NSLHD’s Safety and Quality Newsletter provides information on new and upcoming activities, programs and initiatives within the district that aim to improve the safety of our patients and the quality of our care.
MHDA NEWSLETTER
February, 2026 Compliments Pg 5,6
Sensory Modulation Pg 13 Breast Screening Project Pg 15
Youth MH Month Photo Competition The 2025 Need a Lift? Youth Photography Competition received nearly 200 uplifting entries from young people across Northern Sydney. Winners were celebrated at the 1 December Award Ceremony, with selected works showcased online, in local services and a commemorative photobook. Pg 10,11 Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) The Mental Health Review Tribunal has clarified that CTOs are not fixed six-month orders but may be made for up to 12 months
Diversional Recreation Therapy Week This month we recognise our Diversional and Recreational Therapists across MHDA. Through creativity and person-centred practice, you foster connection, purpose and inclusion, supporting recovery and emotional wellbeing for consumers across our services. Thank you for the compassion, innovation and therapeutic leadership you bring to our teams each day. Pg 13
under section 53 of the Mental Health Act 2007, based on evidence and the least-restrictive legal test. Pg 9
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Andrea Taylor, MHDA Director’s Report
As we begin a new year, I would like to extend my warmest thanks and appreciation to all our MHDA teams across the district. Your commitment to delivering compassionate, recovery ‑ oriented, and safe care to our community continues to inspire me. The work we do is complex and often challenging, yet every day you bring professionalism, humanity, and unwavering dedication to the people and families who rely on us. This year offers meaningful opportunities to strengthen our services, deepen our partnerships, and continue enhancing the experiences of consumers and carers. Your insight, collaboration, and commitment will be vital as we move forward together. I also want to acknowledge the significant effort contributed by teams across the district in supporting the transition of the Northern Beaches Hospital back into our services. Your hard work and coordination in preparation for 29th April have been invaluable, and I thank each of you for the dedication you’ve brought to this important milestone. We also pause to honour and farewell two cherished members of the MHDA family: Michael Appleton and Dame Marie Bashir. Michael Appleton was a deeply respected consumer representative and a dedicated volunteer with the North Shore Ryde Mental Health Service, bringing insight, advocacy, and genuine compassion to all his interactions. Dame Marie Bashir, psychiatrist, educator, and the first woman to serve as Governor of New South Wales who dedicated her life to public service, mental health advocacy, and education. Their contributions have left a lasting imprint on our services and our people.
Their legacies will continue to inspire us, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues. May they rest in peace. A reminder that NSLHD Digital Health Services transitioned to the cloud on 14 October 2025. Please ensure you are continuing to move current and relevant files so your information remains accessible and up to date. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to support a smooth and successful transition away from share drives. Looking ahead, we’re excited to celebrate our incredible Allied Health workforce throughout March. Key dates include: World Music Therapy Day – March 1 World Social Work Day – March 17 Art Therapy Awareness Day – March 23 National Dietitians Day – March 26 Thank you once again for your dedication and hard work. I am grateful for everything you bring to MHDA each day, and I look forward to the year ahead and what we will achieve together.
Kind Regards Andrea Taylor
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In Memory of Michael Appleton
Dear all, It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Michael Appleton, a valued mental health consumer representative and dedicated volunteer with North Shore Ryde Mental Health Service (NSRMHS). Michael passed away on Boxing Day. Michael's preparedness to share his lived experience, tireless advocacy, and unwavering commitment to improving mental health services have touched countless lives. Michael's voice, compassion, and insights over many years has helped shape meaningful conversations leading to change and he has very much inspired those around him. We are profoundly grateful for Michael's decades of service, generosity of spirit, and the legacy he leaves behind. Michael will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know and work alongside him. We plan to hold a memorial service for Michael in the new year to honour his very special contribution to NSRMHS and beyond. Our thoughts are very much with Paula and all of Michael's loved ones.
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Marie Bashir 1 December 1930 – 20 January 2026
The NSHLD community acknowledges with respect the passing of Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO FTSE, psychiatrist, educator, and the first woman to serve as Governor of New South Wales. A graduate of the University of Sydney, she dedicated her life to public service, mental health advocacy, and education. Throughout her distinguished career, she was known for her compassion, humility, and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all communities. Her legacy of service and humanity will remain an inspiration to us all.
