the last, sharpening her clinical knowledge and widening her understanding of what it truly means to care for another person at every stage of life. 

Growing at Estia Health 

At Estia Health, caring and leading having never been separate things for Wima. She has always understood them as one and the same. 

Her eight years at Keysborough have been a journey of growth as a clinician, a mentor and person. And the mark she leaves is visible not just in the care provided to residents, but in the people around her. She has built something special – a team with real loyalty and connection, bound together by the culture she has created around them. 

“Being at Estia Health has taught me that being a good nurse goes beyond clinical skills,” she reflects. “It requires kindness, patience and truly listening to others.” 

This is precisely the kind of nursing leadership that this year’s International Nurses Day calls for – empowered nurses who lift others as they lead. Marguerite, Clinical Development Business Partner and someone who has worked closely alongside Wima, knows it firsthand. When Marguerite thinks of the nurses she would trust with the people she loves most, Wima is among them. “She is a nurse to her bones,” Marguerite says simply. 

What strikes Marguerite most is the way Wima’s leadership shapes everything around her. She leads with kindness and compassion, and it doesn’t stay with her, it flows through her team and into the care every resident receives. She nurtures those around her to grow, building their confidence and encouraging them to carry their knowledge forward. For Wima, sharing what she has learned is not just part of the job. It is her way of giving back to a profession she loves, and to make aged care better for the nurses and residents who come after her. An empowered nurse, empowering others in turn. 

“She inspired me,” Marguerite says. “And I know I am not alone in that.” 

The heart of aged care 

Ask Wima what she finds most meaningful about her work, and her answer is immediate: the relationships. 

“You get to know people, their stories and their lives. It is special to be part of that,” she says. “It’s about making sure they feel respected, comfortable, and cared for every day.” 

It is this capacity, to be fully present with another human being, to stay curious about who they are and not just what they need, that defines great aged care nursing. And it is something Wima brings to every interaction. 

She speaks movingly of the moments that remind her why nursing is important: sitting with someone who feels alone, holding their hand, comforting a family member in a moment of grief. "These small actions can mean so much," she says. In aged care, those quiet moments are not the background work. They are the work, and Wima has never lost sight of that.