Nursing & Midwifery
Prof Louise O'Brien
BA RN PhD
Position Professor in Nursing
Campus Bathurst
Office S14 - 11
Phone 02 6338 4376
Fax 02 6338 4408
EMAIL LOUISE O'BRIEN 
General Introduction
Professor Louise O’Brien began her career as a psychiatric/mental health nurse at Macquarie Hospital, NSW Australia and subsequently undertook general nurse training at Concord Hospital. She has extensive clinical experience in acute inpatient mental health and community mental health. She has held senior clinical and administrative positions in mental health services. Her first academic position was at University of Western Sydney and subsequently she managed to combine her interest in both clinical and academic work in joint appointments at Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor levels.
Louise co-ordinated post-graduate mental health nursing courses at University of Western Sydney and developed a Master of Nursing (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) course in 2000, the first specialist mental health nurse practitioner course in Australia.
Louise developed and directed the Mental Health Nursing Research Unit in Sydney West Area Health Service in her joint appointment position. The clinical/academic nexus of Louise’s joint appointment position allowed her to develop training workshops for clinical staff in management of clients with borderline personality disorder, clinical decision-making, and mentoring. This nexus also provided the opportunity to engage clinical staff in collaborative research projects that addressed salient clinical problems. Louise has a strong interest in research projects that address clinical problems, involve clinical staff and consumers in all phases of the research project, and allow the development of research skills for all members of the project team. Recent collaborative projects include the introduction and implementation of the Tidal Model to an acute adolescent mental health inpatient unit; The Absconding Project that addressed problems of absconding in long term psychiatric rehabilitation settings; Collaboration: What it means to nurses and consumers in mental health services; and Children of Parents with Mental Illness (COPMI) in acute psychiatric units project.
Louise is an experienced supervisor of research higher degrees. She has supervised 10 research higher degree students to successful completion, as well as a number of BHons. students. Student research projects have centred around mental health and mental illness across a range of health care settings, and the organisation of nursing care. Research methodologies include a range of qualitative paradigms and mixed methods. She has twice been awarded the NSW Association for Mental Health “Mental Health Matters Award for Research” (2001; 2006).
Louise commenced her current position as Professor of Nursing in 2009. She will pursue her interests in collaborative research with a particular focus on mental health, and support the development of a research culture within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Qualifications
- 1997 Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology, Sydney, NSW Australia. Thesis Title: The Nature of the Relationship between Community Psychiatric Nurses and Clients with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
- 1991 Bachelor of Arts University of New England, Armidale NSW, 1991
- 1978 General Nursing Certificate
- 1971 Postgraduate Nursing Administration Certificate
- 1970 Psychiatric Nursing Certificate
Teaching Interests
- Mental Health Nursing
- Clinical Decision-making
- Mentorship
- Research Methodology and skills
Research Interests
- Mental Health and Mental Illness
- Impact of Trauma on mental health across the lifespan
- Mental Health Nursing
- Psychotherapeutic aspects of mental health nursing care
- Organisation of Nursing Practice
Memberships
- Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
- Member of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia
Professional Activities
- Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN): NSW Branch Education Officer 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; Scientific Convenor of the NSW Branch Annual Conference 2007, 2008; Scientific Convenor of the 35th International Mental Health Nursing Conference 2009; member of the ACMHN Research Committee 2006, 2007, 2008; Chair of the national Research Committee 2009; invited inaugural member of the ACMHN Network of Mental Health Nurse Researchers
- Editorial Board of International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
- Reviewer for International Journal of Mental Health Nursing; Issues in Mental Health Nursing; Journal of Clinical Nursing; Journal of Advanced Nursing; Contemporary Nurse; and Collegian
- Consultancies to mental health services on service provision, and mental health nursing organisation
- Member (2002-2005) and acting chair (2005-2007) University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee
Career Highlights
- The numerous outcomes from the successful development and direction of the Mental Health Nursing Research Unit: a joint initiative of University of Western Sydney and Sydney West Area Health Service.
Publications
Book Chapters
- Maharaj, R., Andrew, S., O’Brien, L., & Gillies, D. (2009). A mixed methods sequential explanatory study: Police referrals to a psychiatric facility. In S. Andrew & E. J. Halcomb (Eds.). Mixed Methods Research for Nursing and the Health Sciences, (pp. 181-194) Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell.
