Ms. Sarah McKay
Details
Department: Health and Biomedical Sciences
Campus: Bundoora West Australia
sarah.mckay@rmit.edu.au
ORCID: 0000-0002-9786-9532
LinkedIn
About
Sarah is an accomplished academic and credentialed mental health nurse dedicated to advancing education and care in neurodiversity and mental health. As a lecturer and subject specialist in mental health nursing, she enriches the undergraduate curriculum at RMIT University and manages the postgraduate diploma in mental health nursing. Currently pursuing a PhD, Sarah combines her professional and personal experiences to deepen understanding in adult neurodiversity and mental health nursing.
With over 9 years of clinical experience in public mental health, Sarah remains engaged in clinical practice as a registered nurse (mental health) alongside her academic roles. Her career is marked by advocacy for neurodiverse individuals and gender diversity. She founded an NGO supporting parents of gender-diverse children and actively participates in government meetings to champion inclusivity. These contributions enrich Sarah's teaching and research, providing unique insights that drive her impact in the field.
Degrees
- Masters Level, Nursing
- RMIT University
- Australia
- 2018 – 2019
- Bachelor Degree Level, Nursing
- Australian Catholic University
- Australia
- 2014 – 2017
Teaching interests
My teaching focuses on mental health nursing, human development, and the preparation of nurses to provide safe, compassionate, and person-centred care. I am the Program Manager for the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing, where I provide academic leadership and contribute to curriculum design, program quality, student support, and the development of clinically relevant postgraduate education.
I also teach mental health and human development in the first year of the Bachelor of Nursing. In this role, I support students to build foundational knowledge of human development across the lifespan, mental health and wellbeing, therapeutic communication, and recovery-oriented practice. My teaching approach is inclusive, evidence-informed, and grounded in contemporary clinical practice. I aim to create engaging and supportive learning environments that encourage critical thinking, reflection, professional confidence, and respect for diverse consumer experiences.
Research interests
My research interests centre on adult neurodiversity, mental health nursing, and inclusive mental health care for gender-diverse populations. I am particularly interested in how mental health nurses understand and support adults with ADHD and Autism across acute, community, and other mental health settings.
My research explores neurodiversity-affirming, person-centred and rights-based approaches to care, including nurses’ clinical experiences, knowledge, preparedness, and the organisational barriers and facilitators that influence practice. I am also interested in diagnostic overshadowing, restrictive practices, reasonable adjustments, sensory-responsive care, and the development of education, professional development, and models of care that improve mental health service experiences for neurodivergent adults.
A further area of interest is the intersection between neurodiversity, gender diversity, and mental health, particularly the recognition of less stereotypical presentations, masking, late diagnosis, inequities in access to care, and the need for more responsive and inclusive mental health services. These interests align closely with your doctoral research examining mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for adults with ADHD and autism and the development of practical, neurodiversity-affirming resources and models of care.
