Kaete Walker

Well, there have been many over the years, perhaps rather too many, and commencing when I was sixteen years of age, running away from both home and school, and ending up, for a time, homeless. Luckily, I woke up to myself, and decided that I must get a longer paying job. After running away from home at the age of sixteen, my first paid employment was as a cotton chipper on a farm near Narrabri, in the outback of NSW, Australia. Suffice to say, that it didn’t last all that long.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Psychiatric Nursing Certificate (three year hospital based training. James Fletcher Hospital, Newcastle, and Bloomfield Hospital, Orange). Completed 1974. General Nursing Certificate (Mona Vale Hospital, Sydney). Completed 1984.
• BA (Social Welfare) Course Major: Community Care of the Mentally Ill. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. 1991
• Certificate IV Workplace Assessment and Training.
• Successfully completed postgraduate units have been undertaken in: a) M. Education (Training and Development), Southern Cross University and, b) M. Social Science (Social Policy), Charles Sturt University.
• Accredited Person, NSW Mental Health Act.
• Previously, and for quite a number of years, a Basic Life Support (BSL) trainer, with Hunter New England LHD. (Just as well, that I’m currently not, for bouncing up and down upon a BSL mannequin can indeed take its toll).
• Various in-service and short courses, details of which can be supplied if need be.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS

• Member, Australian Sociology Association.

AREAS OF HISTORICAL MAIN INTEREST.

• Physical activity and mental health.
• Transgender/transsexualism and mental health.
• Gender and mental health.
• Domestic Violence/Sexual abuse, and mental health
• Consumer and carer inclusion in mental Health

PAST ARTICLES, PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND SIMILAR ILK

• Walker, K. (1994). ‘Suicide Prevention: a training package for self-learning purposes’. Training resource for staff of the NSW Mid North Coast Health Service. (Second edition published 1995.)

• Walker, K. (1994). “What Is this Thing Called Consumer Participation?  Paper delivered to the University of Newcastle/Rozelle Hospital Symposium, Sydney, 1994. Pertained the benefits/constraints of mental health consumer involvement.
• Walker, K. (1998).”Cycling Against Suicide”, in Healthlink (the health promotion journal of the ACT region), Canberra. Autumn 1998:20.

• Walker, K (2000). ‘Get a Buzz from a Bike’. Australian Cyclist. December. 2000. Republished on the Bicycle Federation of Australia’s web site and republished further, at http://www.depressionet.com.au Pertained the benefit of Physical Activity to Mental Health.

• Walker, K. (2003). ‘ARAFMI Family-to-Family Project”. Paper delivered to the TheMHS Mental Health conference, Canberra, 2003.

• Walker, K. (2012). ‘Ideology and Hegemonic Ideology- implications for mental health care delivery’. Hunter Valley Mental Health Service, Maitland. NSW.

• Sankaranarayanan A, Tirupati S, Walker K, Smithers C. Obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk in patients attending clozapine clinic: a cross-sectional study. AP J Psychol Med 2013; 14 (1):19-24.

• Walker, K, (2015). Fibromylagia. Hunter Valley Mental Health Service, Maitland, NSW, Australia.

• Walker, K., & Heath, R.A. (May, 2015). Transgender care and mental health: Some ideas for consideration. Talk given to Hunter New England Mental Health Grand Rounds. Calvary Mater Hospital, Waratah, NSW, Australia.

• Walker, K., & Heath, R.A. (April, 2015). Transgendered youth in the NSW Hunter region: On the dire need for a designated gender clinic. Talk to the Newcastle Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

• Wynne, K., Walker, K., Kelly, Steven., and Mortimer, L. (August 2016). Transgender and Gender Diversity. Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute conference. City Hall, Newcastle. NSW.

• Wynne, K., and Walker, K. (August 2016). Transgender and Gender Diversity. Australian Medical Students Association National Convention. Newcastle, NSW.