- East, L., S., Peters, K., O’Brien, L., & Jackson, D. (2007). A Feminist exploration of Women’s experiences of having a sexually transmitted infection. (Abstract) CSIRO Sexual Health Journal Abstracts December 2007 no.63 p309.
- Fanker, S &. O’Brien, L. M. (2008). Depression in E. Chang and A. Johnson (Eds.) Chronic Illness and Disability. Melbourne, Elsevier.
- Jackson, D. E., & O’Brien, L. M. (2004). The effective nurse. In R. Elder, K. Evans, & D. Nizette (Eds.). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, (pp. 2-11). Sydney: Elsevier Mosby.
- Jackson, D. E., & O’Brien, L. M. (2008). The effective nurse. In R. Elder, K. Evans, & D. Nizette (Eds.). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing(2nd ed.), (pp. 2-11). Sydney: Elsevier Mosby.
- O'Brien, L. M. (2003). Phenomenology. In C. Beanland, Z. Schneider, & D. Elliott, (Eds.). Nursing Research methods, Critical Appraisal and Utilisation (2nd ed.). pp. 193-203), Sydney, Harcourt.
- O’Brien, L. M., & Fanker, S. (2005). Mental Health Breakdown. In E. Chang, J. Daly & D. Elliott (Eds.). (Chapter 16, pp 425- 447) Pathophysiology applied to Nursing Practice, Melbourne, Elsevier.
- O’Brien, L. M., & Fanker, S. (2008). Schizophrenia in E. Chang and A. Johnson (Eds.) Chronic Illness and Disability. Melbourne, Elsevier.
Refereed Journal Articles
- East, L Peters, K Jackson, D & O’Brien, L. (2008). The benefits of Computer- Mediated communication in nursing research Contemporary Nurse, 30, (1) 83-88.
- Kilstoff, K., & O’Brien, L. Care of acutely ill older patients in hospital: Clinical Decision-making. Journal of Clinical Nursing. Accepted for Publication August 2009 (JCN 2009-0169.R2).
- McCloughen, A., O’Brien, L., Gillies, D. & Mc Sherry, C. (2008). Nursing Handover within Mental Health Rehabilitation – An exploratory Study of Practice and Perception. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 17, 287-95.
- McCloughen, A., O’Brien, L., & Jackson, D. Esteemed connection: Creating a mentoring relationship for nursing leadership. Nursing Inquiry Accepted January 2009.
- O’Brien, L., Buxton, M. & Gillies, D. (2008) Improving Undergraduate Clinical Placement Experience in Mental Health Nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 29(5), 505-22.
- Sgorbini, M., O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2009). Living with Hepatitis C and treatment: The personal experiences of patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(16), 2282-91.
- Vallido, T., Jackson, D., & O’Brien, L. (2009). Mad, sad and hormonal: The gendered nature of adolescent sleep disturbance. Journal of Child Health Care, 13(1), 7-18.
- Vallido, T., Peters, K., O’Brien, L., & Jackson, D. (2009). Sleep in adolescence: A review of issues for nursing practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(13), 1819-1826
- Atsalos, C. ,O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D.(2007). Against The Odds: Experience Of Nurse Leaders In Clinical Development Units (Nursing) In Australia, Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 58, (6) 576-84.
- Devlin, J. M. & O’Brien, L. M. (1999). Children of parents with mental illness. : An overview from a nursing perspective. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 8, 19-29.
- East, L., Jackson, D. & O'Brien, L. (2007). I don’t want to hate him forever: understanding daughter’s experiences of father absence. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 24 (4) 14-18.
- East, L, Jackson, D & O’Brien, L. (2007). Use of the male condom in heterosexual adolescents and Young people.: literature review) Journal of Advanced Nursing, 59 (2), 103-110.
- East, L., Jackson, D. & O'Brien, L.(2006). Disrupted relationships: adult fathers and father absence. Contemporary Nurse . 23 (2), 252-261.
