Biography

I am a registered nurse with specialist qualifications in mental health nursing. I completed an Arts Degree with Honours at Latrobe University. After a year and a half of working in youth services, I trained as a general nursing training at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. I soon decided general nursing wasn’t for me and completed my Diploma of Education. About two and a half years later I fell out of love with teaching and started working at Pleasant View Drug and Alcohol Centre as a nurse. I loved it. I soon realised I needed mental health skills to do the job effectively and trained as a mental health (psychiatric) nurse at Royal Park Hospital. I worked in the psychiatric unit at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. At the same time, I commenced a Bachelor of Education at Latrobe. I held a goal that I would teach nursing at university and started to work towards that. I was so fortunate to secure a job at Victoria College (later Deakin University) teaching mental health nursing. It was a brand-new course starting up, and one of the most amazing experiences of my career. I completed my Master of Education and PhD at Latrobe University over the next four and a half years. Unfortunately, a change of policy saw the end of the mental health nursing program. Soon after I moved to the University of Melbourne as the coordinator of the postgraduate mental health nursing program. Along came another fantastic opportunity. Melbourne was the successfully tendered for the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice (now the Centre for Mental Health Nursing), and I had the honour of becoming the inaugural director. Seven years later it was time for a change in both career and lifestyle. I moved to Central Queensland University as Professor of Contemporary Nursing. While in this job I acted as Head of School and Executive Dean of Faculty. I was appointed as the Director of the Institute of Health and Social Science Research, and later as the Inaugural Engaged Research Chair (Mental Health Nursing). After a university restructure and the dissolution of the institute, I accepted the position of Professor of Nursing and Executive Director of Synergy, Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre at the University of Canberra and ACT Health. I held this position until I retired from full time work in June 2018. In my retirement I worked part time for University of Newcastle for four years. Currently I work part time at Southern Cross University. I am a Fellow, Life Member and Board Director of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, and Board Director of the Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia.

Professor of Mental Health, Southern Cross University 01/07/2022 – current

Senior Research Fellow, University College Cork 03/05/2022 – 31/12/2023

Professor of Nursing, University of Newcastle 13/08/2018 – 30/06/2022

Professor of Nursing and Executive Director, Synergy: Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, University of Canberra and ACT Health 10/01/2015 – 30/06/2018

Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Director, Institute for Health and Social Sciences, CQUniversity, 13/02/2007 – 07/01/2015

Associate Professor of Psychiatric Nursing, and Director, Centre for Psychiatric Nursing, University of Melbourne 01/02/1998 – 31/12/2006

Senior Lecturer, Deakin University 01/02/1990 – 28/01/1998

Happell, B. (2025). Sickness in health: Bullying in nursing. Australian College of Nursing. February.

Happell, B. & Roper, C. (2024). Trailblazing: A mental health consumer role in academia – 24 years on. Lived Experience Showcase. University of Sydney. November.

Happell, B. (2023). Mental Health Professionals and Experts by Experience: A vision for the future? University of Malta, L-Imsida, July.

Happell, B. (2023). Mental Health Nursing: ascending the mountain, influencing a vision. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. Western Australian Branch. Perth, May.

Happell, B. (2022). Know when to put up, know when to shut up! My journey as a champion for Experts by Experience in academia. University College Cork, Ireland. September.

Happell, B. (2020).  Lost in Translation? Implementation of a Physical Health Nurse Consultant Role: Equally Well Symposium, Brisbane, February.

Happell, B. (2019). Problem to strategy and back to problem: the implementation of a physical health nurse consultant role.  Equally Well in Victoria, Melbourne, October.

Happell, B. (2019).  Reflections on Mental Health Nursing: Antiquity, challenges and opportunities’.  Victorian Collaborative Mental Health Nursing Conference, Melbourne, August.

Happell, B. & Bocking, J. (2018).  Singing from the same songsheet? Managing differing perspectives in co-produced mental health nursing education.  Irish Institute of Mental Health Nursing, Dublin, May.

Happell, B. (2017). Mental health nursing, social inequities and partnerships with consumers.  International Society of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurses. Baltimore, March.

Happell, B. (2017). Physical health, mental illness, physical activity, a role for nurses? Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, inaugural seminar Physical Health and Mental Health, Oslo, May.

Happell, B. (2017). Deinstitutionalisation and consumer participation. Mental Health Coordinating Council Mental Health Week Symposium, Canberra, October.

Happell, B. (2017). “Researching every day, every way and everyone, yes everyone.” Metro South Health, Addiction and Mental Health Inaugural  Research Symposium, Brisbane, November.

Happell, B. (2017).  Mental Health Nursing and Consumer-Centred Care.  Gold Coast Mental Health Services Annual Symposium, Gold Coast, December.

Happell, B. (2016). Physical health and mental illness: A research agenda. Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Service, ACT Health.  Research Symposium. Canberra, June.

Happell B (2015) ACTively involved, addressing physical health inequities in people with mental illness from a consumer perspective. In CHARM (Canberra Health Annual Research Meeting), Canberra, ACT, August.