• Wynne, K., and Walker, K. (February 2017). Transgender and Gender Diversity. University of Newcastle 3^rd year Medical Students, University of Newcastle.

• Wynne, K., and Walker, K.  (March 2017).  Transgender and Mental Health: Some aspects for consideration. Lake Macquarie Mental Health Service. Newcastle, NSW. 

• Wynne, K., Walker, K., and Saunders, W.  (May 2017). A Concise Guide to Transgender Health. John Hunter Hospital and Belmont Hospital staff specialist physicians. John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW.   

• Wynne, K, et al (2017). ‘Pathway to Transgender Health: A Community Model of Care.’ Finalist in the 2017 High Value Health Care Awards, Hunter New England Local Health District.

• Arora, M., Walker, K., Duvivier, R., Wynne, K (2017) ‘The effect of an educational session on attitudes toward delivery of transgender healthcare by medical students and general practitioners in the Hunter region’. Poster presentation.  Endocrine Society of Australia Conference, 2017, 27th – 30th August 2017.

• Arora, M., Walker, K., Duvivier, R., Wynne, K, et al (2018) ‘The effect of an educational session on attitudes toward delivery of transgender healthcare by medical students and general practitioners in the Hunter region’. Poster presentation, October 2018, World Professional Association for Transgender Health annual conference, Buenos Aires.

• Walker, K. (2019) Invited guest speaker, Transgender and Gender Diversity Conference, University of Newcastle, 14th September 2019.

• Variously, also, past short articles/other contributions mental health related, in: The Port Macquarie News; The Post Newspaper; The Newcastle Herald; SX News; and the British Medical Journal. Radio interviews provided to: 2MC; 2CH; Radio ABC Mid North Coast; and Radio 2SERFM.

• Speeches include: 1. Reclaim the Night, Newcastle 2004 (topic: sexual assault and mental health); 2. International Womens’ Day event, Newcastle 2006 (MC for the event and a co-organiser); 3. Key Note Speaker, Transgender Remembrance Day, Parliament House, Sydney, 20th November 2006. 4. Organiser and main speaker, ‘Gender and Sexuality Diversities’ Workshop, Newcastle campus of TAFE, 27 Sept 2007. 5. Guest speaker, Rainbow Festival Week, Newcastle 2009, held at Hamilton, NSW. 6. Ad hoc Presentations to Maitland and Cessnock TAFE students on the topic of mental health.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

 (Last to first, including some volunteer work.)

• July 2016- Current. 0.6 FTE Clinician, NSW Mental Health Access Triage Line (https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-line.aspx ), NMHEC-RAP (https://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/451013/NMHEC-RAP-Northern-Mental-Health-Emergency-Care-Rural-Access-Program-Dr-Rahul-Gupta.pdf), and Mental Health First Responder, programmes. Based in Newcastle, NSW. Telephone mental health triages, telehealth mental health assessments for patients in emergency departments, and telephone crisis counseling/interventions.

• April 2008- July 2016. F/T Registered Nurse /Case Manager, Acute Adult Psychiatry, Cessnock LGA, Hunter Valley Community Mental Health Service (HVCMHS), Hunter New England Local Health District. Has involved, for example: a) case management/counselling to patients residing in the Cessnock local government area b) Accredited Person, NSW Mental Health Act; c) member, HVMHS DBT therapist team; d) HVMHS representative to southern sector Mental Health/Alcohol Other Drugs Collaboration Committee; e) accredited BLS (CPR) trainer; f) accredited Domestic Violence Screening Tool trainer; g) accredited APT trainer; h) consultation to social work, psychology, and other, staff at Cessnock and Kurri Kurri Community Health. August 2012, appointed as Clinical Nurse Specialist. Oct 2012, ‘expert witness’ before the NSW Nurses and Midwifery Tribunal, Sydney.  2013, became member of HNEMH Sexual Safety Committee.

