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Areas of expertise: mental health; forensic mental health; community mental health; suicide prevention
Phone: (03) 5336 5432
Email: Sophie.schapiro@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Ballarat Campus
I have a been working in mental health for almost 30 years and have worked in a variety of settings. I commenced my career working in acute inpatient settings before working in forensic mental health. Whilst at John Oxley Memorial Hospital in Queensland, I completed a major review of suicidal behaviours within the hospital. From here I was involved in the development of a suicide prevention unit at Moreton Correctional Centre. During this time, I completed my Graduate Diploma in Corrections Health and Forensic Nursing. Following this I commenced working in a community mobile intensive treatment program where many of the consumers had a forensic history. I was then involved in setting up a GP shared Care program where we developed strong links between GP's and the local mental health service as well as providing regular education to GP's about mental health.
Whilst working in community mental health, I was the chief researcher of a project looking at clients perspectives of oral atypical medications vs depot typical medications. The findings were presented at the 2002 ANZCMHN conference. I then worked at Forensicare at both Thomas Embling Hospital and the Community Forensic Mental Health Program. I completed my Master of Suicidology and have worked in suicide prevention programs and community mental health programs
I commenced at ACU as a lecturer in nursing in February 2022 and have loved sharing my knowledge and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students.