Professorial Lecture by Professor Anthony O'Brien

The university as a site for development of nursing as a critical discipline focussing on research into use of mental health legislation.
About this Event

'Nursing as critical practice: Challenges in transforming mental health legislation' by Professor Anthony O'Brien.

In this inaugural professorial lecture, Professor Anthony O’Brien will draw on 50 years of nursing experience to examine the university’s role as a site for the development of nursing as a critical discipline—one that is central to, and actively engaged in, the critical analysis of contemporary health care.

Focusing on the case of mental health legislation, Professor O’Brien will explore how nursing ethics shapes professional practice, generating insights that challenge institutional power and open up new possibilities for reform. The lecture will highlight the vital role of the university in fostering the thinking, debate, analysis, and advocacy required for meaningful change.

Professor O’Brien will consider the challenges of translating research findings into practice, particularly in the face of enduring institutional power. Drawing on current mental health law reform, he will argue that, despite the introduction of some welcome innovations, in other respects the present moment represents a case of transformation denied.

This 45-minute public lecture will be held at the at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, starting at 5.45pm. Ticket scanning and Opus Bar will be open from 5pm.

Free parking is available on campus via Gate 2B, Knighton Road, Hamilton from 4.30pm.

Please register your attendance by clicking on the 'select tickets' button above and bring your eticket, with you on the evening to be scanned.

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is a Professor at Te Wānanga Waiora / Division of Health at the University of Waikato. He has been a mental health nurse since 1977 and a nursing educator since 1983, teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate progammes. His PhD examined use of mental health legislation.

Professor O’Brien’s research has explored legal and ethical issues in mental health, use of community treatment orders, and use of advance directives and supported decision making.

Anthony was a co-chair of the Ministry of Health’s Expert Group advising on changes to the 1992 mental health legislation.

In 2020 Anthony was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to mental health nursing.