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The compliment portal is a great way to provide recognition to colleagues, team or volunteers. The compliment portal can be found on the NSLHD Intranet. Please send submissions for the Compliments pages to: NSLHD-MHDANewsletter@health.nsw.gov.au Submissions will be edited for clarity and privacy. Wall of Praise
To Victoria Roberts and Anna Terry, Thank you for the incredible support you’ve given our family over the past few years. Your kindness, patience and compassion have meant more than we can say. You’ve helped us grow closer as a family, navigate the challenges of parenthood and feel more confident in ourselves. Your encouragement has brought comfort during difficult times, and your belief in us has made a lasting difference. Tessa always lights up when she sees you. Thank you 🙂 From K, J and T.
Hello CYMHS team, Thank you for the support you’ve given me this past year. After many previous attempts at treatment, this is the first place that has truly helped and given me hope. Safe Haven has been exactly that for me. Kind regards, C
Dear Hornsby Inpatient Team, During my six days on the ward, today’s team has shown the very best of public health. Amy, Hari, Tash, Minh, Jay, Mohammed, Sanjita, Yuka and Bal have gone above and beyond with positivity and genuine care. They truly deserve recognition. Yours truly, ST
EFFORT
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Wall of Praise
Thank you to Susan Clarke, from the PECC team for your consultation, assessment, and support for multiple consumers over the past month. Your input has been extremely valuable and is very much appreciated. Katherine Butler Nursing Unit Manager Royal North Shore Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre
Thank you Lee Meredith for your valuable contribution to the 2025 First 2000 Days Symposium. Your presentation, Nurturing Connections, provided meaningful insight and greatly enriched the program. Tish Bruce Executive Director Health and Social Policy Branch, NSW Health
Dear Becky, Roman and the Brolga Team, Thank you for your generous contribution to the Least Restrictive Practices Workshop. Your detailed sharing of clinical debriefing activities and supervision initiatives was both impressive and inspiring. Your commitment to staff wellbeing, reflective practice and embedding young people’s voices into unit operations sets a strong example. These efforts strengthen team resilience and enhance care for young people. We look forward to seeing your work continue to evolve. Kimberley Fitzpatricks Principal Lead, Mental Health Patient Safety, Systems Improvement
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New Grad Registered Nurse Navigating Mental Health! Starting my career as a newly registered nurse in the Mental Health GradStart program with the Lower North Shore Assertive Outreach Team (LNS AOT) was both exciting and enriching. The AOT supports consumers with acute and enduring mental health challenges in the community through a multidisciplinary approach. My six-month rotation provided invaluable learning and laid a strong foundation for my future in mental health nursing. A Warm Welcome and Team Spirit From day one, I was welcomed into a collaborative team of nurses, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, junior medical officers, and psychiatrists. Each professional brought unique expertise, creating a holistic approach to care. The team’s generosity in sharing knowledge made AOT an inspiring environment to learn and grow.
Exceptional Leadership and Support I was fortunate to work under an outstanding team leader and preceptor whose guidance and encouragement helped me build confidence in my role. Their mentorship and example reinforced the importance of supportive leadership in mental health nursing. Learning from Experienced Professionals One of the most rewarding aspects was learning from colleagues with decades of experience—some over 40 years in mental health. Their insights extended far beyond textbooks, teaching me empathy, patience, and critical thinking. They encouraged me to approach each consumer’s care individually and thoughtfully. Engaging with Consumers
Supporting recovery for consumers with enduring mental health conditions was both challenging and fulfilling. Each consumer presented with unique needs shaped by their lived experience and social circumstances. Establishing trust was not a onetime task but an ongoing process requiring patience, consistency, and genuine empathy. I have come to appreciate that effective mental health care extends far beyond clinical intervention. It is grounded in human connection and trust building.
A Memorable Six Months Reflecting on my time with AOT, I feel privileged to have started my nursing career in such a dynamic and supportive environment. I gained practical skills, professional confidence, and a deeper understanding of providing mental health care. The experience strengthened my passion for mental health nursing and prepared me for future challenges. The Assertive Outreach Team gave me a strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing my journey as a mental health nurse making a positive difference in the lives of those facing mental health challenges. Thank you, LNS AOT team, it was a pleasure to work with such an incredible group of professionals! 7.