East, L., Jackson, D. & O'Brien, L. (2005) Father absence and adolescent development: a review of the literature, Journal of Child Health Care. 10 (4), 283-295. - Endrawes, G, O’Brien, L. & Wilkes, L (2007) Egyptian Families caring for a relative with Mental illness: A hermeneutic study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 16 (6) 431-440.
- Endrawes, G. & O’Brien, L. (2007) Mental Illness and Egyptian Families. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 16 (3), 178-187.
- Foster, K., McAllister, M., & O’Brien, L.(2005) Coming to autoethnography – a mental health nurse’s experience. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 4 (4), Article 1
- Foster, K., McAllister, M., & O’Brien, L. M. ( 2006). Extending the boundaries: Autoethnography as an emergent method in mental health nursing research. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 15, (1) 44-53.
- Foster, K., O’Brien, L. M.. & McAllister, M. (2004). Addressing the needs of children of parents with a mental illness: Current approaches. Advances in Contemporary Child and Family Health Care: Building Family Health Capacity: Contemporary Nurse 18(1 -2).
- Gallop, R., & O’Brien, L. M. (2003). Re-establishing Psychodynamic Theory as Foundational Knowledge for Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 24(2), 213-227.
- Gillies D, O'Brien L, Rogers P, Meekings C. Psychological therapies for the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. (Protocol) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD006726. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006726.
- Gillies,D. & O’Brien, L (2006). Interpersonal Violence and Mental Illness: A literature Review. Contemporary Nurse Vol 21 (2) 277-286.
- Lambert, C., Lambert, V., Davidson, P., Anders, R., O’Brien, L., Yunibhand, J., Wong, T., Lee, S., Kim, S., & Kawano, M. (2003). Nurse faculty perceptions regarding psychiatric-mental health nursing behavioral interventions: A cross cultural comparison. Advances in Contemporary Transcultural Nursing: Contemporary Nurse, 15(3). 333-344.
- McCloughen, A., & O’Brien, L . (2006). Interagency Collaborative Research Projects: Illustrating potential problems, and finding solutions in the nursing literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 15, 171-180.
- McCloughen, A., & O’Brien, L. (2005). Development of a mentorship programme for new graduate nurses in mental health: Responding to the issue of recruitment and retention. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 14 (4), 276-284.
- McCloughen, A., O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2006). Positioning Mentorship within Australian Nursing Contexts- A review of the local and international literature. Contemporary Nurse, 23 (1):120-134.
- McDonald, G., Jackson, D. & O'Brien, L. (2007). Guilt and shame: experiences of parents of self harming adolescents, Journal of Child Health Care 11:298-310.
- Meekings, C., & O’Brien, L. M. (2004). Borderline pathology in children and adolescents. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 13, 152-163.
- O’Brien, L. M. & Flote, J. (1997). Providing nursing care for a patient with borderline personality disorder on an acute inpatient unit: A phenomenological study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 6, 137-147.
- O’Brien, L. M. (1998). Inpatient nursing care of patients with borderline personality disorder: a review of the literature. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 7, 172-183.
- O’Brien, L. M. Fitzgerald, M., Barber, H., & Henry, J. (1999). Evaluating the effect of assessment education with community psychiatric nurses using a file audit tool. International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Research. 5(1), 516-525.
- O’Brien, L. M. (2000). Nurse-client relationships: The experience of community psychiatric nurses. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 9, 184 – 194.
- O’Brien. L. M. (2001). Nurse-client relationships: The experience of clients. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 10, 176-186.
- O’Brien, L. M. & Cole, R. (2003). Close-observation area in acute psychiatric units: A literature review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 12(3), 165-176.
- O’Brien, L. M. & Cole, R. (2004). Mental health nursing practice in acute psychiatric close-observation areas. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 13(2), 89-99.
- O’Brien, L., Henderson, C. & Bateman, J. (2007). Finding a place for healing: Women survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their experiences of accessing services. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH) 6, (2). w.auseinet,com/journal/vol6iss2/obrien.pdf
- O’Brien,L., & Jackson, D. (2007). It’s a long way from the office to the creek bed: Remote Area Mental Health Nursing In Australia. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 18 (2) 1-7.
- Usher, K., Jackson, D., & O’Brien, L. (2007). Shattered Dreams: Parental experiences of Adolescent Substance Abuse. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 16 (6) 422-430.
