Conference

Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2023 Conference

Register

Date

9 - 11 November 2023

Location

Novotel Melbourne on Collins
270 Collins St
Melbourne Vic 3000

Organised by

Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age

Delivery

In-person

Old age

The RANZCP Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age are pleased to present their 2023 conference which will focus on the theme of "Ageing in the contemporary era".

This year our conference aims to introduce the concept of old age psychiatry to the younger generation by introducing a "speed dating/networking" and panel on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 November. We also have a diverse array of speakers and presentations with an international old age psychiatrist as well as a session for trainees to present their Scholarly Project over 2 days. There will be also be a trainee education morning workshop on Saturday 11 November. This diverse and interactive program will showcase ageing in the contemporary era.

The Organising Committee is currently curating a dynamic program which will be published online later in the year.

Provisional Program

Faculty-of-Psychiatry-in-Old-Age-2024-Conference-provisional-program

PDF (0.7 MB)

Keynote speakers

John O’Brien is Professor of Old Age Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. He is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Emeritus Senior Investigator and a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. He is the NIHR Clinical Research Network National Specialty Lead for Dementia.
His main research interests are improving the diagnosis and management of Lewy body dementia and he was Chief Investigator on the DIAMOND-Lewy study. He has been a member of the National Institute for Health and Social Care Excellence (NICE) and several International Dementia Guideline groups.

Professor John O'Brien

Jane is from the UK and qualified in Medicine from the University of Cambridge, UK. She completed 4 years of medical training in Cambridge, Manchester, London and Leeds and, after passing her professional postgraduate physician exams (MRCP), she undertook 5 years of specialist neurology training in Leeds and York. She completed a 6-month Movement Disorders Fellowship at Monash Medical Centre in 2007 and also took time out of her clinical neurology training to complete a 2-year period of AI-neuroscience research in Parkinson’s at the University of York; she was subsequently conferred a Doctorate of Medicine for her thesis on “Objective evaluation of Parkinson’s disease bradykinesia”. Her research made significant contributions to the commercialization of 3 medical devices (that have since been used in phase 3 clinical trials and also in clinical monitoring) and Jane was appointed as Medical Advisor of the subsequent spin out company, ClearSky Medical Diagnostics.
She was appointed Consultant Neurologist at the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust in 2013 and led specialist clinics in complex Parkinson’s disease, tremor, functional movement disorders and dystonia, including administering botulinum toxin injections and referral for advanced therapies such as deep brain stimulation surgery. She was local PI for several clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. In her clinical roles., Jane won a number of prizes for quality improvement projects, Clinical Excellence Awards, innovation for new devices and also national patient safety awards.
In 2019, Jane was actively recruited to UTAS as an academic neurologist. She is now the Co-Director of the UTAS ISLAND Cognitive Clinic, a one-stop interdisciplinary research cognitive clinic that provides a State-wide diagnostic service for adults with cognitive symptoms in Tasmania. She also runs a specialist Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital. She is a member of the Steering Committee for The ISLAND Project - the largest dementia prevention study in the world with >14,000 participants. In 2020, she was awarded a 5-year NHMRC Idea grant (2021-25) to develop new digital biomarkers of pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease and now leads the TAS Test project, working with an interdisciplinary group of researchers in neuroscience, computer science and psychology. She was also awarded a 3 year Major Project Grant by the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (2022-24) and leads a team of researchers and clinicians to develop a mobile phone TapTalkTest for quick cognitive screening in clinical and research settings

Associate Professor Jane Alty

Invited speakers

Dr Jacqueline Rakov

Felice Jacka OAM is Alfred Deakin Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, and founder and president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. Professor Jacka has been responsible for the development of the highly innovative and impactful field of ‘Nutritional Psychiatry’, establishing diet as a risk factor and treatment target for mental disorders. The results of the studies she has led have been highly influential, being cited in more than 100 policy documents globally (e.g. WHO, UNICEF) and influencing clinical guidelines in psychiatry in Australia and elsewhere. She is widely recognized as international leader in the field of Nutritional Psychiatry research. She is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher (2020-2022 inclusive), putting her in the top 0.1% of publishing scientists worldwide for impact. In 2021 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to Nutritional Psychiatry. She has written two books for commercial publication, including the very popular children’s book “There’s a Zoo in my Poo”.

Prof Felice Jacka OMA

Dr Wijeratne graduated in medicine from UNSW and trained in old age psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London. He is a clinician who divides his time between public and private practice. He is currently Clinical Lead of Old Age Psychiatry at Prince of Wales Hospital and an Adj Assoc Prof at UNDA. He has dabbled in a number of somewhat obscure research areas over the years. After completing a postgraduate research degree in syndromes of chronic fatigue in older people, he researched late onset bipolar disorders. However, he has developed an abiding interest in doctors’ health, publishing papers on intention to retire, successful ageing, prevalence of psychological distress, stigma and barriers to help seeking in doctors. He has also led the development of NSW Health Guidelines on BPSD and written a handbook on dementia for carers and health professionals in Sri Lanka.