WHS Update
Introduction
Christina has been with NSLHD since February 2024, initially with a portfolio of Ryde Hospital and PACH. Recently, Christina has had a portfolio change and now looks after MHDA (including Macquarie Hospital) and PACH. Christina is mainly based at Macquarie Hospital but will be travelling to other hospital sites due to her portfolio. If you have any Work Health and Safety questions or would like to schedule a meeting with her, please find her contact details below: M 0457 500 017 | E christina.liu@health.nsw.gov.au ** Note: For all staff, please speak to your manager for WHS matters first before reaching out to Christina
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“The Tribunal and therefore the Court, is required to consider carefully the nature and content of a proposed treatment plan, first in order to be satisfied that no other care of a less restrictive kind would be appropriate, and also to determine that the proposed care would benefit the affected person. Furthermore, an assessment must be made of the matters identified in subs (7) to determine the appropriate duration of a community treatment order”. The importance of applying the s53(7) legal test for duration of the CTO is seen in the Court of Appeal decision Z v Mental Health Review Tribunal [2015] NSWCA 373– per Basten AJ. Length of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) The Mental Health Review Tribunal (the Tribunal) has provided clarification on the length of CTOs. The Tribunal has advised that there is no statutory fixed period for a CTO . The CTO is also not a fixed 6-month order, it is an order made pursuant to section 53 of Mental Health Act 2007 (the Act), for not longer than 12 months. This timeframe considers the time it takes to stabilise the condition of the affected person and to establish or re- establish a therapeutic relationship between the person and the person’s psychiatric case manager under The Act (s53(7)). It may be nominated as any period that the evidence supports, addressing the matters that must be considered as per the legal test outlined in section 53 (7) of the Act. The Tribunal further notes that: Each case must be decided on its unique facts, and proper application of the legal test. Psychiatric case managers should determine the length of the order sought, up to a 12-month limit, and be able to inform the Tribunal how, on application of the above-mentioned test, they have formed that view. The test is always to be guided by the principles for care and treatment, found in section 68 of the Act, including the principle that best possible care and treatment is to be given in the least restrictive manner. The Tribunal expects a significant number of listings for CTOs in March to May 2026. This is due to the Tribunal last year pushing back CTO expiry dates from 15 December 2025 to beyond February 2026. The Tribunal encourages the community treating teams to submit applications as early as possible so that they can try to meet the listing of these matters during the above noted periods. The Tribunal will triage urgent CTO applications if advised by the treating team.
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Youth Mental Health Month Photography Competition
2025 saw the Need a Lift? Youth Photography Competition being held for the 6th year. This competition is a partnership between CYMHS School-Link, NSLHD Population Health Promotion, Headspace Chatswood and Brookvale, Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Community Drug Action Teams, and a number of local councils. This year we received just under 200 ‘uplifting’ entries from young people across the area, capturing their uplifting, positive or joyful images and messages, with a range of ages and subject matter. All entries have been on display on our Pollunit page https://pollunit.com/en/polls/needalift2025 along with printed A3 posters on display in lifts and other locations around Northern Sydney. Prizes were awarded in each age category – 12-15 years, 16-18 years, 19-24 years - along with an overall winner, runner-up and a Peoples’ Choice Award. An Award Ceremony was held on 1st December 2025. As in previous years, a Photo book has been collated of the winning and short-listed entries, and this book will be presented to award winners as well as various services where young people and their families will be able to view these amazing entries.
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Caption: Beaming smiles illuminate the faces of our school leaders as they participate in the World's Greatest Shave, raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. A crowd of intrigued students watch from a distance, fostering a sense of community, courage and togetherness for such an important cause. OVERALL WINNER: 'WORLD'S GREAT SHAVE' BY CHRISTOPHER, 18, NORTH SYDNEY. 01. school week has amounted to so far. This very thing I'm talking about is a passion of mine, a hobby: wildlife photography. And the reason I go every weekend? Because I enjoy it. I find it real fun. And that excitement knowing that I'll be back out in the bush again searching for my favourite Aussie birds. RUNNER UP: 'A HOBBY THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT' BY DAN, 15, KUR- RING-GAI. 02. Caption: The image that you see is a visual representation of what the very thing that drives me to get through the 5-day Caption: I took this photo during my holiday in Africa, while I was on a safari. It makes me feel happy because it reminds me of the calm and peace that nature gives. Watching the sunset over the wildflowers was one of the quietest, most special moments of the trip. Every time I look at this picture, it brings back a feeling of freedom and joy. AGE CATEGORY WINNER 12-15 YEARS: 'SUNSET SAFARI' BY TROY, 13, KUR- RING-GAI. 03. AGE CATEGORY WINNER 16-18 YEARS: 'LEAF WARRIOR' BY JOSIAH, 17, NORTHERN BEACHES. 04. Caption: This photo captures a leaf insect in the sunlight, reminding me of resilience and hidden beauty in nature. Even something small and camouflaged has its own strength and uniqueness, which lifts my mood and reminds me to find joy in the little details of life. Caption: While walking through the bush, I spotted these kangaroos midplay. Their carefree energy and freedom lifted my spirits, reminding me that even in nature’s wildest places, there’s always time for joy, laughter, and connection. AGE CATEGORY WINNER 19-24 YEARS: 'KANGAROO'S PLAYFUL SPIRITS' BY AYUSH, 24, RYDE. 05. Caption: There is nothing quite as uplifting as watching the world rise above its own stillness. The lake mirrors the sky, reminding us that even in silence and stillness, there is depth and reflection. It is a scene of calm after chaos, clarity after fog. As light filters gently through the clouds, the serenity is simply breathtaking. This landscape holds space for hope, for breath, for beginning again. PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER: ‘CRADLE MOUNTAIN’ BY JAMES, 14, NORTH SYDNEY. 06.
