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Date
19 July 2025
9 am-12.00 pm
Organised by
RANZCP and National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability HealthDelivery
OnlineAbout
This interactive Masterclass explores the vital role of psychiatrists in working with people with intellectual disability, highlighting the high prevalence of mental health conditions in this population.
Through expert presentations and a lived experience conversation, participants will gain practical insights into the assessment and management of mental illness and behaviours of concern experienced by people with intellectual disability.
The workshop will emphasise the importance of reasonable adjustments, as well as person-centred and collaborative care.
A final panel discussion will bring together key themes, offering an opportunity for questions and discussion. This session is ideal for psychiatrists seeking to enhance their confidence in this important area of practice.
Learning outcome: To develop knowledge, skills and confidence in working with people with intellectual disability and co-occurring mental illness and/or behaviours of concern.
CPD: This activity provides up to 3 CPD hours.
Registration
Register to join the live event on Saturday 19 July 2025. Registration includes access to the live event and the recording.
Pricing
| Member Type | Price |
| RANZCP Fellow or Affiliate Member | $195 |
| RANZCP Trainee | $160 |
| PIF member | $100 |
| Other medical practitioner | $215 |
| Allied health / non - medical | $160 |
Your registration fee supports new research
Your registration fee will be donated to the RANZCP Foundation – the College charity – to help fund world class research and projects that improve mental health. To find out more about the RANZCP Foundation and its work, please visit the Foundation website.
Program
Why it matters: about the mental health of people with intellectual disability, and the psychiatrist’s role
Scientia Professor Julian Trollor AM
People with intellectual disability represent approximately 2% of the population. People with intellectual disability experience significantly worse health and mental health outcomes than people without intellectual disability.
The risk of psychiatric conditions in this population is related to a range of medical, social and psychological factors. Some genetic causes of intellectual disability also predispose this population. Despite disproportional mental health needs, access to effective mental health treatments and supports remains a problem for this population.
This presentation will review what we know about mental health and wellbeing for this group, and what psychiatrists can do to help improve mental health outcomes.
Participants will be able to understand and apply knowledge related to the health and mental health experiences of people with intellectual disability.
What I Wish You Knew: In Conversation with a Lived Experience Perspective
Tahli Hind
This will be an insight into what a person with lived experience wishes that psychiatrists knew about working with people with intellectual disability. This population often don’t receive mental healthcare that suits their needs.
Some people don’t feel included in their mental health decisions or understand what they need to do to improve their mental health. If we address these issues, we can help to reduce the poor mental health outcomes seen for people with intellectual disability.
In conversation, we will unpack how you can make mental healthcare more accessible through good communication techniques and making reasonable adjustments.
Participants will gain knowledge on how to work with and communicate effectively with people with intellectual disability.
Making sense of mental illness and behaviours of concern: Approach to the assessment
Rebecca Koncz
People with intellectual disability experience high rates of unmet mental health needs, which intersect with the disability and co-occurring physical health conditions. Behaviours of concern - that is, behaviours that pose risks to the individual’s or others’ safety or quality of life - are a common reason for psychiatric presentation.
These behaviours may signal, mask or complicate underlying mental illness or physical health conditions, making assessment challenging. This session provides a structured framework to understand the interplay between behaviour, mental illness, physical health, and disability, and to equip psychiatrists to more effectively assess behaviour change in this population.
Participants will identify the diverse factors that can contribute to behaviour change in individuals with intellectual disability, including mental illness, and develop an effective assessment framework.
Approaches to managing mental illness and behaviours of concern
Cathy Franklin
This Masterclass will provide an overview and approach to the management of mental illness and behaviours of concern in individuals with intellectual disability.
Participants will learn about available evidence-based therapeutic interventions and how to access these. Emphasis is placed on person-centered approaches, collaboration with support teams, and understanding the complex interplay between intellectual disability and mental health.
Participants will gain skills for improving clinical outcomes while reducing challenging behaviors through compassionate, informed care and knowledge of available treatment options.
View the full masterclass program via the button below.
Speakers
Scientia Professor Julian Trollor AM
Scientia Professor Trollor AM is a NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Director of the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2025 for significant service to people with disability, particularly as a clinician and academic.
He previously held UNSW’s inaugural Chair of Intellectual Disability Mental Health (UNSW Sydney) and was head Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN).
Julian and the Centre work to improve health policy, practice and supports for people with an intellectual or developmental disability. They lead educational resource development, health promotion, consultancy, advocacy and contributions to policy and legislation. The team also conducts translational research of benefit to people with disability and the health sector.
