Please view the preliminary program. As more information around social functions, themes and sessions become available, this page will be updated.

The conference program time zone is GMT+11, Melbourne, Australia.

13 October 2025
Day 0: Pre-conference
14 October 2025
Day 1
15 October 2025
Day 2

	Room 1	Room 2	Room 3	Room 4
0830-1000	Pre-conference workshop 1 Non-traditional evidence based therapeutic approaches with Neurodivergent individuals Kelly Bettridge and Sarah Gurrin	Pre-conference workshop 2 Financial foundations for Psychologists – The Power in Knowing the Fundamentals & Achieving Financial Clarity Speaker: TBC	Pre-conference workshop 3 From Basics to Brilliance: Maximising Heidi’s Potential in Your Psychological Practice Jessica Best and Dr Amanthi Fernando	Pre-conference workshop 4 Fostering safety in body image work: Pragmatic techniques to avoid common pitfalls and support body satisfaction Dr Sarah Egan and Dr Amanda Bolton
0830-1000	View synopsis	Sponsored by Cutcher & Neale View synopsis	Sponsored by Heidi Health View synopsis	View synopsis
1000-1030	Morning tea
1030-1230	Pre-conference workshop 1 continued	Pre-conference workshop 2 continued	Pre-conference workshop 3 continued	Pre-conference workshop 4 continued
1230-1330	Lunch
1330-1500	Pre-conference workshop 5 Demystifying non-traditional relationship structures and sexual practices: Don’t yuk their yum Den Abreu	Pre-conference workshop 6 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC	Pre-conference workshop 7 Rejection Sensitivity: Healing the Hurt, Fostering Safety and Deepening Connections with Compassion and Flexibility Jennifer Kemp	Pre-conference workshop 8 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC
1330-1500	View synopsis	Synopsis coming soon	View synopsis	Synopsis coming soon
1500-1530	Afternoon tea
1530-1700	Pre-conference workshop 5 continued	Pre-conference workshop 6 continued	Pre-conference workshop 7 continued	Pre-conference workshop 8 continued
1730-1830	Welcome reception

	Room 1	Room 2	Room 3	Room 4
0830-1000	Pre-conference workshop 1 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC	Pre-conference workshop 2 Financial foundations for Psychologists – The Power in Knowing the Fundamentals & Achieving Financial Clarity Speaker: TBC Sponsored by Cutcher & Neale	Pre-conference workshop 3 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC Sponsored by Heidi Health	Pre-conference workshop 4 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC
1000-1030	Morning tea
1030-1230	Pre-conference workshop 1 continued	Pre-conference workshop 2 continued	Pre-conference workshop 3 continued	Pre-conference workshop 4 continued
1230-1330	Lunch
1330-1500	Pre-conference workshop 5 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC	Pre-conference workshop 6 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC	Pre-conference workshop 7 Rejection Sensitivity: Healing the Hurt, Fostering Safety and Deepening Connections with Compassion and Flexibility Jennifer Kemp	Pre-conference workshop 8 Title: TBC Speaker: TBC
1500-1530	Afternoon tea
1530-1700	Pre-conference workshop 5 continued	Pre-conference workshop 6 continued	Pre-conference workshop 7 continued	Pre-conference workshop 8 continued
1730-1830	Welcome reception

	Main room
0830-1000	PLENARY SESSION
0830-1000	Opening Ceremony Introduce elder Welcome to Country AAPi president Welcome – Sahra O’Doherty PLENARY 1 Advancing psychological practice Chairperson: Cailin Jordan Navigating Psychedelic Use in Clinical Practice This presentation will address the growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapies and why staying informed about these developments is crucial for future clinical practice. Shai Hipperson Let’s talk about sex: The impact of communication on sexual response, and implications for clinicians Gain key insights to help clinicians understand the role of communication in sexuality, with practical implications for improving client outcomes in therapy. Laura Lee Integrating lived experience of disability with modern psychology practice Explore the social model of disability and learn how to integrate this into client-centred psychological practice. Liel Bridgford Combined Q&A
1000-1030	Morning tea
1030-1200	PLENARY 2 Innovative therapeutic approaches Chairperson: Cailin Jordan Stronger After the Storm: How Meaningful Repair Fuels Relationship Growth Gain practical tools to help couples navigate conflict, rebuild intimacy, and create relationships that don’t just survive challenges but thrive because of them. Elizabeth Neal Emotional signature in clinical practice: Theory, research and application Explore the concept of emotional signature and its clinical application – how to understand and manage defences, when to deal with unfinished emotional trauma, and the therapeutic relationship as viewed through this lens. Dr Michelle Webster Beyond the Script: Rethinking therapy to truly engage men This presentation will explore how small, intentional shifts in therapy delivery can improve male engagement and retention without compromising evidence-based practice. Ernest Materyn Combined Q&A
1200-1330	Lunch
1200-1330	Lunch Symposium Sponsored by Chairperson: TBA Presentation title TBA Speaker TBA Q&A
1330-1500	PLENARY 3 Family and children Chairperson: Sahra O’Doherty Considering Children’s Rights within Psychology Practice: Reflections on compliance and power in the therapy room Examine how a practitioner’s personal experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about children’s rights, along with their professional training, shape power dynamics in the therapy room that must be acknowledged, explored, and at times, challenged. Raelene Dundon The Modern Family: Considerations for supporting diverse family structures in therapy This session will explore key considerations for psychologists working with diverse family structures, highlighting the specific needs of non-normative families, including identity formation, stigma, fertility treatment, legal barriers, and social support. Rachel Samson Working with children and their families in rural and remote areas This presentation explores the unique challenges and rewards of practicing psychology in regional and rural areas, including limited local services, geographic isolation, close-knit community dynamics, and the resilience of farming communities. Daniela McCann Combined Q&A
1500-1520	Afternoon tea
1520-1550	PLENARY 4 Inclusive practice Chairperson: Dr Katrina Norris When Intersectionalities Collide: Understanding the complexities of being NeuroQueer The session will delve into the concept of intersectionality, highlighting how multiple minority identities, such as race, neurodiversity, gender, and sexuality, intersect to shape unique individual experiences. Den Abreu Q&A
1550-1705	PLENARY 5 Health & wellbeing Chairperson: Dr Katrina Norris Leadership in group practice: What an Org Psych has learned about building an Inspiring, Collaborative Culture in clinical practice This presentation will reflect on leadership through three interconnected levels of relating: the self, teams, and the broader business environment, exploring vulnerability, integrity, and curiosity as core to leading with purpose and connection. Dr Rachel Hannam Bosses Behaving Badly – Creating workplace cultures that prioritise compassion, equity, and sustainable success This session will cover the research and specific mechanisms explaining why stressful environments tend to prompt management behaviour that disengages others, presenting actionable strategies to outsmart those effects. Dr Paul Donovan Supporting Staff in a Candidate’s Market – Recruitment, Retention, and Graceful Exits This session will draw on the successful strategies for recruiting and retaining psychologists, provisional psychologists and other mental health professionals in private practice settings. Dr Tess Crawley Combined Q&A
1830-late	Gala Dinner

