Angela Lane has been a Registered Nurse for more than 20 years and recently pivoted from working in child and youth mental health to support mothers and their newborns.

“I have always had an interest in working with young people and their families,” Angela said.

“Since joining the Mater in Mind team, I have had the opportunity to work with patients in the Mater Mothers’ Hospital and at Mater Hospital Brisbane, where my interest and passion to address the need for maternal and perinatal mental health services has grown.”

Angela said the upcoming opening of Mater’s Catherine’s House – Queensland’s first integrated perinatal mental health service for mothers, babies and families – presented an opportunity for her to make an even greater impact.

“I aspire to become part of the team at Catherine’s House, who will provide in-patient services for mums who really need it, and at time where there is a significant lack of mother and baby mental health beds in Queensland,” she said.

“Not only will it be wonderful for both patients and clinicians to have all the supports in one geographical location at Mater, but I also hope to see Catherine’s House increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues during the postnatal period.”

Reflecting on the meaning of International Nurses Day, Angela said it was a chance “to celebrate the work we do as nurses and the difference that we can make”.

“We get caught up in the day-to-day and rarely take the chance to step back and take a look at what we have achieved,” she said.

“We see people when they are at their most vulnerable and who might feel despondent about their situation, so to feel like we can make a difference to them is very special.”