DIRECTOR
Dr. Natasha Jennings NP, PhD
Tash has been a NP since the first implementation projects were funded by DHHS in 2004. Tash is a committed and passionate member of the healthcare team and has as her goal the improvement of patient experiences. Tash has also become a clinical leader in development of advanced practice skills for RNs in the ED setting and developed such programs as nurse-initiated analgesia and nurse initiated pathology ordering that has been rolled out at a major urban emergency and trauma centre. Tash has a proven track record investigating the clinical service delivery outcomes of NP services and has mentored new NP candidates/students during their journey to endorsement. Tash works clinically as a NP locum to ensure the philosophy of NPLS is met by all our staff. Tash was awarded the 2018 Australian Nurse Practitioner of the year award by the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP).
Jo Kelly
Aged & Palliative Care Services Consultant
Jo joined NPLS in June 2022. Jo is passionate about improving the quality of life for every person she cares for. Jo embarked on her palliative care career in 1993 after caring for her dad diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jo has worked across the inpatient and community setting, in metropolitan Melbourne and the Gippsland region in Victoria.
In 2005, Jo began to service Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) helping residents to improve their health outcomes. Whilst undertaking this role she recognised the need to educate their staff, and this too become a great passion for her. Jo worked closely with the General Practitioners, Palliative Care Physicians, and Geriatricians. It was these
relationships that encouraged her to embark on her journey to become an endorsed Nurse Practitioner which was achieved in 2013.
Jo is certified in training and assessment and offers a tailored consultancy service to educate health professionals particularly servicing the RACF sector helping them achieve their accreditation standards. Her aim is to saturate the RACF sector with the knowledge and skills so that all Victorians get the care they deserve.
Random fact: Jo does not drink coffee or eat strawberries, and she is going to become a Nanna in 2023.
Hannah McFadden
Geelong Mobile Vaccinations Services Lead
Hannah is a dedicated healthcare professional with almost a decade of experience across acute, emergency, and preventative healthcare settings. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in 2016, specialising in paediatric healthcare and providing care for children with complex medical needs.
Building on this foundation, Hannah transitioned into Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU), where she cared for critically ill infants and children with life-threatening conditions. In this role, she provided advanced clinical interventions, closely monitored patients requiring multi-system support, and collaborated within a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, family-centred care.
In 2019, Hannah broadened her expertise by undertaking her graduate year with Ambulance Victoria. After successfully completing the program in 2020, she became an Advanced Life Support Paramedic, responding to a wide range of medical emergencies in the community and delivering time-critical care in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
In 2025, Hannah joined ‘Geelong Mobile Vaccination Services’ as a Nurse Immuniser, where she delivers workplace and community based influenza vaccinations. In this role, she combines her clinical expertise with a warm and supportive approach ensuring every vaccination encounter is safe and stress-free. Hannah manages and facilitates Geelong Mobile Vaccination Services in Pop up clinics, Education Facilities and workplaces for Geelong and the greater community.
Rose Smolic
Administration Manager
Rose became part of the NPLS family in 2023, bringing over 15 years of experience supporting teams and clients across the healthcare industry. She’s known for her caring nature, strong organisational skills, and willingness to lend a hand wherever it’s needed. At NPLS, Rose keeps things running smoothly — coordinating contracts, rosters, and countless behind-the-scenes details that help our team support the community every day.
Outside of work, Rose is a proud and busy mum who loves spending time with her family, getting outdoors for a run, and enjoying good food with friends. Her warmth, positivity, and dedication make her a valued part of both the NPLS team and the community we serve.
Kathy Tori
Research Director
Professor Kathy Tori is a highly accomplished and dedicated academic with an extensive research portfolio and a strong record of leadership across national and international research projects, tenders, grants, and consultancies. Her research has influenced health policy, clinical practice, and nursing education, leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced healthcare access—particularly for geographically isolated and underserved rural communities. With over 80 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed journal articles, invited editorials, book chapters, government reports, and curriculum texts, Kathy’s contributions have advanced the fields of advanced practice nursing and equitable healthcare provision.
As Research Director of NPLS, Kathy continues to collaborate with colleagues nationally and internationally to strengthen the evidence base for advanced practice nursing. She actively mentors advanced practice clinicians, supporting the development of their research capacity and capability. Through her leadership, she is committed to cultivating the next generation of nursing researchers, informing policy development, and advocating for sustained investment in nursing research to drive innovation and improve health outcomes.