Safer care is our shared craft.
Our notes from three days at the 50th International Mental Health Nursing Conference in Adelaide, 7–9 October 2026.
What we heard, day by day.
Lisa and William went to as many sessions as they could. These are our notes on the talks we attended — what was presented, and what it could mean on your unit.
Making room for the work
Therapeutic engagement, clinical supervision, First Nations leadership and digital care — and one question running through all of them. What has to happen around frontline staff for good ideas to become everyday care?
- Tracy Beaton: oration
- Vanessa Browne: The future is our people
- Julie Porter: clinical supervision in Tasmania
- Brendon Robinson: reflective practice and Safewards
- and 2 more
Naming the work, then supporting it
From nursing history to capability frameworks, simulation and Safewards Secure — how do we recognise the knowledge in therapeutic nursing, and give nurses the support to use it?
- Dr Kylie Smith: the history of psychiatric nursing (keynote)
- Emeritus Professor Wendy Cross: the mental health nursing capability framework
- Metro South: a nursing clinical practice framework
- Dr Claire Hayes: mental health simulation
- and 4 more
Care where people are
From shearing sheds to a mental health intensive care unit — what needs to change so people can receive care, and nurses can do the work they are trained to do?
- Carol Mudford: Shedway and reaching rural communities (keynote)
- Hannah Fisher and Isabella Primmer: from containment to connection
- Emily Newton, Shaun Robinson and Daniel King: Incident to Insight
- Rural hearing-voices simulation
- and 2 more
These are Xantha's own notes and reflections, not official ACMHN 2026 content. Speakers' findings are summarised in our words; for the detail, go to the presenters and the conference program.
Sound like your unit?
We run actor-led de-escalation training for Australian health services, including Safewards. If something from the conference sounds like your unit, we'd like to hear about it — on a video call, or in person.
Or email info@xantha.com.au.