I arrived in Australia in 1998 from the UK, having qualified as a registered general nurse in 1985. Since then I had worked in a variety of areas both professionally and geographically, my most recent experience being six years in a busy emergency department in Brighton — a culturally diverse town on the south coast. During this time, I noticed a frequent presentation to the department was people suffering from altered levels of consciousness. A common factor present in many of these patients was illicit drugs, alcohol, and mental health issues, which occurred on a daily basis.
After arriving in Australia, I decided to join the local hospital pool to familiarise myself with the healthcare system. One of the areas I worked in was the mental health inpatient unit — a first for me. After working in ED I thought I was prepared. I soon realised that brief interactions in an emergency department are a completely different story to working in a locked ward for an eight-hour shift with 20 or more individuals with a variety of mental health diagnoses. My hospital-based training had allocated a six-week placement in a small psychiatric hospital, and that was 15 years previously. Human nature is unpredictable and I think this was what continued to interest me — one of the reasons why I chose to work in the unit for eight years permanently before moving to the community.
In recent years, I have been working in rural and remote settings. This area of work presents a unique set of challenges — matching limited resources to consumers in the community across large areas can be rewarding but also frustrating. Poor telephone signal or lack of phone credit can hamper the best of intentions. Problem-solving skills are frequently tested and I think my 35 years of diverse experience in numerous locations has certainly taught me to be adaptable to the circumstances at hand and look at alternative options to resolve difficulties. I never underestimate others' opinions — colleagues I have worked with have contributed enormously to my practice by imparting their own knowledge and perspective.
Over my career, I have worked with a number of people who have inspired me in a variety of ways. On reflection, I think that without some of my high school teachers, I may not even have finished school, let alone gone on to achieve a number of academic qualifications. They encouraged me to use my brain and have goals. Given my own background, I think this is why I can understand the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that many of my clients feel at times — and why I try to help them to find solutions to problems.
One of the most consistent, repetitive, and disappointing professional challenges has been trying to create a positive outcome in situations where others appear to only see negativity. Within mental health, stigma and prejudice still persist — and despite recent media attention and celebrity disclosures, it is a constant reminder that as a society, there is still work to be done. One of the encouraging outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased awareness and discussion about mental health internationally. I am looking forward to these discussions continuing with a focus towards funding in real terms, for those who need it most. Stable accommodation and community supports cannot be underestimated in the potential they have to change the lives of people who often feel abandoned.