Once Irini Kailea discovered mental health nursing, she never looked back.
“When I was a student nurse, I was unsure about what I wanted to do,” said Irini.
“But I did a rotation in mental health, and that’s where I found I really enjoyed talking to people and getting to know their story.”
Now, Irini works as an Associate Nurse Manager in Stepping Stones, an adolescent mental health unit at Monash Children’s Hospital, the largest unit of its kind in Victoria, Australia.
“In my role, I manage the floor, work with our team, support our clients and help with the day-to-day operations of the unit,” she said.
“I love working with the adolescent age group – I think it’s rewarding. Many of our clients have different challenges, and it’s good to work in a team to help those that need it most.”
The Stepping Stones unit, part of Monash Health’s Early in Life Mental Health Service, is currently hiring mental health nurses, with a wide range of opportunities available.
“We cater for a large catchment area, and there are different opportunities in the mental health program, like working in community settings or inpatient wards, which means there are lots of opportunities for growth,” Irini said.
“Our team is very recovery orientated, and we use various therapeutic strategies to help our clients.”
Five years after first joining Monash Health, Irini says the time has gone very quickly, and she encourages people to consider a career in mental health.
“It’s a very rewarding career – you get to learn a lot about people,” she said.
“We work together as one team, and everyone’s very supportive. We all strongly advocate for our clients because we want the best care for them. We want the best outcome for everyone.
“Together, we approach our care with an open mind – everyone wants to help.”
If you’re interested in joining the Stepping Stones Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit at Monash Children’s Hospital, take a look at the Registered Psychiatric Nurse and Nurse Manager position descriptions and apply today.
