Scope of Practice
Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are qualified to:
- Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments
- Diagnose mental health conditions
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests
- Prescribe appropriate medications
- Where required, psychiatrist referral is arranged for existing clients to support shared care.
- Provide counselling and psychotherapy
- Develop and oversee integrated treatment plans
- Treatment for addiction can also be provided, with appointments available in person, by phone or via telehealth.
They work collaboratively with GPs, psychiatrists and other health professionals to ensure safe, coordinated, and evidence-based care.
Education and Clinical Pathway
Becoming an Authorised Mental Health Nurse Practitioner requires extensive education and supervised clinical experience, including:
- Accredited Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Health Science
- Supervised graduate clinical practice
- Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health (Graduate Diploma level)
- 5–10 years of clinical mental health experience prior to entering a Nurse Practitioner program
- Completion of 5,000 hours of advanced clinical practice under medical supervision
- Accredited Master’s Degree – Nurse Practitioner (including pharmacology and prescribing)
- Submission of a comprehensive clinical portfolio to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
- Ongoing collaborative arrangements with medical practitioners
- Annual professional development to maintain registration
All Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and must meet strict national standards for practice, safety and continuing education.
Meet Our Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
Coralie Holding
Nurse Practitioner – Mental Health – AOD and Practice Owner
Coralie has over 40 years of experience across senior clinical and managerial roles in both public and private mental health services. She completed an MBA followed by a Master of Nurse Practitioner and founded Clear Thinking Mental Health Group in 2013 to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary mental health treatment and support across all age groups.
Coralie provides both biological treatments and psychological therapies. She is a certified Opiate Replacement Therapy prescriber and a registered NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner.
She has extensive experience managing complex mental health conditions, including psychotic illnesses, and high-prevalence disorders such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, and substance misuse and addiction. Treatment is evidence-based and may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Interpersonal Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Coralie also provides support for acute and persistent mental health conditions and offers secondary consultation to services within the Ballarat region.
Services are available through Medicare, and she is a registered NDIS provider.
New clients are welcome to enquire about joining the waitlist
Jason Hamilton
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
With over 20 years of experience in mental health nursing and endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner since 2013, Jason is a highly experienced and dedicated clinician committed to delivering comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care. He has worked extensively across metropolitan, rural, and regional settings throughout Victoria and New South Wales, supporting individuals with a wide range of complex and acute mental health needs.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Nursing, a Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Mental Health) from Monash University, a Master of Nursing (Mental Health) from Monash University, and a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) from Flinders University. His advanced academic training, combined with decades of clinical experience, enables him to provide thorough mental health assessments, diagnosis, prescribing (where appropriate), individualised treatment planning as well as providing clinical supervision to other mental health practitioners.
Throughout his career, Jason has worked across public and community mental health services, including specialist assessment and crisis response settings. This depth of experience has provided him with a strong foundation in managing complex presentations, risk assessment, with a recovery-oriented focus including support and strategies for individuals experiencing self-harm and suicide related challenges.
Jason has extensive experience supporting individuals experiencing psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, and co-occurring substance use disorders. He provides substance recovery therapy, including opiate replacement therapy, with a focus on harm minimisation, stability, and long-term recovery outcomes.
His approach is client-centred, strengths-focused, and grounded in evidence-based practice. Jason works collaboratively with each person to develop practical therapeutic strategies that enhance resilience, restore functioning, and promote meaningful change. He is known for creating a safe, respectful, and non-judgemental therapeutic environment where clients feel genuinely heard and supported.
Jason works with adults and young adults and provides services funded through NDIS, Medicare, and Victims of Crime (VOC). He is committed to delivering high-quality, accessible mental health care that empowers individuals to achieve sustainable wellbeing and improved quality of life.
New clients are welcome to enquire about joining the waitlist