Zieta O’Brien, the owner of Nurse Next Door Hawkesbury & Hills District, embodies the essence of a modern woman entrepreneur by blending high-level clinical expertise with a “profit with purpose” business model.
With a background as a registered nurse in emergency departments and experience in NDIS regulation, she didn’t just transition into business for the sake of ownership; she did so to solve a specific community problem: the need for personalised, dignity-focused care that allows people to be age “happily” at home.
Zieta isn’t just a business owner who hired nurses; she is the nurse. Her background in emergency nursing and NDIS regulation gives her an “insider’s eye” for safety and compliance that many non-clinical entrepreneurs lack.
This transition from high-pressure bedside care to high-stakes business leadership shows a rare ability to translate clinical cold-headedness into strategic business growth.
What marks her as a standout entrepreneur is her ability to scale compassion. While many health professionals struggle with the shift from clinical work to operational management, Zieta has successfully built a 24/7 service that manages complex dementia care and nursing support across a broad territory, including the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions.
Her leadership is defined by the “happier ageing” philosophy, where she challenges the traditional “task-based” medical model by asking her clients what they used to love doing and finding ways to bring those passions back into their lives.
As of late 2025/2026, the Australian aged care landscape underwent a major transformation with the new Support at Home program. Zieta has positioned her business as a lighthouse for the community during this confusing time.
By acting as an educator—helping families understand quarterly funding and single-provider models—she has moved beyond a “service provider” to a trusted community consultant, which is a hallmark of sophisticated entrepreneurship
Beyond her clinical oversight, Zieta’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her commitment to local economic growth. By hiring local caregivers and nurses, she has turned her franchise into a vital local employer.
Her success testifies to how women in healthcare can leverage their frontline experience to become disruptive business leaders; proving that a “bold pink” brand can be both a serious professional enterprise and a deeply personal community asset.
What sets Zieta apart as a woman in business is her insider’s perspective on healthcare quality. Having worked in NDIS regulation and aged care standards, she brings a “zero-compromise” approach to compliance and safety.
This expertise has been vital in navigating Australia’s recent shift toward the Support at Home program, where she acts as both a provider and an educator for local families.