Celebrating Early-Career Mental Health Nurses
20 Feb 2026
Two nurses, Ashish and Jo, have just completed their Transition to Practice program and are discovering how meaningful a career in mental health can be.
Although they work in different settings, both say mental health nursing is about being present, listening carefully, and supporting people through tough moments.
Ashish, who works in older persons mental health at the Roy Fagan Centre, said:
“I realised how much small things, like how we speak and listen, can make a huge difference.”
For Jo, his interest began during a placement on the Acute Care Team.
“Being with someone in their most vulnerable moments makes this work feel so meaningful.”
The Transition to Practice program helps new nurses build confidence and develop essential skills like assessment, communication, medication knowledge, de-escalation, and reflective practice.
Both Ashish and Jo highlight the support they’ve received from educators, teams, managers, and peers. Ashish said knowing help is always available “has made the transition so much smoother,” while Jo described his team as “patient, supportive, and generous with opportunities to learn.”
Even early in their careers, they talk passionately about what they enjoy most. Ashish values building therapeutic relationships and being part of a consumer’s recovery journey. Jo loves seeing how trust allows conversations to become more relaxed and supportive.
When asked what they would say to students thinking about mental health nursing, both offered the same advice: give it a go. Many don’t realise how rewarding it can be until they experience it.
They summed up what mental health nursing means to them:
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Ashish: “Being present, compassionate, and supportive.”
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Jo: “Looking after oneself to be able to help others.”
Today, we celebrate Ashish, Jo, and every mental health nurse across Tasmania for their empathy, resilience, and commitment to helping others.
https://www.health.tas.gov.au/
Source: Tasmanian Health Service
