Article obtained from Ballarat Health Services newsletter and republished here with permission. 

Trevor McDonald's career in psychiatry began as a student nurse in W.J. Woods School of Nursing, Aradale Hospital in Ararat in 1979. After graduating in 1983 he continued to work in the hospital and quickly gained an associate nurse unit manager position (or "deputy charge" as it was known in those days). From 1985, Trevor worked at J-Ward in Forensic nursing until it closed in 1991. This is where he developed his strong skills in therapeutic communication and managing challenging behaviours. 

With the mainstream reforms in the early 1990s that resulted in the de-institutionalised of care in Victoria, Trevor was one of the early psychiatric nurses to move to provide mental health treatment in the community. From 1991, Trevor worked in Horsham Community Mental Health Service and covered a large geographical area from Dimboola to the South Australian border. In 1995 Trevor moved back to Ararat where he continued to work as a Senior Mental Health Clinician, predominantly providing services to the Ararat and Stawell area. 

Trevor has provided 41 years of dedicated and professional service to clients and their families. He has been a mentor and teacher to many students and beginning mental health clinicians working in the service. Trevor has held OH&S and HACSU delegate roles and has been a strong advocate for maintaining professional standards and promoting a safe workplace. 

We thank Trevor for his long service with Ballarat Health Service - Mental Health Services and wish him all the best with his plans to travel Australia with his wife Theresa, master gold detecting and to continue to play his bagpipes.