Professor Brenda HappellCentral Queensland University's Professor of Contemporary Nursing Brenda Happell will be the keynote speaker at a mental health symposium at the Gold Coast next month.

Professor Happell will speak on "the importance and politics of consumer participation" at the Inaugural Autumn Symposium on May 11 coordinated by the Gold Coast Sub Branch of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses in celebration of International Nurses Day and the work of Gold Coast mental health nurses.

Professor Happell has recently joined CQU's School of Nursing and health Studies, bringing with her a wealth of research experience in the areas of mental health nursing, nursing education and the nursing workforce.

Her current and recent research topics include mental health nursing practice, measures to reduce the use of seclusion, and the coexistence of mental illness and substance abuse.

Professor Happell's clinical interests also extend to mental health issues within the broader health care system and she has been actively involved in evaluations of psychiatric consultation liaison nursing roles.

Professor Happell has a special interest in the expanded practice and nurse practitioner roles.  She has completed a number of studies regarding undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards various nursing specialties. Her interest in education also includes supportive roles such as preceptorship and clinical teaching.

She is the chief investigator on an Australian Research Council Linkage Scholarship in 2007 for Assessing Risk in Aged Mental Health Care. This doctoral scholarship has also been financially supported by CQU and its industry partner North Western Mental Health.

Previously Professor Happell was the inaugural director of the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Melbourne.