Who we are
Matthew James is a Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of experience working in the mental health field. He has completed several postgraduate degrees including Master of Nursing (mental health), Master of Mental Health (Nurse Practitioner) and graduate studies in emergency nursing and health service management. He has been inducted as a Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and was awarded National Mental Health Nurse of the Year in 2018.
When not in private practice Matthew is employed as a Nurse Practitioner in the emergency department/triage and assessment centre within a tertiary hospital.
Matthew has previously worked as a Nurse Practitioner within several acute mental health inpatient units (adult and adolescent), emergency departments, community health, primary care, Aboriginal medical service, Forensics (maximum security remand correctional centre) and private practice settings. He previously co-established Australia’s first independent nurse practitioner-led mental health recovery centre (ROAM Communities. 2012 - 2015) in Camden NSW.
Before specialising in mental health, Matthew worked as a registered nurse in paediatric, medical, surgical, orthopaedic, intensive care and emergency departments.
Since 2016 Matthew has provided expert (mental health nursing) witness services in several litigation cases across the legal system.
Matthew has a special interest in and has completed further training in supporting people living with intellectual disability and comorbid mental illness.
Matthew James
Nurse Practitioner
RN, NP, Mental Health Nurse
Bachelor's in Nursing
Master of Nursing (Mental Health)
Master of Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health) Graduate Certificate Emergency Nursing
Graduate Certificate Health Sciences
What is a Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse with the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with various acute or chronic health conditions. NPs have completed additional university study at the Master’s degree level and are the most senior and independent clinical nurses in our health care system.
The title "Nurse Practitioner" can only be used by a person endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
National standards for practice ensure that Nurse Practitioners are capable of providing high-quality, patient-centred care. They are also capable of clinical research, education and leadership as applied to clinical care and health service development.
Nurse Practitioners work as key members of the healthcare team and collaborate with other nurses and healthcare professionals including GPs, medical and surgical specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers, and many others. They work in a variety of locations, both in hospital and community settings.
(https://www.acnp.org.au/aboutnursepractitioners)
Experienced registered nurses who have become experts in their field of practice and wish to become an NP need to meet the endorsement requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). These requirements include a relevant Master’s degree and at least 3 years of full-time advanced practice experience which demonstrates that they meet the Nurses & Midwifery Board Australia National Practice Standards for the NP.
(https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/careers/Pages/nurse-practitioner.aspx)
Nurse practitioners -
· Have practised in Australia for 21+ years
· Provide health care in all states and territories in Australia
· Can provide patient rebates through Medicare
· Provide prescriptions and access to PBS medicines
· Can refer patients to hospitals and specialists
· Can order x-rays and diagnostic tests
· Are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
· Do not require a referral from your doctor to initiate service (Although highly recommended to promote communication and holistic care)
· There is no specific session limit for a Nurse Practitioner under Medicare: the number of sessions a patient can receive depends on their clinical need