CARA MUNRO
Footscray,VIC
Summary
Cara is a Registered Nurse and Educator solid background in clinical supervision and staff development.
She is committed to providing excellent care to communities who experience barriers to accessing health care.
In addition to 20 years nursing experience she is a Masters Qualified Arts Therapists and provides accredited clinical supervision to health and welfare professionals through her private practice.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
University Lecturer
The MIECAT Institute
02.2017 - Current
- Teaching and supervising students enrolled in the Masters of Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy program.
- Supervision of students undertaking practicum placement in health and community organisations throughout Australia.
- Developed and delivered engaging curriculum across AQF9 subjects 'Working in Mental Health Contexts', 'Working with Trauma' and 'Arts Based Research'.
- Facilitated experiential and collaborative learning with an emphasis on decolonisation of therapeutic arts.
Arts Based Clinical Supervisor
Old City Arts
01.2018 - Current
- Individual Supervision for Health and Welfare Professionals through my private Practice Old City Arts.
- Hybrid model combining Transformative and Existential supervision approaches with Arts Therapy for reflective practice.
- Provided case conferences with a focus on working with complex trauma, risk assessment and adherence to best practices and regulatory compliance.
- Facilitation of critical incident debriefing sessions for community health organisations.
- Facilitation of communities of practice.
Registered Nurse
YNA Your Nursing Agency
12.2023 - 01.2025
- Contracted to ARCS Nhulumbuy, NT for FIFO work.
- Provided culturally competent, community led end of life care for Aboriginal Elders, enabling them to achieve their goal of dying on Country.
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to treatments.
- Recognised the deteriorating patient and liaised with emergency services to facilitate appropriate interventions.
- Adapted practice to maintain quality standards in a remote setting.
- Established strong rapport with elders, their families through genuine interest in and respect for, Aboriginal language, history and culture, including the ongoing impact of colonisation.
Senior Trainer & Practice Consultant
YSAS
2016 - 04.2020
- Consultancy work with Victoria's Centre for Youth AOD Practice Development.
- Designed and delivered training programs aligning with State and Federal Government goals and employee development needs within the Victorian youth drug and alcohol sector.
- Clinical Consultant on the Adolescent Withdrawal Guidelines (2016) https://ysas.org.au/withdrawalguidelines/
- Contributing Author Youth AOD Toolbox Clinical Practice Guidelines https://www.youthaodtoolbox.org.au/
- Co-Author of The Royal Children's Hospital's Practice Guide 'Working with Youth Affected by Parental Methamphetamine Use' (2019) & 'Supporting Residential Withdrawal for Young People' (2018).
Registered Nurse
Torrens Health DHHS / YNA
01.2020 - 07.2023
- Employed under Ambulance Victoria Offload Program (AVOL)
- Assessment and monitoring of patients impacted by prolonged ramping in Emergency Department settings at Sunshine Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Austin and Monash Hospital.
- Working as part of a multi disciplinary / multi agency team in a pre-hospital setting.
Health Service Manager
YSAS
07.2015 - 10.2018
- Manager of Victoria's Youth Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service (YoDAA).
- Managed the state wide service through its establishment phase, including pioneering a new model for multi modal service delivery, establishing a senior staff team, growing the YoDAA brand and securing ongoing funding.
- Recipient of the Victorian Health Promotion Award (2015) for preventing harm from alcohol.
REGISTERED NURSE DIVISION 1 (MSIR) Melbourne’s Safe Injecting Room
North Richmond Community Health
01.2018 - 2018
- Harm reduction, overdose and recovery nursing in Victoria’s Safe Injecting Room pilot.
Education
Masters by Supervision - Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy
The MIECAT Institute
Fitzroy01.2017
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment - undefined
Victoria University
Melbourne01.2009
Community Based Health and Development
The University of Melbourne
01.2005
Bachelor of Applied Sciences - Health Sciences (Nursing)
Deakin University
Burwood01.2002
Skills
- Workforce education
- Skilled in group dynamics facilitation
- Patient care management
- Clinical supervision
- Use of arts in therapy
- Professional writing
- Healthcare leadership
- Skilled in maximizing outcomes in constrained settings
- Cultural competency
- Integrity in relational dynamics
- Trauma-informed care
Affiliations
- Registered with AHPRA National Board of Nurses
- Member of Australian Clinical Supervisors Association (ACSA)
- Member of CRANA Plus, peak body for Rural and Remote Nurses
- Member of The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
Timeline
Registered Nurse
YNA Your Nursing Agency
12.2023 - 01.2025
Registered Nurse
Torrens Health DHHS / YNA
01.2020 - 07.2023
Arts Based Clinical Supervisor
Old City Arts
01.2018 - Current
REGISTERED NURSE DIVISION 1 (MSIR) Melbourne’s Safe Injecting Room
North Richmond Community Health
01.2018 - 2018
University Lecturer
The MIECAT Institute
02.2017 - Current
Health Service Manager
YSAS
07.2015 - 10.2018
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment - undefined
Victoria University
Community Based Health and Development
The University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Applied Sciences - Health Sciences (Nursing)
Deakin University
Senior Trainer & Practice Consultant
YSAS
2016 - 04.2020
Masters by Supervision - Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy
The MIECAT Institute
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Supervision: An existential Approach with Prof Ernesto Spinelli. 2025
- CATSINaM Regional Congress, Waibene (Thursday Island) 2025
- PACFA endorsed supervision training, Jo Ablett and Cheryl Taylor 2021
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (Refresher) 2019
- Collaborative Leadership Training: Facilitating collaborative teamwork, The Groupwork Institute 2016
- Certificate IV in Health: HIV and Hepatitis C Pre and Post Test Discussion, La Trobe University 2011
- Why Warriors Bridging Bridging the Gap Training for Health Professionals, Seminar into Cross Cultural Awareness, Richard Trudgen
- Graduate Nurse Program, The Royal Children's Hospital 2004 - 2005
- Motivational Interviewing Masterclasses with Dr Sylvie Naar-King
- Adolescent Resilience Masterclass Dr Michael Ungar
- Short courses and workshops with VACHO, Rainbow Network, Harm Reduction Victoria, GP Victoria, Turning Point.