- Usher, K., Jackson, D., & O’Brien, L. (2006). Fractured Families: Parental perspectives of the effects of adolescent drug abuse on family life. Contemporary Nurse. 23 (2) 321-330.
- Usher, K., Jackson, D., & O’Brien, L. (2005). Adolescent Drug Abuse: helping families survive. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 14, (3) 209-214.
Conference presentations
- Benjamin, P., Prasalova, N., de Castella, A., & O’Brien, L. (2009). Many of our patients have been abused and traumatized in the past, but what does that mean for us? Royal College of Nursing 15th International Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research Conference 24-25 September Oxford University, Oxford.
- Clark, G., Ferguson, J., O’Brien, L., Fitzgerald, M., & Vella, N. (2009). Preparing the beach head: An education program in interpersonal skills to prepare for implementation of the Tidal Model in an adolescent mental health unit. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 35th International Conference “Mind to Care”. Sydney, Australia 29 September – 5 October 2009.
- Ferguson, J., O’Brien, L., Vella, N. Clark, G., Gillies, D., & Fitzgerald, M., (2009). Implementing the Tidal Model: Nurses developing a mind to care. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 35th International Conference “Mind to Care”. Sydney, Australia 29 September – 5 October 2009.
- Fitzgerald, M., O’Brien, L., Ferguson, J., Clark, G., & Vella, N. Hannaford, J., & Scotman, G. (2009). With partnership in mind: Bringing the Tidal Model to life in an adolescent acute inpatient setting – The perspective of the young person and the carer. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 35th International Conference “Mind to Care”. Sydney, Australia 29 September – 5 October 2009.
- Foster, K. & O’Brien, L. (2009). EI=qr2? Looking after ourselves: using emotional intelligence in mental health nursing research. 35th International Conference of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Mind to Care Sydney 29 September – 2 October 2009.
- Foster, K., O’Brien, L. & Korhonen, T. (2009). Nurses’ roles in providing early intervention and prevention for COPMI and their families. Inaugural World Children of Parents with Mental Illness Conference “Together: Promoting Child and Family Mental Health Where a Parent Experiences Mental Illness” 26-28 October 2009.
- Vella, N., Fitzgerald, M., O’Brien, L., Ferguson, J., Clark, G., & Gillies, D. (2009). Implementing the Tidal Model: Implications for management and clinical leadership in the delivery of quality care. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 35th International Conference “Mind to Care”. Sydney, Australia 29 September – 5 October 2009.
Invited Presentations (5 years)
- 2009, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service Symposium Psychosocial Interventions: The Argument for Psychodynamic Approaches to Care, 13 August, Education and Conference Centre Macquarie Hospital.
- 2009, Keynote Address: Therapeutic Relationships: Core Business, not an optional extra. Therapeutic Moments, 15th Annual Hunter Mental Health Conference Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Noah’s on the Beach, Newcastle NSW Friday 15 May 2009.
- 2008, Womens Health Nurses Conference Vulnerability and Mental Health Carrington Hotel Katoomba 11 April.
2007, Paediatric Research Seminar – Childrens Hospital Westmead, Sydney, Invited Key note speaker 29th August 2007. - 2007, Adolescent and Young Peoples Forum – University of Western Sydney. Chair 20th July 2007.
- 2007, Macquarie Hospital, Northern Sydney Education Centre, Borderline Personality Disorder : Issues of Care 12th September 2007.
- 2006, Nursing Research Festival, 10th Blacktown – Mt Druitt Health, Sydney West Area Health service 20th September 2006.
- 2005, Academic Mental Health Seminar Series, The University of Sydney, Department of Psychological Medicine.
- 2005, Experiences of Australian Nurse Leaders attempting change. Nurse and Midwives making a difference through research Westmead hospital.3rd November 2005.
- 2005, Understanding Fathers absence: women’s experience’s of growing up in a father absent environment. Massey University, School of Health Sciences Annual research Day (SHARED).
- 2005, Mental Health Nursing: Enhancement and Hope. Keynote address: AGM NSW Branch Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses. Rozelle Hospital Conference Centre. July 2005.
- 2005, Challenging the boundaries in remote area mental health nursing practice: Keynote address: ANZCMHN Western Sydney Sub Branch Conference, Parramatta, 20 May 2005.
