Centre for Mental Health Nursing
A vibrant, thriving, highly skilled and empowered mental health nursing workforce who partner with consumers to co-produce meaningful, transformational change in the mental health and wellbeing of the community.
- The Collab
The Collab is back for its 24th year and tickets are now on sale.
- Introduction to the Mental Health Intensive Care Framework
A free online training package for the mental health workforce, introducing Victoria’s Mental Health Intensive Care Framework.
- Sensory modulation in mental health settings
A free online training package on using sensory modulation, especially in inpatient mental health settings.
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Our mission
The CMHN seeks to advance the practice of mental health nursing in Victoria through research, education, engagement & consultation.
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Meet the team
Short bios that introduce you to the CMHN's clinical nursing and consumer academic staff.
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Contact us
Where to find us, and how to contact us for general enquiries or specific expertise.
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CPN Review Report 2017 - 2019
This 2017-2019 report charts CPN's progress, as we build scholarly capacity among our nursing and consumer academics and collaboration with mental health services.
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Recovery Library
An online repository of tools, case studies, reflection and research in support of recovery-oriented practice
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Mental Health Nursing Workshops
A program of one-day workshops designed to upskill nurses in line with current practice innovations, challenges and policy directions.
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Graduate Nurses
Tips for applying for Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs in Victoria.
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Co-production: Putting principles into practice into mental health contexts
This resource seeks to explain what co-production is, how it is imporant, how it is different to other participatory approaches, and specific considerations for mental health
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Consumer Perspectivce Supervision: A framework for supporting the consumer workforce
The Consumer Perspective Spervision project is a consumer-led, co-produced project supported through a partnership.
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Lived Wisdom on Panic and Worry (COVID-19 Blog Series)
CMHN Director Bridget Hamilton discusses the CMHN's Little Bag of Calm project to support in acute mental health wards during COVID-19
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The Collab
Showcasing the specialist practice of mental health nursing, and its contribution to better outcomes for mental health consumers
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RPN 4/5 Educators Forum
A space for Victoria’s clinical educators to network, share knowledge, engage with and provide feedback on current priorities in policy and practice development.
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Partner organisations
The CentreMHN works in collaborative partnerships with state government, industry bodies, research partners and area mental health services.
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Publications
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Perceptions of Dangerousness
We hope to find new ways for the mental health system to think about violence, aggression and danger which promote equity and safety for both consumers and nurses.
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Evaluating Safewards Victoria
Safewards is a clinical model and intervention developed in the UK that seeks to reduce conflict and the use of seclusion and other restrictive interventions in acute inpatient psychiatric wards. Since 2014, researchers at the CPN have lead the evaluation of the Victorian government funded implementation of Safewards in the state of Victoria. The implementation of Safewards in Victoria is the most substantial and systematic in the world to date.
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Experiences of Engagement
PhD candidate Ms Rachel Tindall is conducting a qualitative longitudinal study of the experience of engagement in early psychosis services, for young people, carers and case managers.
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Views on seclusion and restraint, and ways to reduce their use
In this study, a large interdisciplinary team explored Australian views about a range of restrictive practices (seclusion, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, chemical restraint and emotional restraint), using a mixed methods approach funded by the National Mental Health Commission.
Centre MHN workshops address the everyday priorities of mental health nursing, and reflect current research evidence. They’re designed to upskill the mental health nursing workforce in line with current practice challenges, legislation and policy directions. Our training team comprises educators from both mental health nursing and lived-experience backgrounds, and workshops are delivered by at least two trainers so that both these perspectives are brought to the training room. Wherever possible, Centre MHN workshops are co-produced. This means they have been researched and developed in partnerships between mental health nursing academics and mental health consumer academics, in keeping with the Centre MHN’s commitment to embed both clinical and consumer perspectives in our training and research programs. The Centre MHN offers the following training workshops delivered on-site, and at no charge, to each Victorian area mental health service:
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Introduction to the Mental Health Intensive Care Framework
This short course has been specifically developed for clinicians employed within area mental health services across Victoria. The aim is to provide an introduction to the key concepts and practices within the Mental Health Intensive Care Framework (OCMHN, 2019).
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Sensory modulation in mental health settings
We've designed this course for mental health nurses, but it may interest anyone who works in an inpatient setting. It supports staff to use the Little Bag of Calm, introduced with COVID restrictions. It will enhance everyday use of Calming Methods in Safewards.
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CentreMHN Clinical Supervision for MHNs Master Class
We are excited to announce that work on the CentreMHN clinical Supervision for MHNs Master Class is well underway with a go-live date of mid-April 2023
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Group Work Facilitation
This workshop introduces participants to the theory and practice of group work, and explores the types of groups typically run for consumers in contemporary mental health settings.
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The Essentials of Supported Decision-Making In Practice
This workshop is designed to help mental health workers better understand SDM by examining its underlying principles, and by investigating the ways in which it differs from shared decision-making. It also provides participants with practical opportunities to further develop their supported decision-making skills for everyday practice.
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Co-Production
Co-production raises the bar on what it means for clinicians and policy makers to ‘collaborate’ with mental health consumers and their supporters. Co-production is not ‘consultation’, ‘participation’ or ‘involvement’. Instead, it seeks consumer leadership, and does so from the very beginning: before problems are defined, solutions proposed and priorities set.
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Every Moment Counts
Practical ways to connect with consumers in acute settings, while managing the demands of a busy work environment. ‘Every Moment Counts’ draws upon several approaches to facilitating meaningful connections.
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Action Learning Sets
Action Learning Sets (ALS) is a method for resolving complex issues. In a mental health service setting.