Katherine Fairest

Katherine Fairest is a registered nurse with specialist qualifications in mental health, and has worked as a mental health nurse for over 25 years.

Katherine has worked in a variety of clinical settings over her career and is currently in a dual position within NorthWestern Mental Health, coordinating the graduate and postgraduate mental health nursing programs. Her other role involves providing training and professional development opportunities for mental health clinicians.

Katherine’s key interest areas are suicide prevention, physical health and wellness programs.

She is acutely aware that health professionals are experiencing high rates of burnout, post-traumatic stress, vicarious traumatisation and mental illness related to their work, and Katherine is therefore particularly interested in promoting wellbeing initiatives which support clinicians in their practice.

She believes self-care is integral to being a safe and competent practitioner and she personally tries to practice mindfulness whilst walking, eating and being with friends and family.