With mental health being recognised as a high priority by state and federal governments and industry, this year’s 46th International Mental Health Nursing Conference has an added element of importance.

“After a cancellation and two postponements, the College is excited to offer mental health nurses the chance to finally come together and discuss the breakthroughs and challenges facing the mental health sector,” Australian College of Mental Health Nursing (ACMHN) CEO Stephen Jackson said.

Over 450 mental health nurses from around the country are registered to attend the conference, to be held at the Gold Coast Wednesday 7 – Friday 9 September, to discuss mental health nursing in a climate of change. Leading academics and experts will present on a vast range of topics including improving workforce sustainability and resilience, the experiences of nurses providing mental health care in rural areas, and what the future of mental health nursing looks like, all whilst dealing with the additional pressure of COVID-19.

“We look forward to attendees learning something new and taking the new practices and policies back to their organisations to better help consumers,” ACMHN President, Professor Michael Hazelton added.

CEO and Commissioner of the National Mental Health Commission, Christine Morgan, and Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Professor (Practice) Alison McMillan PSM will be opening the conference on Wednesday morning. They will be discussing the significant impacts on the nursing profession and how mental health nurses can be better supported to continue caring for the community.

Other keynote speakers joining the conference in person include: 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, internationally recognised mental health researcher Professor Kim Foster, and co-founder and director of Recovery Camp Dr Christopher Patterson. Vice-President of the ACMHN, Professor John Hurley, will deliver the oration.

To organise attendance and engage with our keynote speakers or for further enquiries please contact Communications Officer Sophie Howard on: 0409 502 508.

For further comment, please contact the Communications Team via communications@acmhn.org.
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The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) is the pre-eminent and authoritative voice of the mental health nursing profession in Australia. It provides leadership to, and advocacy for mental health issues across the mental health sector and nursing, as well as setting national standards of practice in mental health nursing.