NEWS...

Donna does it again! 1/7/10

ACMHN Mental Health Nurse of the Year 2009 Donna Hodgson has won The University of Canberra’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence for a Sessional Tutor/Demonstrator.

A hearty congratulations to Donna from the Membership, the Board and the staff in the national office - another great achievement.

19/5/2010 Annual Nursing & Midwifery Awards

Catherine Hungerford accepts her award.

The annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards were held last Thursday evening to honour and celebrate the contribution of nurses and midwives to health service delivery in the ACT. Amy Faden was named ACT Nurse of the Year and Mary Kirk, ACT Midwife of the Year.

Other award winners were:

·         Kerry Cargill (Staff Development Unit) , Education excellence

·         Melissa Pearce (Community Midwifery Program) Clinical excellence

·         Wendy Woodman (Drug and Alcohol services), Management excellence

·   Catherine Hungerford (University of Canberra), Research excellence

·         Loretta O'Reilly (Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service), Enrolled Nurse excellence

·         Jason Mills (Goodwin Care),  Assistant-in-Nursing excellence

·         Naida Fletcher, General Practice Nursing Excellence

·         Coronary Care Unit (Canberra Hospital), Team excellence

·         Lynne Nicholas (Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service), Encouragement Award

Mary Kirk has held numerous management roles over her 30-year career as a midwife, including Director of Nursing and Executive Officer Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre, Canberra Mothercraft Society (CMS), as a Member National Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia, President ACT Nursing & Midwifery Board (2000-2005), Executive Member Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council National Executive Member & Treasurer ACMI (2000-2005), Director International Congress of Midwives ICM Congresses (2005 & 2002), International Midwifery Consultancies for WHO Kiribati, AUSAID in Philippines and Australian Government in the Cocos Islands.

Amy Faden's knowledge and experience in the field of alcohol and other drug dependency nursing is immense, particularly in the area of opioid dependency treatment.  Amy demonstrates empathy to all clients, whilst continuing to work within legal and ethical parameters.  Amy coordinates the Opioid Treatment Team, a team of 5 nurses, which delivers services to over 800 clients daily- 7 days per week.  About 200 clients attend the clinic at building 7 daily and 600 clients dose out at community pharmacies; however this is coordinated from Amy's team.  Amy strives to maintain a high level of service delivery, with safety as the most important aspect for clients on opioid replacement therapy and the community overall.

Congratulations to all the award recipients.

ACT Claims 2009 Mental Health Nurse of the Year!

Donna Hodgson is a Registered Nurse with post graduate qualifications in Mental Health Nursing. Prior to working in Mental Health, Donna spent several years working in Paediatrics at the Royal Canberra Hospital. Working with adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis inspired Donna to learn more about Mental Health. Since commencing with Mental Health ACT (MH ACT) services in 1991, Donna has worked in a variety of roles including establishing the Clozapine co-ordination role under the first National Mental Health Plan at both The Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital, and the NSW Eurobodalla Region. She has been the Clinical Nurse Consultant of the acute adult inpatient unit (PSU) in the ACT, and worked as a community clinical manager in the community. Donna is the co-author of Australian longitudinal research on the neuroleptic Clozapine.

In her current role within MH ACT, Donna co-ordinates the Post Graduate Registered Nurses who are studying Graduate Diplomas in Mental Health, and oversees the Mental Health Clinical Development Nurses (CDN). Donna is also the Principal Academic to the Mental Health Dedicated Education Unit, which is a collaborative venture between MH ACT and the University of Canberra (UC).

Donna is an energetic participant in many professional activities for Mental Health Nurses, and currently is the ACMHN ACT Branch Secretary. Donna has held significant roles in the past including Vice President of the ANZCMHN and ACT Councillor. Donna was awarded ANZCMHN fellowship in 2002, and became Credentialed in 2003. Donna has a strong focus on consumer rights, and promotion and prevention of mental illness in the community. Some of this advocacy for consumers stems from Donna's personal experience after acquiring a permanent disability following a car accident in 2000.

and EVENTS

The ACT Branch has a number of events planned for 2010, including:

• Branch Meetings, held the 4th Wednesday of each month, Level 2, Phillip Health Centre, Cnr Corinna & Keltie Streets, Phillip, ACT 2606 Refreshments are provided. Please contact Donna Hodgson, the Branch Secretary, for more details;

• Bi-monthly Practice Development Interest Group meetings;

• Bi-Monthly Information Sessions, MHN Credentialing;

• Quarterly breakfasts / dinner with Guest Speaker;

• Annual ACT Branch Scholarship to attend the ACMHN International Conference;

• Annual Post Graduate Mental Health Registered Nurse Award;

• Annual Post Graduate Mental Health Enrolled Nurse Award;

• Annual Christmas Function;

• Annual Fund Raising Function.

Please contact Donna Hodgson, the Branch Secretary, if you would like to know more about these activities.