Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2027 Conference

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We warmly invite you to Adelaide, South Australia, for the RANZCP Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age 2027 Conference, to be held from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 October 2027.

Set in the heart of Adelaide, a vibrant, welcoming, and culturally rich city, surrounded by rolling hills, expansive parklands, renowned wine regions and picturesque coastlines, the conference offers an ideal setting for learning, connection, and professional exchange. We look forward to bringing together colleagues from across Australia and beyond for an engaging and thought-provoking program that celebrates the diversity of old age psychiatry, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and provides opportunities to share knowledge, explore new perspectives and strengthen professional connections.

The conference will bring together psychiatrists, trainees, clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals, creating a dynamic forum for the exchange of specialist knowledge, clinical experience, and contemporary research. Together, we will explore the diverse, evolving and often complex challenges encountered in the mental health care of older people, while reflecting on the opportunities to advance clinical practice, strengthen collaborative approaches and improve outcomes for the people and communities we serve.

Centred on the theme “The Clinical Mosaic: Piecing Together the Full Picture of Later Life Mental Health”, the conference recognises that mental health in later life is multifaceted, interconnected and rarely understood through a single clinical lens. Older people bring with them a lifetime of experiences, relationships, achievements, challenges, and transitions, all of which contribute to their mental health and wellbeing. Their clinical presentations are often shaped by the complex interplay of physical health, cognitive function, psychological wellbeing, social circumstances, cultural influences, and environmental factors.

From cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric manifestations of neurological and movement disorders to substance use disorders, suicide risk, and the complex ethical, legal, and forensic considerations encountered in clinical practice, each represents an important piece of a much larger clinical picture. Understanding these intersecting dimensions requires curiosity, clinical insight, and a willingness to look beyond conventional diagnostic boundaries. The mosaic metaphor captures the essence of this approach. Each clinical finding, personal experience, relationship, and contextual factor contributes to a more complete understanding of the individual. Just as no single piece can reveal the entirety of a mosaic, no diagnosis alone can fully capture the complexities of an older person's mental health and lived experience. The theme invites us to look beyond symptoms and diagnostic labels, recognising the individuality, resilience, strengths, preferences, and life stories of the people in our care. It also reminds us of the importance of listening to older people, understanding their perspectives, and working alongside families, carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues to develop care that is meaningful, responsive, and respectful.

Through a diverse and stimulating program of clinical presentations, contemporary research, shared experiences, and interdisciplinary perspectives, we aim to explore emerging challenges, revisit established approaches and consider new directions in the practice of old age psychiatry. We hope to inspire thoughtful discussion, encourage the sharing of innovative ideas, and translate collective knowledge into practical insights that can enrich everyday clinical practice. Above all, we aspire to strengthen our shared commitment to delivering care that is comprehensive, compassionate, culturally responsive, and truly person-centred, embracing the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and ethical dimensions of mental health in later life.

We look forward to welcoming you to Adelaide for what promises to be an enriching and memorable conference. Against the beautiful backdrop of South Australia, we hope you will join us for three days of learning, discovery, connection, and collaboration, where diverse perspectives come together, new ideas take shape and shared expertise helps us piece together the full picture of later life mental health.

We look forward to seeing you in Adelaide in October 2027!