	Main room
0830-1000	PLENARY 6 Human rights based practice – new competencies for psychologists Chairperson: Sahra O’Doherty Beyond the Boxes: Schema Therapy for Queer, Neurodivergent & Misfit Minds Drawing on historical and contemporary shifts in mental health, this session challenges therapists to integrate lived experience, intersectionality, and structural awareness into their practice – bridging the personal and societal to foster true healing. Dr Xi Liu Decolonising Therapy: Practical skills to navigate a Paradigm shift This presentation explores the need for cultural reflexivity in psychology, highlighting how the profession must confront its colonial roots and shift toward more inclusive practice, research, and education. Dr Averil Cook Learnings from the Desert – Working with Aboriginal Australians in Central Australia This presentation will draw on the voices of clients, clinicians, and communities to share insights, reflections, and practical tips for working in Aboriginal mental health. Dr George Loram Combined Q&A
1000-1030	Morning tea
1030-1200	PLENARY 7 Innovative therapeutic approaches Chairperson: Dr Katrina Norris The Role of the Psychologist at an Olympic Games Explore how psychologists contribute to both performance and mental well-being in demanding, high-pressure environments, with practical insights for psychologists supporting clients in elite sport and other high-stakes settings. Carolyn Anderson High-performance sport coach perspectives about psychological flexibility This presentation will explore how elite sport coaches navigate the psychological demands of high-performance competition, highlighting the relevance of psychological flexibility in these settings. Richard Fryer Functional Neurological Disorder: Treatment Considerations Highlighting the necessity of a collaborative clinical approach, this session explores evidence-based treatment strategies, and will examine the role of psychological input in a holistic approach to the management of FND. Dr Judith Griffiths Combined Q&A
1200-1330	Lunch
1200-1330	Lunch Symposium – Cyber Security Basics for Psychologists: Protecting Your Practice and Patients Sponsored by Harvey Norman Technology for Business In today’s digital landscape, psychologists and health providers are prime targets for cyber attacks, making robust security critical. This 1-hour session explores key cyber security trends and Australian legal and regulatory obligations for psychologists and practice owners. Rutland Smith View synopsis
1330-1500	PLENARY 8 Understanding and treating trauma Chairperson: Cailin Jordan When the System Isn’t Built for Your Brain: A Neurodivergent and Trauma-Informed Lens on Fertility Care This presentation will explore how to recognise and address invisible barriers in fertility care, offering practical strategies for providing inclusive, neuro-affirming psychological support. Elizabeth Bancroft Domestic violence and its impact on the psychological well-being of survivors from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Australia. Examine power imbalance and the impact of family violence on psychological well-being of victim survivors in CALD communities in Australia. Dr Ashima Soni Coercive control and psychology: The work ahead This presentation will equip psychologists to address practical considerations when dealing with people or communities affected by domestic and family violence. Dr Ana Borges Jelinic Differences and similarities in PTSD and moral injury in Police Officers, and how this effects treatment With a focus on PTSD in police officers, this presentation will examine the core features and differences between PTSD and moral injury, and how this effects treatment in this population. Dr Leanne McGregor
1500-1530	Afternoon tea
1530-1700	PLENARY 9 Practitioner wellbeing Chairperson: Sahra O’Doherty Are fast-tracked psychology programs contributing to burnout rates among novice psychologists? This session will include audience participation in this important discussion on burnout among provisional psychologists in fast-tracked 5+1 programs. Dr Tess Crawley The Provisional Journey – how can we improve our support for Provisional Psychologists? This presentation will address the challenges, confusion, and inequities faced by psychology students and provisional psychologists on the path to registration, reflecting on how, as a profession, we can nurture emerging psychologists, with kindness and respect. Lynette Dickinson Co-facilitating peer supervision among provisional psychologists for self-care purposes Discover how peer supervision can serve as a self-care strategy for provisional psychologists, rather than solely a professional development tool. This presentation will the key elements that support resilience and strengthen professional capacity during training. Vincci Lee Understanding, preventing and managing burnout This presentation will go beyond generic approaches to burnout such as mindfulness, relaxation, and positive psychology, instead offering a comprehensive biopsychosocial model of professional burnout. Dr Rachel Hannam Panel discussion

Program is subject to change.