Rachel GAY
Wyndham Vale
Summary
Dynamic and dedicated Registered Mental Health Nurse with over 30 years of experience in diverse public mental health service settings, including Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, adult inpatient and community care, and homeless service co-location. Since 2010, contributed as a Quality Improvement Consultant on the executive team, driving initiatives that enhance service delivery and patient outcomes. Currently pursuing a training and assessing qualification to further develop skills and expertise in mentoring and guiding future professionals. A strong commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in mental health nursing underpins every aspect of professional practice.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Quality Improvement Specialist
Royal Melbourne Hospital - Mental Health Services
01.2010 - Current
- Key accountabilities:
- Leadership and co-ordination of continuous improvement, compliance (including auditing and accreditation processes), risk management within a hospital, community and departmental context.
- Development and maintenance of effective stakeholder relationships across diverse sector and organisational boundaries.
- Implementation, monitoring, reporting and workforce capacity building in improvement and risk management systems and activities.
- Procedure development, documentation, socialisation and governance.
- Project management, coaching and mentoring, organisational support in workforce embedded projects, leadership in service implementation of departmental initiatives.
- Effective triaging and management of diverse accountabilities and priorities, development and implementation of systems to support transparent continuity for the role’s tasks.
- Provision of and access to professional development relevant to role and discipline, mentoring and coaching staff in quality and project capabilities.
Senior Clinician (RMHN4)
Psychological Assessment and Treatment in a Homeless Setting (PATHS- Homeless team position, IWAMHS)
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Co-located senior clinical position, embedded within a community organisation’s men’s crisis accommodation. This novel role sought to meet clinical needs of structurally under serviced people, often excluded through diagnosis, transience, and complex comorbidity
- Key accountabilities included:
- Provision of evidence-based interventions to homeless service users with high prevalence disorders
- Primary, secondary and tertiary consultations across both sectors, maintaining records, communicating through clinical and shelter governance systems in line with legislation and policy.
- Providing clinical supervision and coaching to nurses.
Clinician (RMHN 3)
ST VINCENT’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, Melbourne
01.2000 - 01.2006
- Continuing Care. Case management, Clarendon CMHC.
- This role provided assessment and treatment to adults with serious and episodic or enduring mental illness in the context of public adult mental health services.
- Key accountabilities included:
- Effective and safe engagement with consumers, families, carers, supporters, and formal and informal community supports across all aspects of mental health care.
- Treatment administration and monitoring specific to registered nurse credentials.
- Maintaining records, communication and treatment deadlines in accordance with legislation and policy.
- Consultation, resource development and sharing with service users and providers.
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
SUNSHINE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1998 - 01.2006
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit.
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE FOR KIDS AND YOUTH, TRAVENCORE UNIT
01.1998 - 01.2006
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit.
Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager
ALMA ST. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager.
Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager
INNER CITY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager. (Holiday relief)
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Community Residential Unit
W.E. ROBINSON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT UNIT
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Community Residential Unit.
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
GRAYLANDS HOSPITAL
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit.
Education
Hospital Based Diploma - Mental Health Nursing
W.A School of Nursing
01.1993
Certificate IV - TAE
Gordon Institute of TAFE
Geelong, VIC10-2025
Short Course - Applied Learning Health Systems
Centre For Digital Transformation of Health (MelbUni)
Vic07-2022
Skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Auditing techniques
- Workflow optimization
- NSQHS standards
- Quality management systems
- Policy updates
- Project management
- Training coordination
- Documentation management
- Audit compliance
- Process development
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop incident and response tracking spreadsheets.
- Collaborated with team of 16+ in the development of Consumer decision tool processes (Advance Statement project)
- Achieved timely procedure updates by completing consultation and review steps with accuracy and efficiency.
- Documented and collaborated with stakeholders to resolve standards compliance gaps which led to increased adherence.
- Achieved improved efficiency and accuracy by introducing AI productivity apps for administrative and teaching / coaching tasks.
Affiliations
- ALHS Alumni
- Melbourne University Alumni
- Mental Health Professionals Network
- Women in Adult and Vocational Education
Certification
- Current AHPRA nursing registration (NMW0001056571)
- Cert 4 TAE – in progress – October completion (Gordon TAFE)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
- I enjoy sketching, painting and sewing, all of which help improve my creativity and attention to detail
- I am interested in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning and have explored different apps for use at home, study and work
- I enjoy the art of baking and exploring cooking challenges , experimenting with recipes
Timeline
Senior Quality Improvement Specialist
Royal Melbourne Hospital - Mental Health Services
01.2010 - Current
Senior Clinician (RMHN4)
Psychological Assessment and Treatment in a Homeless Setting (PATHS- Homeless team position, IWAMHS)
01.2006 - 01.2010
Clinician (RMHN 3)
ST VINCENT’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, Melbourne
01.2000 - 01.2006
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
SUNSHINE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1998 - 01.2006
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE FOR KIDS AND YOUTH, TRAVENCORE UNIT
01.1998 - 01.2006
Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager
ALMA ST. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1993 - 01.1997
Community Mental Health Nurse/ Case Manager
INNER CITY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
01.1993 - 01.1997
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Community Residential Unit
W.E. ROBINSON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT UNIT
01.1993 - 01.1997
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Unit
GRAYLANDS HOSPITAL
01.1993 - 01.1997
Hospital Based Diploma - Mental Health Nursing
W.A School of Nursing
Certificate IV - TAE
Gordon Institute of TAFE
Short Course - Applied Learning Health Systems
Centre For Digital Transformation of Health (MelbUni)
Training
- 2022 to 2024 Certs 3 & 4 Visual Arts (Oxygen College)
- 2022: Applied learning health systems (University of Melbourne short course: RMH scholarship supported) MARAM Framework training (Vic. Gov)
- 1994-2022 Additional Post Grad. internal and external training, including: Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs Work CHC51102 (Incomplete: Cert of attainment available on request) Human Factors / Project Management / Root Cause Analysis training / Motivational interviewing Critical Incident Stress Management Training / Mental Health First Aid / Applied Suicide Intervention and Support Training Master of Public Health (Incomplete) / Diploma Dual Diagnosis Lean Six Sigma (White belt) / Professional writing /Cert. III in Occupational Health and Safety (02) / Cert. IV in Workplace Training and Assessment (03)
OTHER
- 2022 - present WCEC Sewing skills short courses – Ongoing
- 2014 – present Wyndham Vale Fruit and Vegetable swap Inaugural member. Local gardener’s regular meetup to swap / share resources and skills, organising cooperative working bees to assist members needing support with garden jobs or maintenance.
- 2013 – 2020 “Werbrary Games” Founder: A community access initiative: hosting monthly free board gaming sessions in libraries in my community.
- 2012 – 13 Werribee Park Heritage Orchard Secretary, WPHO Management Committee
- 2007 – 2010 Werribee Open Range Zoo Volunteer guide
- 2004 Australian Karen Youth Project Participant: Study and cultural exchange tour to visit NGOs / Refugee camps on the Thai – Burma Border.
- 1999 – 2001 Bachelor of Music Melbourne University – Parkville Campus.
Awards and scholarships
2021 RMH Celebrating Excellence Awards nominee: Excellence in Quality Improvement
2021: RMH Nursing Research Hub bursary