Dr Chanaka Wijeratne

A/Prof Sullivan is a forensic and adult psychiatrist with extensive clinical, medicolegal and governance experience. He qualified in medicine through the University of Melbourne. He trained in psychiatry at The Maudsley Hospital, London UK, where he completed Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK). He attained Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2004. His clinical work has been in prisons, the Victorian Problem Behaviour Program, and extended rehabilitation in a secure forensic hospital.
He has completed Master’s degrees in Bioethics (Monash); Health and Medical Law (Melbourne); and Management, completing the International Masters for Health Leadership at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
A/Prof Sullivan was previously Executive Director of Clinical Services at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) from 2016 - 2023 and holds honorary appointments at the University of Melbourne and Swinburne University. He provides expert evidence in all Australian jurisdictions with a focus on criminal, coronial and regulatory matters.

Associate Professor Danny Sullivan

Prof. Dennis Velakoulis

Abstracts

Abstract submissions are now closed for the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2023 conference.

Abstract submission key dates

Abstract submission opens: Thursday 15 June 2023
Abstract submission closes: Thursday 31 August 2023
Notification to authors: Monday 18 September 2023
Author acceptance due: Monday 2 October 2023

Should you have any questions please contact katrina.huntington@ranzcp.org.

Registration

Registration is now open for the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2023 Conference. Early bird pricing ends on Monday 2 October 2023.

Registration category	Early bird	Standard
RANZCP Fellow/Affiliate	$700	$800
Retired RANZCP Fellow	$600	$700
RANZCP Trainee	$425	$525
Non-RANZCP psychiatrist / medical practitioner	$750	$850
University student (medicine, psychology)	$400	$400

Conference add-on registration

Ticket item	Price
Guest Welcome reception ticket	$70
Conference dinner ticket	$100
Workshop	$30

Conference registration includes:

Attendance at the Welcome reception on Thursday 10 November
Access to all conference sessions on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 November
Refreshments and lunch on both conference days
One (1) ticket to the Welcome reception on Thursday, drinks and canapés will be served. Note: Additional guest tickets for the Welcome reception can be purchased as part of the registration process at the cost of $70 pp

Accommodation

Accommodation can be booked directly with Novotel

Support

The Organising Committee is pleased to offer various support packages which will maximise your company's visibility at the 2023 conference. To discuss support opportunities please email katrina.huntington@ranzcp.org.

Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2023 Conference support packages.

The FPOA 2023 Conference is proudly supported by:

Gold Supporter

Business Events Sponsor

Check out these resources to make your stay memorable.

Terms and conditions

Cancellation policy

Delegate cancellation - Change of mind

All requests for cancellation must be made in writing and sent to katrina.huntington@ranzcp.org . Cancellations received before 6 November 2023 will incur a $75.00 administration fee. No refunds will be issued after this date. However, an alternative delegate name may be submitted. All cancellations and substitutions must be made in writing to katrina.huntington@ranzcp.org.

Delegate cancellation - Medical

The health and safety of conference attendees is our highest priority. The RANZCP is mindful of the health risks posed by COVID-19, and the importance of following official medical advice with respect to social distancing, practicing good hygiene and staying at home when unwell. The RANZCP requests that any delegate who is feeling unwell or has cold or flu like symptoms, or who may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, not attend the conference.

If, on medical grounds, you are unable to attend the conference, you must cancel your attendance in writing by email to katrina.huntington@ranzcp.org. A full refund will be provided; however, you may be asked to provide additional details.

Conference cancellation

If we are required to make any changes or cancellations to our conference due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to Acts of God, terrorism, war, strikes or industrial action, fire, explosion, inevitable accident, breakdown of property, changes in law, or pandemics or global health crises, delegates will be notified by email and will be provided a full refund of their registration fee.

COVID 19 compliance

All participants at the conference will be required to comply with the COVID Safety Guidelines and protocols in place with the venue/s and the conference which will be aligned and compliant with all relevant Commonwealth and state government health advice at that time. By registering for this event, the RANZCP reserves the right to provide your contact details to authorities for the purposes of contact tracing and any other relevant government requirements.

Details of the protocols and requirements will be available on the website and all registrants will be bound by these requirements. The RANZCP reserves the right to update the COVID protocols to ensure the health and safety of participants, including but not limited to event entry requirements. Participants may be excluded if they do not comply with the requirements of the COVID Safety Guidelines and protocols.

Insurance

Conference participants are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. The RANZCP and the Conference Organising Committee accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.

Privacy policy

The RANZCP will only collect personal information from individuals when it is reasonably necessary for the activities of the RANZCP, and all such collection will be subject to the RANZCP Privacy Policy and any other notifications.