Meghann Cardona

Part of my role as a Level 2 RN includes undertaking mental health screens and risk assessments and providing MH support to Australian Defence Force Members within the Southern NSW Region.

• During my time as a MH RN at the ACT Health Centre, I received an award from the Commanding Officer recognising my skills as a nurse and for providing excellent clinical support to my colleagues

• Part of my role as a Senior Clinician within the Custodial Mental Health Services includes providing clinical support and supervision to junior staff and nursing students as well as providing mental health training to other stakeholders
• Furthermore, I conduct comprehensive mental health assessments including the health screening of new remandees into the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, assist clients with medication management including PRN medications and antipsychotic depot administration, and providing support to detainees who are at-risk of self-harm/suicide
• The duties also include engaging clients with recent mental health crises in the Brief Intervention Clinic (or BIC which is modelled after the Gold Card Clinics) where clients are assisted in identifying behavioural and psychological factors that contributed to the crises
• In the BIC, clients are assisted in developing psychological strategies (DBT, STOP and TIPP skills) to help develop distress tolerance skills and reduce crisis presentations

• Part of my role as a Level 2 RN includes undertaking a comprehensive level of mental health assessment including the health screening and risk assessment of new remandees into the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, providing support to detainees who present as at-risk of self-harm/suicide, and medication management including antipsychotic depot administration
• Additionally, I support clients who are diagnosed with a major mental illness at a clinical management capacity
• As a clinical manager, I supported clients and their carers in their goals and link them with services in preparation for their release from custody
• Furthermore, I engaged clients in psychoeducation around their mental health diagnoses and medications to increase their level of knowledge about their illness and its treatment
• I engaged clients in motivational interviewing to elicit changes in behaviour around their substance use

• Part of my role as a Level 2 RN includes undertaking a comprehensive level of mental health assessment including the health screening and risk assessment of new remandees into the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, providing support to detainees who present as at-risk of self-harm/suicide, and medication management including antipsychotic depot administration
• Additionally, I support clients who are diagnosed with a major mental illness at a clinical management capacity
• As a clinical manager, I supported clients and their carers in their goals and link them with services in preparation for their release from custody
• Furthermore, I engaged clients in psychoeducation around their mental health diagnoses and medications to increase their level of knowledge about their illness and its treatment
• I engaged clients in motivational interviewing to elicit changes in behaviour around their substance use

• As a Registered Nurse at Dhulwa, I provided care and support to clients who have complex mental health care needs who have been involved or are at-risk of being involved in the justice system
• The duties that I performed included mental state monitoring, risk assessments, medication management, conflict deescalation, supporting clients in their rehabilitation within the forensic mental health inpatient setting
• Additionally, I engaged clients in psychoeducation around their mental health diagnoses and medications to increase their level of knowledge about their illness and its treatment
• Furthermore, I engaged clients in motivational interviewing to elicit changes in behaviour around their substance use