- 2005, Nurse Practitioners in Mental Health. Academic Seminar Series Nepean Hospital Sydney West Area Health Service. 10th May 2005
- 2004, Exploring alternative models of care: Stories from remote area mental health nurses. Keynote Address: The 6th Annual Tropical Symposium ANZCMHN, Cairns, 4-6 June 2004.
- 2003, Nurse Practitioners in Mental Health. Winter Symposium: Priorities In Health Care: Shaping Modern Practice, Rozelle Hospital, Sydney. 25 July 2003.
- 2003, The Link Between Sexual Abuse and Mental Ill-Health, Sexual Health is Coming to You: Sexual Health Concerns for Mental Health Professionals, South Eastern Sydney Area Health Services and Central Sydney Area Health Service, June 20, The Conference Centre Rozelle Hospital, Rozelle, NSW Australia.
Conference Papers (5 years)
- Atsalos, C., & O’Brien, L. (2007). Redefining the Challenges of Therapeutic Patient Education The Westmead Association Hospital Week Nursing and Midwifery Symposium, Westmead Hospital 17th August 2007.
- Atsalos, C., & O’Brien, L. (2007). Rediscovering Self : Redefining the challenges of therapeutic diabetes education. RCNA Annual Conference, Sydney NSW, 11-14 July 2007.
- Atsalos, C., & O’Brien, L.. (2006). Poster Presentation. Women Self and Diabetes: Sustaining Healthy Lifestyle change. ICOWHI Congress Sofitel Wentworth Sydney.15-18 November 2006.
- Barkaway, P., & O’Brien, L. (2007). Comprehensive, Postgraduate or Direct entry? Beyond the contentious debate regarding mental health education. ACMHN 33rd International Conference 8th 12th October 2007.
- Foster, J., & O’Brien, L. (2006). Development of the Nurse Practitioner Role in North America, Canada, Unites Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand: An historical overview.. RCNA Annual Conference Cairns QLD 12th -14th July 2006.
Foster, K., McAllister, M. & O’Brien, L., (2005) Making the Personal , Political – Using Auto ethnography as a Method in Mental Health Nursing Research. IIQM 7th International Interdisciplinary Conference – Looking to the future: Opportunities and Challenges for Qualitative Research. 2006. - Johnson, A., Chang, E., O’Brien, L. (2004). The nurse’s experience of caring for the person dying and their family: Issues and policy for nursing education. International Palliative Care Conference, Italy, June 2004.
- Johnson, A., Chang, E., O’Brien, L. (2004). Facing the challenge in undergraduate `family. 2nd National Palliative Care Education Conference, Adelaide, May 2004.
- McCloughen, A.J., & O’Brien, L. (2003). Mentorship Programme for New Graduate Mental Health Nurses: Overview of a collaborative research initiative. 7th Research Festival. Blacktown/Mt Druitt Health. NSW.
- McCloughen, A., O’Brien, L. M., (2003). Mentorship: Leading new graduate nurses towards a future of professional growth: Overcoming the ‘sink or swim’ phenomenon. Present Trends and Future Realities, Royal College of Nursing Australia Conference, Brisbane July 2003.
- McCloughen, A.J.,O’Brien, L., Gillies, D., McSherry, C. & Taig, N. (2005). Nursing Verbal Clinical Handover Research Study. 9th Research Festival.lacktown/Mt Druitt Health, NSW.
- McCloughen, A.J.,O’Brien, L., Gillies, D., McSherry, C. & Taig, N (2006) Researching Nursing Handover: an exploratory study of the inpatient rehabilitation services. 32ND International Conference Alice Springs.,2nd – 6th October.
- McCloughen, A.J.,O’Brien, L., Gillies, D., McSherry, C. & Taig, N (2006) Researching Nursing Handover: an exploratory study of the inpatient rehabilitation services at Cumberland Hospital. ANZCMHN Greater Western SydneySub Branch, Evidence Based Practice in Mental Health. 19th May 2006.
