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Care That Starts With the Person

Good nursing care starts with a simple question: who is this person, and what matters to them?

It sounds obvious. Yet in a busy health system, care can easily shrink to a chart, a shift roster or a list of tasks. At People First Nursing, we built our whole approach around the opposite idea. The person comes first, and the care is shaped around them.

Who we are?

People First Nursing is a Registered Nurse-led provider based in Canberra. We were founded by two RNs: Nicole Smith, a gerontologist and our Principal, and Sonal Sapkota, our Managing Director, who holds a Master of Public Health.
Between us we bring more than 25 years of nursing experience, much of it in dementia and aged care. Our mission is to transform how aged care and disability services are delivered in Canberra and beyond.

We support people and families across:

  • Aged care and NDIS navigation — assessments, eligibility, funding, home care, SIL and respite
  • Crisis support — hospital discharge, carer burnout, delirium and challenging behaviours
  • Palliative care at home — comfort, choice and dignity in a familiar place
  • SIL and respite support — clinical oversight for safe, sustainable living arrangements
  • Consultancy — for aged care and NDIS providers
  • Education — RN-led training in dementia care, SIL medication, pain management and dysphagia

What people-first care looks like

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all care. In practice, putting people first means a few concrete things.
  • We listen before we plan. Every person has a history, routines, relationships and preferences. We learn those first, so the care plan fits the person rather than the other way around.
  • We bring clinical expertise to the kitchen table. Our team is nurse-led. Families get real clinical guidance on dementia, delirium, medications, pain and swallowing, explained in plain language.
  • We help people find their way. Aged care and the NDIS can feel like a maze. We help families understand assessments, eligibility and funding, and we advocate when needs are going unmet.
  • We show up when it's hard. A hospital discharge, a carer at breaking point, a sudden change in behaviour. These are the moments when fast, calm support matters most.
  • We are trauma-informed and rights-focused. Dignity, choice and respect guide every decision, alongside care that is evidence-based and ethical.

Why it matters?

  • For the people we support, it means being seen as a whole person, not a diagnosis. Our aim is for people not just to receive care, but to live well with confidence and dignity.
  • For families, it means having someone in your corner. Someone who explains the options, coordinates the pieces and picks up the phone when things change.
  • For providers and their teams, it means practical, RN-led training and consultancy that lifts the standard of care across the sector, not just in one home.
We're here to help
Whether you’re navigating aged care for a parent, supporting someone with dementia, or planning care at home towards the end of life, you don’t have to work it out alone.

Call us on 1800 258 007, email info@peoplefirstnursing.com, to request a call back.

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Nicole Smith

Nicole Smith is a Registered Nurse, gerontologist, global human rights advocate and public speaker with 20 years’ experience advancing relationship-centered care. She is the co-founder and Principal of People First Nursing, delivering trusted consulting, hands-on clinical guidance, real life solutions and advocacy that priorities human rights, dignity, and lived experience.

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