In reflecting on my career as a Mental Health Nurse, spanning more than 45 years, I have had many amazing experiences and opportunities. I have been able to work in a variety of clinical and educational settings, contribute to new practice approaches resulting from major transformations in public mental health in Victoria, and walk alongside consumer activists and leaders.

I have a longstanding passion for the essence of education (the facilitation of critical thinking) and leadership (transformational thinking and actions), and I have been a longstanding ally for lived experience colleagues and the emerging lived experience discipline.

I am committed to the parallel process of looking after staff so they can continue to care for the consumers and families attending MH services. I believe in creating workplace cultures which proactively protect the mental health of teams and colleagues.

My extensive clinical experience spans both inpatient and community care.

As an early career nurse, I was trained and mentored in the provision of therapeutic group programs in institutional settings.

During the deinstitutional transformation/reform process in Victoria, I worked in the Central Training Group which supported staff in designated institutional facilities during the transition from institutional to community care.

As part of the deinstitutionalisation process, I provided training to designated hospital services in an ‘Integrated Community Care Model/Framework’ (UK program).

With the introduction of CAT services into Victoria, I co-ordinated and provided the initial state-wide training programs to all the newly developed teams.

I have been involved in the development of a number of clinical supervision programs for nurses and allied health staff across the Mental Health sector.

I am semi-retired, but still engage in some casual work, offering supervision and training. My most recent position was Senior Psychiatric Nurse and Education Team Manager at Barwon Health, which I held for 20 years.

General Nursing

Mental Health Nursing

Diploma of Nursing Education

Bachelor of Counselling and Education

Masters in Leadership and Management

Extensive learning from Lived Experience colleagues and consultants, which has made me the practitioner that I am today.

For me, the safety of the supervisee is central. I utilise transformational learning and teaching approaches, creating emotional safety and promoting personal growth in others.

I draw on Humanistic Theory (Rogers and Maslow), reflective practice (Driscoll) and a solution-focussed (rather than deficit-based) approach. I deeply respect the knowledge and personal experience that a supervisee brings to our sessions. Challenge is employed to support growth, and my approach is strongly values-based.

For me, the ultimate as an educator is to teach someone to do something greater, or much better, than I could ever do.