- McCloughen, A.J.,O’Brien, L., Gillies, D., Mc Sherry, C. (2007)Nursing Clinical Handover: Results and outcomes of an exploratory study of a NSW inpatient mental health rehabilitation service. Improving the Clinical Handover: Sharing the lessons learnt. Pyrmont. NSW 25-26 October 2007.
- McCloughen, A.J.,O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2005). Mentorship in Nursing – Australian Women Nurse Leaders Share Their Experiences. Royal College of Nursing Australia and Australian Mentor Centre National Mentoring in Healthcare Conference: Sharing the Wisdom. September, Canberra, ACT.
- McCloughen, A.,O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2005). Mentoring in Nursing – a qualitative study of Australian women nurse leaders. Clinical Nurse Specialist Research Forum – Showcasing Nursing Research. November, Auburn Hospital, NSW.
McCloughen, A.,O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2005). Mentoring in Nursing – a qualitative study of Australian women nurse leaders. The International Congress on Innovations in Nursing Conference - Innovation and leadership in clinical practice, research and education. Fremantle, WA. [Abstract accepted – declined offer to present]. - McCloughen, A., O’Brien, L.M. & Jackson, D. (2005). Perspectives on mentorship – a qualitative study of Australian women mental health nursing leaders. ANZCMHN International 31st Conference,Setting Sail for new horizons from the past to the future, Fremantle , Western Australia, 24-28 October 2005.
- McCloughen, A., & O’Brien, L. (2006). Researching Nursing Handover an exploratory study of the inpatients rehabilitation services at Cumberland Hospital SWAHS. ANZCMHN Greater Western Sydney Sub Branch ,Evidence Based Practice in Mental Health. 19th May 2006.
- McDonald, G., Jackson, D., & O’Brien L. (2007). Mothering Self Harming Adolescents: guilt shame and fear. ACMHN 33rd International Conference Cairns QLD 8th 12th October 2007.
- McDonald, G. Jackson, D & O’Brien L. (2006). Mothering Self Harming Adolescents: guilt shame and fear. ANZCMHN Greater Western SydneySub Branch ,Evidence Based Practice in Mental Health. 19th May 2006.
- O’Brien, L. (2005). Mental Health Nursing in Remote aboriginal communities: understanding the experience through stories. ANZCMHN International 31st Conference, Sail for new horizons from the past to the future, Fremantle WA October 2005.
- O’Brien, L. (2007). Reframing Responses: Services For Women Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse. ACMHN GWS Conference, Future Directions in Mental Health,Courtyard Marriott Hotel Parramatta 23rd March 2007.
- O’Brien, L. (2007) Reframing Responses: Services For Women Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse. ACMHN 33rd Intl Conference, Mental Health Nursing Making Waves , Cairns, QLD 8-12th October 2007.
- O’Brien, L. M., Barber, H.,Clinical Facilitation Program, The future of Mental Health Nursing. ANZCMHN International 31st Conference, Sail for new horizons from the past to the future, Fremantle WA October 2005.
- O’Brien, L. & Buxton, M. (2005). Mental Health Clinical facilitation Program, Mental Health Nursing Enhancement Project. ANZCMHN Greater Western Sydney Sub Branch, The Real World of Mental Health Practice: Challenging Boundaries and Traditions. May 2005.
- O’Brien, L. & Jackson, D. (2005). Remote Area Mental Health Nursing: Model of Care that Challenges Boundaries. ANZCMHN Greater Western SydneySub Branch, The Real World of Mental Health Practice: Challenging Boundaries and Traditions. May 2005.
- O’Brien, L. M., & Stanbrook, T. (2003). The link between childhood sexual assault and mental illness. Sexual Health and Mental Illness. Central Sydney Area Health Service and South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service. Rozelle Hospital NSW Australia, June 2003.
- O’Brien, L. M., & Stanbrook, T. (2003). Personality Disorders and Child Abuse: Implications for health services. Women and Mental Health Conference, Sydney, 2004.
- Usher, K. Jackson, D. & O’Brien, L. ( 2006) Lived Experiences of Parents of Drug Abusing Adolescents. The Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses 32nd International Conference, Alice Springs, Australia 2-6 October.
University Committees
- 2009, Member Bachelor of Nursing Review Committee University of Newcastle
Professional Activities
- 2009, Member NSW Nurses and Midwives Board Nurse Practice Committee