A celebration of nursing professionalism

Acclaimed mental health nurses Kim Ryan and Annette Woodhouse lead a discussion on the central nature of mental health to the nursing profession. With a reflection on the history of nursing, and their extensive professional experience, Kim and Annette will discuss the perceptions and realities of mental health nursing and mental health patients. Together, they will highlight the complexities facing nurses in the acute and mental health settings and the importance of a broad foundational education and access to lifelong learning to the provision of holistic patient-centred care. They will discuss predicted workforce issues and how all nurses can support the development of mental health capacity and capability within the profession.

Please Note: This event is for Queensland Health staff only

Kim Ryan

Kim Ryan has been a mental health nurse for over thirty years and most recently the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. In 2016, Kim won the Inaugural Australian Mental Health Prize for her dedication to improving mental health in Australia. She is passionate about improving the health of people with mental health conditions and raising the communities understanding of mental health; challenging the misconception that patients’ mental and physical conditions should be treated separately. Kim is currently working with the International Council of Nurses to address mental health issues through the nursing profession.

Annette Woodhouse

Annette Woodhouse is a credentialed Mental Health Nurse with over 40 years’ experience in a range of mental health clinical, therapeutic and academic contexts across New Zealand and Australia. She is passionate about clinical supervision since her training in New Zealand in the mid-1990s, is a Clinical Member and Accredited Supervisor, with the Australian Association for Family Therapy, Adjunct Faculty member of the Gilead Downs Family Therapy Centre since 2005, and in 2019 in the newly created role of Course Director, Advanced Clinical Training Program in Family Therapy, Sunshine Coast, Queensland. In her spare time, she stand-up paddles and enjoys time with family and friends.