From Audit Findings to Real Change
"As a Registered Nurse, Facility Manager, Operations and Project Manager, Improvement Specialist, Contractor and Educator, I have dedicated the majority of my career to the aged care sector. My experience is extensive and spans from bedside clinical care to high level strategic management and workforce development, bridging the gap between frontline care and the boardroom."
For nearly two decades, I’ve held senior clinical, operational and transformation roles across New Zealand and Australia, leading hospitals, care homes and retirement villages through some of their most challenging seasons.I have managed large, complex services – and multi‑site portfolios – with full responsibility for clinical quality, operations, budgets, funding models, workforce planning and culture. My work has included opening new hospitals and secure dementia units, embedding systems for greenfield builds, and turning around services to achieve full certification with zero findings and commendations for governance and quality.
At a national level, I’ve led clinical and operational transformation programmes: integrating newly acquired sites, redesigning rosters, aligning services to Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Sector Standards (NZ), and strengthening complaint, risk and incident management. I’ve designed RN leadership courses and delivered education that lifts everyday practice at the bedside.Being hands‑on and pragmatic, having supported teams through resident drug, alcohol and abuse cessation programmes, complex behaviour support, psychogeriatric and dementia care, my passion is to see teams believe in what they do, and that they feel they make a difference.
I understand what it takes to move a service from “under pressure” to “confident and compliant” – not just on paper, but in the way staff think, feel and work. I want to share my knowledge and skills with those who really need assistance and continue to contribute to ensure aged care is a great sector to be part of. Quality care and a well run business, full of happy people can exist...with the right assistance.
From our Australian base, we guide aged care providers to turn audit findings into practical, sustainable improvements to future proof your business, have happy and skilled staff and help ensure the best possible resident outcomes.
Melissa Small (nee Harris) BN, RN, PGDipBusMgt