In our Meet the Member series, we talk to some of the hardworking experts who volunteer for Wounds Australia and today it is the turn of Kayla Sale, Chair of our newly established First Nations Advisory Committee. Kayla is a Senior Podiatrist at the Nepean Blue Mountains PHN and has a special research interest in Indigenous health and wellbeing.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Kayla Sale, I am a Wiradjuri woman working as a Senior Podiatrist at Nepean Hospital's High Risk Foot Service. I work in a hospital setting and also provide outreach clinics to a local Aboriginal Medical Service and education sessions to local community groups.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy building relationships with patients, their families and our local communities. Working in a multidisciplinary team that is dedicated to improving outcomes for our patients, being able to see the direct impacts that our care can have on someone's quality of life is so rewarding.

Why did you pursue this field?

I was drawn to podiatry as a teenager after learning about an injury a relative sustained to her foot and ankle many years ago. Over the course of my degree I was exposed to high risk podiatry and foot wounds and have developed a passion for delivering culturally appropriate and accessible care for patients with wounds.

Tell us about your volunteer work for Wounds Australia

As the Chair of the First Nations Advisory Committee, my role will involve advising Wounds Australia on matters relating to First Nations peoples and communities and ongoing development of advocacy of improved health outcomes for First Nations peoples.

What is your proudest achievement – personal or professional?

I was recently nominated for Aboriginal Allied Health Professional of the Year at the NSW Health 2026 Excellence in Allied Health Awards, a huge honour to be recognised at that level with 34 of my colleagues.

What did you want to be at 10, 18 and 30 years old?

At 10 I think I wanted to be a bus driver, at 18 I wanted to be a podiatrist and at 30 I still wanted to be a podiatrist!

How do you spend your spare time?

I like to go to local farmers' markets, Pilates classes and spending time with my toddler doing craft and going to the park.

What do you hope to achieve through the Wounds Australia First Nations Advisory Committee?

I am hoping we will be able to support meaningful collaboration between clinicians and communities, help to strengthen culturally safe practices, and improve outcomes in wound care for First Nations people.