Happy New Year for 2023 and Happy New Year to some of our Asian colleagues for the Year of the Rabbit.

Starting at ACMHN this month, it is fantastic to meet and be welcomed by Directors, staff, and members. As the peak body for mental health nurses, we certainly represent the interests of 24,000 of our colleagues in a critical area of the health sector and look forward to growing the visibility, awareness, and impact of our College.

Part of the work we are undertaking in the early stages of this year includes extensive planning and preparation for our  events including our key International Conference. Thanks to Ellen Fraser and the team as well as the members of the Scientific Committee for rolling sleeves up and progressing work in this important area.

An excellent meeting with Chris Gibbs, CEO of Mental Health Professionals Network, reinforces our ongoing support of this important network of key organisations and I look forward to being heavily involved with Chris and the team.

Recently Professor Michael Hazelton and I attended a meeting with partner organisations consisting of Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Mental Health Coordinating Council, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Psychological Medicine Specific Interests Group Australian Psychological Society (APS), Mental Health Consumers, and Mental Health Carers. The focus of this discussion was on co-ordinated efforts to raise the profile of our sector in NSW.

The national office also enjoyed a visit from Professor Hazelton and Professor John Hurley, which allowed the two Board Directors to meet new staff members and become reacquainted with long-standing staff. It was an excellent visit and we hope to have more members and Board Directors visit the national office in the future. 

I look forward to working with you all.

Yours in mental health

Adrian Armitage

ACMHN CEO