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The Brolga Adolescent Mental Health Unit was filled with warmth and festive spirit this Christmas as staff came together to celebrate another meaningful year of supporting young people and their families. The season offered not only a chance to unwind, but also an opportunity to reflect deeply on the extraordinary commitment each team member brings to the unit every day. Christmas at Brolga served as a special moment to recognise and celebrate each staff member’s individual contribution. From doctors and nurses to allied health professionals, educators, peer workers, and support staff, every role plays a vital part in the compassionate, cohesive care that defines the unit. This period of reflection highlighted how much the team’s empathy, resilience, and collaborative spirit shape the experiences of the adolescents they support. Adding to the appreciation, each staff member received a personalised card, as well as a Team Coffee voucher to enjoy together. These small gestures created a sense of connection and gratitude, reinforcing the value of every person’s work throughout the year. Reflecting on the year that has been, the Brolga team moves forward with renewed appreciation for one another, ready to continue their mission of fostering recovery, hope, and positive growth for the young people in their care. Recognising The Incredible Brolga Team at Christmas
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Diversional Therapy Week
This month we recognise our Diversional Therapists across MHDA, whose creativity and person ‑ centred practice bring connection, purpose, and joy to the people we support. Your work plays a vital role in promoting recovery, emotional wellbeing, social inclusion, and meaningful engagement for consumers across our services. Thank you for the compassion, innovation, and therapeutic energy you bring to our teams every day, your impact is deeply valued by staff, consumers, and carers alike.
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Research Opportunity A research study is currently being undertaken by University of Technology Sydney Honours student Kara Chakerian, exploring mental health nurses’ knowledge of delirium in inpatient mental health settings. Mental health nurses are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous online survey focused on recognising the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for delirium. Recent research has shown that consumers in inpatient mental health units are at a heightened risk of experiencing delirium. As nurses play a critical role in the early identification and management of this condition, understanding current knowledge and practice is essential. The findings from this study will contribute to the development of targeted education resources for nurses and may also inform future policy, with the ultimate aim of reducing the impact of delirium on consumers. The study is supervised by A/Prof. Natalie Cutler, A/Prof. Scott Brunero, Dr. Amy Montgomery, and A/Prof. Kris Rogers, and has received ethics approval from the UTS Human Research Ethics Committee (UTS HREC: ETH25-11467). Participation is voluntary and involves completing a short anonymous online survey, accessible via www.tinyurl.com/mhdelirium
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BREAST SCREENING Current Mental H ealthDrug and Alcohol Consumer’s40+are invited for screening in a respectful and caring environment
WHAT IS OFFERED
LONGER APPOINTMENT TIMES
UPCOMING DATES
EDUCATION & INFORMATION
North Ryde Friday 10th April, 2026
A SAFE, WELCOMING SPACE
Hornsby Friday 24th April, 2026
Mona Vale Wednesday 13th May, 2026
A MODESTY SHAWL & BAG
Brookvale Friday 29th May, 2026
St Leonards Wednesday 17th June, 2026
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
St Leonards Wednesday 24th June, 2026
Bookings Required! Scan the QR code to find out more, or speak to a clincian book your spot.
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you!
Please submit any good news stories, compliments, achievements, examples of positive consumer or service outcomes, staff changes, collaborations with other organisations, developments in services, opportunities for community involvement, papers published and conference presentations. All submissions must be endorsed for submission by the line manager of the person contributing the article and the Service Director.
Please send feedback and articles to: NSLHD-MHDANewsletter@health.nsw.gov.au
Next Submissions Due
Publication
March 15
April
May 15
June
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