My name is Alexander Paterno and I am a proud Member and Provisionally Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. I teach mental health casually at CQUniversity and also nurse at Queensland Health, working in the mental health inpatient units. Before this, I gained experience in Townsville's correctional centres and the Indigenous community on Palm Island.
In 2015, my life changed when I volunteered as a teaching assistant in Naples, Italy. This experience ignited my passion for serving others and taught me how to psychosocially coach young people. That experience has shaped everything I've done in mental health nursing since — the understanding that meaningful human connection, not just clinical intervention, is at the heart of good mental health care.
I hold a Graduate Certificate in Managing Youth Self-Harm and Suicide and am currently completing a Master of Mental Health Nursing. At other times, I use my skills as a qualified lawyer and Work Health and Safety Advisor to advocate for improved safety outcomes for both patients and staff — a combination of disciplines that I believe makes me a more effective advocate for the people mental health nurses serve.
All of my career successes are due to the support of my family and guidance from colleagues and managers who took the time to mentor me. The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses has provided opportunities to improve the profession in regional Queensland, where I have been a lifelong resident and serving Defence Member. I have been fortunate to be appointed as a Committee Member with the Queensland Branch and Chair of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Special Interest Group.
I look forward to seeing how my membership with the College will help me continue improving the lives of people experiencing mental illness. Mental health nursing is not just a career for me — it is a calling, and I intend to follow it with purpose for many years to come.