Happell, B. (2015). Creating Synergies: wounds, people and where to from here? Paper presented at the Wounds and Well-being combined: continuing the ANZAC spirit. Australian Wound Management Association (ACT) wound conference, Canberra, November.

Happell, B. (2015). Know when to put up, know when to shut up! My journey as a champion for service users in academia. 5th Service Users in Academia Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Happell, B. (2015). Promoting Recovery but knowing our place: mental health nurses as allies. Te Ao Maramatanga College of Mental Health Nurses conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

Happell, B. (2015). Sounds of silence – consumer and carer voices in promoting physical health within mental health care. TheMHS, Canberra, Australia.

Happell, B. (2014). Nurses and Recovery: facilitating the approach or stealing the show? Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Northern New South Wales Branch.  Annual Symposium, Gold Coast.

Happell, B. (2013). Effective and Strategic Mental Health Programs.  Social Determinants of Health Conference. Sydney, December.

Happell, B. (2013).  Promoting the value of clinical experience in mental health settings.  Queensland Health, Mackay, September.

Happell, B. (2013). Women in leadership: remember the fruit but forget the family.  Annual Blue Stocking Lecture, CQUniversity, Rockhampton.

Happell, B. (2012). Mental Health Nursing: acknowledging the problems but celebrating the victories. Horatio: European Festival of Psychiatric Nurses. Stockholm, September. .

Byrne, L. & Happell, B. (2012). Service user led education.  University of Auckland, New Zealand, August.

Happell, B. (2012).  Writing for publication: just do it!  Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Special Interest Group, 10^th Annual Conference, Melbourne, June.

Happell, B. (2012).  Leadership: past, present and future. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, New South Wales Central Coast Conference.  Woy Woy, June.       

Happell, B. (2009).  Minding the future by stirring the pot, managing the politics to promote people and possibilities.  New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses. Wellington, April.

Happell, B. (2009).  The power of passion: promoting the practice of mental health nursing. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Greater Western Sydney Branch.  Parramatta, March.

Happell, B. (2008).  Shaping a vision for mental health nursing: appreciating the science, advancing the art and navigating the politics. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.  34^th International Conference, Melbourne, October.

Happell, B. (2008).  Connecting with our heart: promoting genuine consumer participation in psychiatric nursing research.  Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research.  Oxford, September.

Happell, B. (2007). Making a contribution or bums on seats?  How to select consumers for participation. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Gold Coast Branch.  Robina, May.

Happell, B. (2007).  Polarisation and Political Correctness: Subtle barriers to consumer participation in health care.  University of Alberta, October.

Happell, B. (2005).  Method in the madness: The work of the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice.  The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, June

Happell, B. (2005).  Replacing rhetoric with reality: The role of the consumer in a mental health academic setting.  Capital Health, Edmonton, Canada.

Happell, B. (2003).  The Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice: Integrating research, education and practice. Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses, SA Branch, August.

Happell, B. (2003).  Meeting the Challenge – Research and Education in Psychiatric Nursing.  North Eastern (Hume) – Mental Health Education and Research, Autumn Seminar, May.

Happell, B. (2002). Slave, Master or Maybe a Partner: Exploring relationships between academics and clinicians for mental health nursing.  ANZCMHN, North Queensland Branch, Yeppoon, May.

Happell, B. (2002). Coming of Age: Promoting the skills of mental health nursing. ANZCMHN 28^th Annual Conference, Sydney, October.

Happell, B. (2001).  Inspiring Passion:  Enticing and Enthralling Nursing Students to       Consider a Career in Mental Health Nursing.  Keynote Address.  The University of Auckland.  Auckland, November.

Happell, B. (2000).  For whom the bell tolls: Converging clinical, research and education roles to advance psychiatric nursing practice.  Keynote address  The Victorian Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference  Melbourne: October

AWARDS

The Mental Health Services Exceptional Contribution Award for the contribution to mental health and consumer participation (2019). Awarded in recognition for being “an inspiring and innovative mentor, contributing with excellence to mental health nurse education and consumer participation, research and practice at a national and international level.”

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) Life Member (2019).

Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) Inaugural lifetime Ally Award (2018).

Brenda and Bridget Hamilton talk about the importance of these awards on Crikey Media

Queensland Mental Health Week Mental Health Achievement Award (2013). Organisational award for leading the way in Australia and internationally in relation to consumer involvement in mental health nursing education and research.

Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award, CQUniversity (2012)

Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Supervision, CQUniversity (2012).

PROFESSIONAL ROLES (Selected).

Fellow, and Life Member, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Board Director, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, 2008-2012, 2014-2020, 2023-current

Board Director, Mansfield District Hospital, 2018-2021

Board Director, Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia, 2025-current

Chair, Scientific Committee, European Conference on Mental Health (2016 – current)

Expert panel member, With You Training Project, Legal Aid NSW

Member, Scientific Committee, Service User Academia, 2013-current (Scientific Chair 2013 and 2016)

Associate Chair, NHMRC panel, 2016

Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2004-2014

Consultant, World Health Organization, 2009.

Reviewer for national and international external granting bodies including the Australian Research Council.

Opening address to 10th Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2022.