Dear Members,
As 2025 draws to a close, the Board of Directors and I extend our warmest wishes to you for a Happy Christmas, restorative Summer Holidays and a safe, and peaceful, New Year.
This has been a significant year for the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, marked by strong progress, important reform, and growing national and international leadership. Together, we advanced credentialling pathway reform, expanded Special Interest Groups, and continued to grow and strengthen our membership. We celebrated International Mental Health Nurses Day with Professor Tim Wand as our keynote and honoured excellence through the Mental Health Nurse of the Year awards to Kylie Straube and Amanda Butt. We also hosted our largest-ever International Mental Health Nursing Conference in Brisbane.
We deepened our commitment to truth, justice, and culturally safe practice through the adoption of the CATSINaM Truth and Action Report, building on our 2024 Apology and Treaty with the New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses. Internationally, your College stepped forward with confidence, helping to initiate the call for an International Council of Mental Health Nursing.
We had some sad moments with the passing of former President Prof Mike Hazleton, and paused to reflect on his mightly legacy for our profession.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a milestone year as we prepare to celebrate the 50th ACMHN Conference in Adelaide and continue advancing standards, scope of practice, and global collaboration.
20th February 2026 we will celebrate International Mental Health Nurses Day and announce our Mental Health Nurse of the Year. I hope you can join us and don't forget to nominate a colleague! Plan you work event as soon as possible! We have great resources to share with you to celebrate our profession.
Thank you for your commitment to mental health nursing and for the vital work you do every day in your communities. We are proud to represent you.
Wishing you and your loved ones a restful and restorative summer and a hope-filled start to the year ahead.
Warm regards,
Professor Rhonda Wilson
President
Australian College of Mental Health Nurses