• July 2007- July 2008.  Part Time Teacher, Cert 1V Mental Health Non Clinical, Hunter Institute of TAFE. Semester length units taught: a) ‘Assess and Respond to Individuals at Risk of Self Harm and Suicide’; b) ‘Work Effectively with Culturally Diverse Clients and Co-workers’; c) ‘Provide non-clinical services to people with mental health issues’; and d) ‘Provide support services to clients’. In addition, organizer/ main presenter, of the ‘Gender and Sexuality Diversities’ Workshop, held, Newcastle TAFE, 27 Sept 2007.

• March 2006-May 2006: Transgender Support Project Worker, Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre. Surry Hills, Sydney. Developed a strategic plan; set up an advisory committee (involving representatives from a variety of agencies including the Anti-Discrimination Board, NSW Health, ACON, The Gender Centre, SWOP, and the Inner City Legal Service, as well as consumers); established a clients’ reference committee; developed an internet website; commenced one evening a week outreach project in Kings Cross; wrote media releases; interviewed by media; provided case management services; provided electronic resource library; and contributed towards the general day to day functioning of the agency.

• November 2004- April 2006: Part time National Secretary and Executive member, Bicycle Federation of Australia (BFA). BFA was previously the peak national body in Australia representing commuting and recreational cyclists, and had representation from cycling organizations in all Australian States and Territories. It folded in 2008.

• June 2004 -March 2006: Voluntary position (Co-President, Nov 2005- March 2006), and Secretary (June 2004- Nov 2005), the Hunter, NSW, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender (GLBT) organisation, Rainbow Visions Hunter Inc.

• January 2004- June 2005: F/T Co-ordinator, the then Community Based Activities (CBA) Program, Kaiyu Enterprises Inc. First line management responsibility for program employing five full time staff, casual workers and volunteers, providing rehabilitation and support to persons with a psychiatric illness. The Kaiyu CBA program was funded by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

• July 2003- November 2004: Part-time teacher, Community Services (Mental Health), at Tighes Hill, Newcastle, campus of TAFE. Modules taught: a) ‘Advocacy Skills’, b) ‘Values and Ethics’ and, c) ‘Provide Support Services to Clients’.

• July 2002- January 2004:  24 hours per week ‘Family-to-Family’ Project Worker with ARAFMI (Assoc. of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill)- Hunter Region. Term contract position of eighteen months. Duties: recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers, for the ‘Family-to-Family’ project at James Fletcher Hospital, Newcastle. In August 2003, at the AGM of ARAFMI-Hunter, nominated for the position of ARAFMI-Hunter Branch President. Presented the project at the Themes mental health conference in Canberra, 2004.

• 2002 (Jan) – Paid contract with the Cycling Promotion Fund (http://www.cyclingpromotion.com/). Provision of literature search relating Physical Exercise and Mental Health.

• 2000- 2008. Volunteer clerical work/ Sharing Ministry Research and Education team member, St. Augustine’s Anglican Parish, Merewether. Additionally, in this period, developed, and managed, the parish website, and the parish internet email group.

• 1994 – 1998. Clinical Nurse Consultant (Mental Health/Psychiatry) Mid North Coast Health Services (MNCHS). Included: Welfare Officer (1990 NSW Mental Health Act); and (from June 1995 onwards) Secretary, NSW Mid North Coast Health (Northern Sector) Area Mental Health Community Consultative Committee (MHCCC); membership of the Mental Health Promotion State Network; MNCHS – Mental Health (Northern Sector) representation on the Mid North Coast DOCS Disability Advisory Committee and Interagency Committees. Major interests: a) consumer participation in MHS planning; b) consultancy; and, c) training and development (to staff, management and community agencies). In this position I was variously seconded in order to research for, write submissions and/or plan: 1. “Hope for the Children” volunteer Home Visiting Service for isolated young parents 2. (Northern Sector) Critical Incident Management Plan 3. Aged Care Transitional Intervention (Case Management) project (research component Commonwealth funded) 4. After Hours Medical Care Trials (Commonwealth funded) 5. MNCHS Complaints Management Handling Procedures and Protocols. 6. NSW Mid North Coast Health Service Methadone Policy 7. Expansion of NSW Mid North Coast Health Sexual Health services

