For Rory Dalton, working as an emergency mental health clinician at Werribee Mercy Hospital means he gets an opportunity to help vulnerable people every day.
Mr Dalton said he became interested in becoming a registered psychiatric nurse as a young person, after seeing some of his friends suffering from mental health issues.
After completing five years at university, including an undergraduate nursing degree, he has now been working in the field for 14 years.
Mr Dalton said his role at Werribee Mercy included carrying out mental health assessments in the emergency department; working as part of the Acute Community Intervention Services (ACIS) team to provide outreach mental health services; manning a mental health triage phone line; and attending call-outs with the Westgate PACER (Police and Clinician Emergency Response) unit during evenings.
“We generally work with people in crisis and to help people get through that – to help them to see that it’s not as doom and gloom as they’re worried about, or help them work through an illness or to see people at their worst, often when they’re feeling suicidal – to be able to see them when they’re no longer having those thoughts, in days or weeks or longer, is great,” Mr Dalton said.
Werribee Mercy Hospital is undertaking a recruitment drive ahead of an $85 million redevelopment due for completion later this year.
The hospital is searching for emergency nurses, mental health nurses and midwives, along with other roles in clinical fields.
Details: www.careers.mercy.com.au
If you are experiencing mental distress contact the Mercy Mental Health Triage line on 1300 657 259.
