Julie has over 35 years as a mental health nurse, both in the clinical setting and higher education. She has taught mental health nursing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and managed post-graduate mental health courses. Julie is committed to mental health nursing education and wants all mental health nurses to have relevant and rewarding educational opportunities. Her research passion is the history of mental health and mental health nursing.

Alison is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and lecturer at Monash University, with a background in the area of forensic mental health nursing, specifically working with women in this setting. She is currently enrolled in a doctor of philosophy (nursing) exploring the use of seclusion for women in forensic mental health settings. She has taught in and coordinated pre-registration programs, and taught in post-registration nursing programs, with her main teaching focus being mental health, and law and ethics for nurses.

Jill sees her role on the committee as one that works towards furthering the mental health nursing profession in a positive and collegial manner. She completed her bachelor of nursing in 1994 and followed her passion to work in the mental health sector by completing the Psychiatric Nursing Course at Wolston Park Hospital in 1997.  Jill has been able to work as a general nurse, mental health nurse, plus drug and alcohol nurse throughout Australia and in the United Kingdom during her nursing career.  Jill is now employed at South West TAFE in a permanent role and teaches multiple units of the Diploma of Nursing.  Jill is a mental health first aid facilitator and has been so since 2009.

Darren is an enrolled nurse working in an MH acute inpatient unit. He has always had an interest in nursing, however, he pursued other avenues of employment for various reasons. When his daughter was born in 2017 he realised it was time to make the leap into study and nursing, with the aim of working in MH becoming his focus. He enjoyed study and gained many contacts through his position as student representative role. He was able to gain employment at South West Health Care in the ECIU before moving to their Parc facility, leading to his current role in the MH acute ward.

Cameron is an early career mental health nurse currently working as a case manager within community mental health. He enjoys building strong relationships with mental healthcare consumers and working alongside them on their recovery journeys. His current work allows for the opportunity to work closely with undergraduate and graduate nurses to inspire passion in mental health. His research interests centre on the role of compassion within mental healthcare with the aim to help improve the capacity and continued capability of mental health nurses to work with compassion.

Nicole has a background in inpatient and Community Mental Health Nursing. She has experience in nursing education in a tertiary hospital and health service and coordinated transition to practice programs. Nicole is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and lecturer at Southern Cross University and currently pursuing a Ph.D. exploring trauma-informed care and interdisciplinary and lived experience mental health workforce. Her passion is cultivating a suitably qualified and skilled workforce to optimise the care of people who experience mental illness.

Kate is an early career mental health nurse currently working in a co-joint position as a lecturer with Southern Cross University and nurse educator in the Northern NSW Local Health District. She has experience working with children, adolescents and their families in both inpatient and community settings. Currently Kate is working towards a research project with the aim of completing a PhD to explore sustainably building the mental health nursing workforce.