Monday March 6, 2023
Eastern Health is celebrating some of our incredible women during the week of International Women’s Day (8 March).
Clinical Nurse Educator Kirstie Newlin is described by her peers as an excellent senior mental health nurse and leader in inclusivity and diversity.
Although she ‘fell into’ mental health as a profession, Ms Newlin’s drive to see others grow has kept her in the field.
“I really enjoy helping people and I’m drawn to the humanistic side of mental health; speaking to the person to understand their story. It’s not just task orientated, it’s real human to human work,” she said.
“When I started working in a psychiatric hospital, I was scared because I’d only ever seen them in movies. What shocked me was just how alike we all are. We’re all human beings and we have to be non-judgmental and see the person for the person, not just their illness.”
Ms Newlin has played a significant role in organising IDAHOBIT Day and Wear It Purple Day events, ensuring LGBTQIA staff and consumers felt seen and respected, and is striving to continue to do so.
“I want to keep improving the Eastern Health LGBTQIA space and champion diversity to make our organisation more safe and welcoming for all.
“In her newer role as an educator, Ms Newlin hopes to continue uplifting her team by taking a tailored approach to her teaching focusing on the uniqueness of her liaisons.
“It all depends on the individual and whether we work on a peer support basis, guiding them to information or feeding back to them what I’ve seen so far and where areas of improvement might be needed by focussing on their strengths.”
As part of celebrating the incredible women at Eastern Health, the executive leadership team have chosen to recognise six women for their efforts in embodying our values and striving towards our strategic goals.
“I’m just surprised; I don’t really feel as though I’ve done anything other than my job,” Ms Newlin said.