1993 – 1993

• Lecturer Level A/Clinical Educator. Contract position, School of Nursing, University of Newcastle.  (First year ‘communications’ unit; second year ‘community and mental health’ unit; RN conversion course ‘community health’ unit; plus field supervision on clinical camps; field supervision/mentoring of students in ‘directed community experience’ (disablement related); and project liaison with associated community agencies.  Position expired due to organisational restructuring.

1989 – 1993

• Community Psychiatric Nurse, Manning Area Health Services (based at Hawks Nest, and Bulahdelah, NSW).  Sole practitioner, 20 hours per week.  A part-time position take in order to complete undergraduate studies/ commence Masters studies.  Involved generalist psychological counselling, community education and health promotion, conjoint family therapy, crisis intervention and case management.

1989 – 1989

• Team Leader (Co-ordinator)/Counsellor, NSW South West Health Region (Zone 3) Mental Health Services, based at Wagga Wagga.  Co-ordination of community and inpatient psychiatric unit mental health services; line responsibility for the community mental health, accommodation and rehabilitation sub teams (ie, in Wagga Wagga, Junee, Tumut and Gundagai localities).

1984 – 1988

• Psychiatric Welfare Officer.  (Gazetted position under the then 1958 NSW Mental Health Act).  Hastings District Health Service, based at Port Macquarie, NSW.  Initially sole mental health practitioner for Hastings District, subsequently seconded as research officer for the then “Richmond” Program.  Duties entailed:  acute emergency and crisis interventions, hospital staff liaison/education, statutory duties pursuant to Mental Health Act, consumer/staff counselling.  Established the first rural NSW branch of ARAFMI (Association of Friends and Relatives of the Mentally Ill), and was health service representative to the, then, NGO Hastings Valley Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.

1982 – 1984

• Trainee general nurse, Mona Vale District Hospital, Sydney.  In addition, the first recorded student nurse NSW Nurses Association branch secretary (later president).

1978 – 1982

• Registered psychiatric nurse. The Palmerston Centre, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Sydney. Predominately night duty. Also entailed supervision of student nurses.

1978 – 1980

• Self employed.  Hypnotherapy/general counselling.  Avalon, Sydney, NSW. The period included being occasional locum for James Ballantine hypnotherapist/counsellor, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

1977 – 1978

• Community Psychiatric Nurse.  Newport Community Health Centre, Sydney.  Priority to clients with severe or chronic psychiatric illness.

1975 – 1977

• Community Psychiatric Nurse, Sydney Crisis Centre (Sydney Community Health Centre).  Priority to seriously mentally disabled and homeless persons residing in the inner city and Kings Cross localities, Sydney, NSW. Also, crisis intervention counselling and stress management teaching (eg, White and Mitchell’s behavioural approach to stress management). Undertook studies through, and gained membership of, Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association.

Late 1975

• Psychiatric Nurse.  The Northside Clinic private inpatient hospital, Greenwich, Sydney.

Early 1975

• Psychiatric Nurse.  Psychiatric inpatient unit, The Billinge Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

1971 – 1974 

• Trainee psychiatric nurse.  Newcastle Psychiatric Centre and twelve months at Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, NSW. 

1968 – 1971   

• Clerk (engineering; accounts; and, salaries sections), Newcastle City Council, NSW/ and University of Newcastle NSW.  
• After running away from home at the age of sixteen, my first paid employment was as a cotton chipper on a farm near Narrabri, in the outback of NSW, Australia. Suffice to say, that it didn’t last all that long.