Natalie Conley

I am a registered nurse and lecturer in mental health and addictions and cultural safety. I have extensive experience in forensic mental health, offender management and intellectual disability nursing. I began teaching both undergraduate and post-graduate nurses in 2008. I moved from Aotearoa, New Zealand to Australia in 2018 and am continuing my career in teaching nursing and research with JCU.

I have just submitted my PhD for examination through the University of Otago. This research explores the nurse perception of working with care recipients subject to compulsory care under the New Zealand Intellectual Disability Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation Act 2003. Offenders with disability in Aotearoa, New Zealand are ‘sentenced’ to compulsory care. Nurses deliver this care in secure hospital environments. This research has significant connotations in relation to the issue of compulsory care, workforce retention, human rights and quality of care that is undermined by the lack of professional training in this field internationally. This research addresses policy and standards of care and that the lack of dedicated training for the care of people with intellectual disability breaches rights under the CRPD articles 25 and 26.

I have recently presented concurrent speaking engagements at the International College of Australian Mental Health Nurses conferences in 2022, 2023 & 2024 and had a poster presentation at the 2025 International Mental Health Conference and am also presenting at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Canberra in November.

I am currently leading a research project exploring attitudes and perceptions of nurses on the frontline working with people who present with self harming behavior. We received a grant for this through the Far North Queensland Hospital foundation and am part of the team exploring the level of mental health well-being and substance use in undergraduate nursing students at three Australian Universities (RMIT, ECU and JCU). This research also aims to identify current levels of support and barriers students experience whilst studying.

I do regular reviews for book chapters and for Ausmed online teaching resources on culturally safe care and intellectual disability nursing. I also peer review articles for the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

I have written a chapter on concept mapping in mental healthcare for Medical-Surgical Nursing. A concept approach published in 2024.  

I regularly complete and present teaching modules for Ausmed on mental health, cultural safety and intellectual disability.