Director of Nursing for Mental Health Addictions and Intellectual Disability awarded Fellowship
Mel Green, Director of Nursing for Mental Health, Addictions & Intellectual Disability Directorate (MHAID), has been awarded a Te Ao Māramatanga New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Fellowship Award for her services to Te Ao Māramatanga and to mental health nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The College awards the distinction of Fellowship every two years at their biennial conference. Based on nominations, the award goes to only a handful of College members who have made an outstanding contribution and leadership to the profession of mental health nursing in the area of clinical practice, education, research, or professional leadership and contributed to the development and functioning of the College.
Suzette Poole, former President of the College acknowledges that Mel’s values, attitudes, knowledge and skills ‘exemplify Mental Health Nursing Standards of Practice’.
Mel’s achievement is well deserved.
Starting her nursing career in 1997, Mel has been developing her expertise in the MHAID area for over two decades. Recently appointed as the Director of Nursing MHAID, Mel is well known across the Directorate and was previously Nurse Consultant, and before that Charge Nurse Manager, South Community Mental Health Team. Mel has worked tirelessly for the college over many years, being active in both the local branch and the national board.
“It is such an honour and a humbling experience receiving the fellowship award, knowing that somebody took the time and effort to put forward the nomination,” Mel says.
Jane Wilson, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer says that “this fellowship is testament to Mel’s absolute commitment to providing the highest standards of nursing practice and professionalism. Mel is an exemplary role model, and I am delighted that she has been successfully appointed to the permanent position of Director of Nursing MHAID”.
As a leader for the profession of mental health nursing, Mel always seeks to bring out the best in the nurses she provides leadership for and ensures nurses are well supported to do their job.
“MHAID is a great place to work and offers so many opportunities. I have an incredible career that allows me to continuously learn from the best, as well as giving back to the team and support them.”
Mel along with the rest of the MHAID Directorate Leadership team is supporting the implementation of Te Hurihanga - Time for Change, a focused, year-long Te Whatu Ora Southern-led programme to address health, equity, location, social and systemic issues, and put people at the centre of care.
“As Director of Nursing MHAID, I am excited about the progress of Te Hurihanga - Time for Change and the opportunities it’s creating. I am confident it will provide significant improvements in creating a people-focused, equitable, high quality, integrated mental health system with contemporary models of care,” Mel says.