I've been a registered nurse since 1983, English-born, Kiwi-raised and now Aussie by choice, I've lived in Fitzroy, Melbourne since 2005. I did all my nursing training in NZ which included 3 years as a Psychopaedic Nurse, 2 year bridging to Psychiatric Nurse, 18 months to complete the General & Obstetric components of a Comprehensive Nurse qualification. Currently working as Nurse/Training Consultant for NWMH at the Mental Health Training and Development Unit. Also on the Board of Directors of the Nursing & Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV). Also a member of Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australia (DANA).

My background is AIPU, CAMHS/Family Therapy and AOD. My most recent clinical experience was as CNE on an Adult In-patient Unit at Royal Melbourne Hospital. I've also volunteered and worked for Thorne Harbour Health (previously the Victorian Aids Foundation) working with same-sex attracted men. For the last 12 months I've also been part of the Royal Melbourne Wellbeing Team supporting all hospital staff to connect with their strengths in resilience and wellbeing. I was also one of 2 project leads in the development of the Victorian DHHS Clinical Supervision Framework for Mental Health Nurses.

Currently working for NWMH as a Clinical Nurse Training Consultant.

As detailed earlier, trained in all three nursing domains general and obstetric, mental health and developmentally learning delayed. Postgrad in Child & Family Health (Mental Health focus) from Massey University, in NZ.

Very eclectic. Depending on the person's needs, I may use a psychodynamic based model, Driscoll, Solution-Focused, Gibbs or Seven-Eyed. I am strongly inclined towards a systemic approach and I believe in an open, honest and sometimes gently challenging relationship where the focus and direction of the CS is driven by the clinician.