Scientia Professor Trollor AM is a NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Director of the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2025 for significant service to people with disability, particularly as a clinician and academic.
He previously held UNSW’s inaugural Chair of Intellectual Disability Mental Health (UNSW Sydney) and was head Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN).
Julian and the Centre work to improve health policy, practice and supports for people with an intellectual or developmental disability. They lead educational resource development, health promotion, consultancy, advocacy and contributions to policy and legislation. The team also conducts translational research of benefit to people with disability and the health sector.
Associate Professor Rebecca Koncz
A/Prof Koncz is the Chair of Intellectual Disability Mental Health, within the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney. She is a neuropsychiatrist who is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
She is a clinical academic with Southeastern Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Service. She has an established track record of conducting high quality, translational research in neuropsychiatric conditions, ageing, and dementia. She also leads the design and delivery of intellectual disability mental health education content for a diverse range of professionals across the health and disability sectors.
Rebeca’s work focuses on driving innovative research and capacity-building initiatives to improve the mental health of people with cognitive disabilities.
A/Prof Koncz is the Chair of Intellectual Disability Mental Health, within the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney. She is a neuropsychiatrist who is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
She is a clinical academic with Southeastern Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Service. She has an established track record of conducting high quality, translational research in neuropsychiatric conditions, ageing, and dementia. She also leads the design and delivery of intellectual disability mental health education content for a diverse range of professionals across the health and disability sectors.
Rebeca’s work focuses on driving innovative research and capacity-building initiatives to improve the mental health of people with cognitive disabilities.
Tahli Hind
Tahli Hind is a Lived Experience project officer who has worked at 3DN, UNSW Sydney and now The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health for 4 years.
Tahli has lived experience of Intellectual Disability and mild Cerebral Palsy. Tahli brings her own lived experience to her work and is involved in many projects. She regularly translates information into accessible formats to enable people with Intellectual Disability to understand health. She also educates health professionals about providing better care through her presentations and advocacy work.
Tahli Hind is a Lived Experience project officer who has worked at 3DN, UNSW Sydney and now The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health for 4 years.
Tahli has lived experience of Intellectual Disability and mild Cerebral Palsy. Tahli brings her own lived experience to her work and is involved in many projects. She regularly translates information into accessible formats to enable people with Intellectual Disability to understand health. She also educates health professionals about providing better care through her presentations and advocacy work.
Dr Catherine Franklin
Dr Franklin is a psychiatrist clinician-researcher who specialises in the psychiatry of intellectual and developmental disability. She leads the newly formed Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health, that focuses on improving the health of people with intellectual or developmental disability through provision of clinical service, research and education.
Dr Franklin serves on the RANZCP Section of Psychiatry of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Committee, the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine, and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group–Australia. She also co-chairs the Mental Health and Regression Workgroup of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group–USA.
Cathy is passionate about building capacity in health services and systems to better support people with intellectual or developmental disability.
Dr Franklin is a psychiatrist clinician-researcher who specialises in the psychiatry of intellectual and developmental disability. She leads the newly formed Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health, that focuses on improving the health of people with intellectual or developmental disability through provision of clinical service, research and education.
Dr Franklin serves on the RANZCP Section of Psychiatry of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Committee, the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine, and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group–Australia. She also co-chairs the Mental Health and Regression Workgroup of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group–USA.
Cathy is passionate about building capacity in health services and systems to better support people with intellectual or developmental disability.
CPD Hours
This Masterclass will give you up to 3.5 CPD hours.
RANZCP Member:
We will upload your registration to MyCPD portal as a draft activity. Instead of receiving a certificate of attendance, you'll need to log in to your MyCPD account to complete a reflection and submit your draft activity. Instructions on completing draft activities.
Others:
If you are not a member of the RANZCP, you may request a certificate of attendance by emailing events@ranzcp.org. Please check with your certifying organisation if you are eligible for CPD points for the masterclass.
Delegate Cancellation
To cancel your registration, please email foundation@ranzcp.org. Refunds are provided in accordance with the RANZCP refund policy.
Disclaimer
This session is a Member benefit of the RANZCP and for educational purposes only.
The information may represent views of the author and not necessarily the views of the College. Information is subject to change and the College does not warrant that the information is current at the time of viewing and accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by you or a patient directly or indirectly as a result of relying on information provided and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement.
By accessing e-learning sessions you also agree to the RANZCP Website Terms of Use Agreement.
Recording
This Masterclass will be recorded, and the on-demand version will be available until 1 July 2026.
