For Emily Foley, one of the most rewarding parts of mental health nursing is seeing people reconnect with the community and build meaningful lives beyond hospital care – something that first sparked her interest while studying a Bachelor of Nursing and Psychology.
Now, with more than five years’ experience in mental health nursing, Emily is preparing to lead Sandalwood as Nurse Unit Manager as the Gold Coast Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (SMHRU) prepares to welcome its next consumers from July.
Having worked across a range of secure and rehabilitation-focused mental health settings and completed a Master of Mental Health Nursing, Emily is passionate about creating a supportive and recovery-focused environment at SMHRU.
What led you to this role? What are you most proud of?
I was drawn to the Nurse Unit Manager role because I’m passionate about helping people recognise their strengths and potential, whether that’s staff growing in confidence or people accessing the service and taking positive steps in their recovery.
What I’m most proud of is being able to create an environment where people feel supported to learn, grow and back themselves. Seeing staff develop in their careers and watching people make progress towards their goals is incredibly rewarding.
What excites you most about leading Sandalwood? What’s your vision as the Nurse Unit Manager?
What excites me most is the opportunity to shape a brand-new team and culture from the very beginning. There’s a real mix of experience and perspectives within the Sandalwood team, and I’m looking forward to bringing that together in a positive and collaborative way.
My vision is to create an environment where people feel safe to speak up, support one another and continue learning together, so we can provide the best possible experience for people accessing the service.
What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how do you plan to address them?
Starting with a completely new team always comes with challenges.
For me, it’s about building trust early, creating open communication and making sure people feel respected and supported. Strong team relationships are so important in mental health settings and that foundation helps to create a positive environment for all.
What attracted you to SMHRU?
One of the most rewarding parts of mental health nursing is seeing people rebuild confidence, reconnect with the community and work towards the life they want for themselves.
I was really drawn to SMHRU because of its strong focus on rehabilitation and recovery, and the opportunity to support people during such an important stage of that process.
What do you do to look after your own mental health?
Looking after my own wellbeing is very important, especially in a busy role. I enjoy going for walks, heading to the beach and spending quality time with family and friends.
I also try to prioritise the basics – staying active, eating well and getting enough sleep – although I’ll never say no to the occasional sweet treat.
With Sandalwood set to welcome its first consumers from July, SMHRU continues to grow as an important rehabilitation and recovery-focused mental health service for the Gold Coast community.
