Del is an RN with additional qualifications in mental health nursing. She started in mental health in 1989 and hasn’t found a way to extricate herself yet as it appears to her there are still things that need doing. Her clinical experience includes acute, older and rehabilitation inpatient services and community mental health services with a focus, since doing the study tour for the Beacon Project in 2007 on minimising restrictive practice and trauma informed care. She has published, presented and educated on these topics and has attended all but one of the 12 Restrictive Practices Forums; she was swimming with dolphins instead.

In her current role with the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist in SA she has the privilege of commenting on care provision and setting standards of care for mental health services in SA. That included participating in the review of Oakden Services in 2017.