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Date
31 Jul - 1 Aug 2026
Location
Crowne Plaza Hobart110 Liverpool Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Organised by
RANZCP Section of Youth Mental HealthDelivery
In-personAbout
We eagerly invite you to attend the RANZCP The Section of Youth Mental Health 2026 Conference, to be held in Hobart, Tasmania from 31 July to 1 August 2026.
The conference will run over two days and include engaging sessions across the youth mental health field including recent research, updates and developments with expert panels of clinical expertise and contemporary practice. Tailored to educate and inspire the interest of existing youth mental health psychiatrists, supervisors, and trainees, the program will be centred around the theme ‘Youth Psychiatry: Years in the Making’.
Our speakers will explore the new training program for psychiatrists working in the youth field and will also feature speakers discussing the current state of services available for the youth demographic, clinical focuses, and treatment of co-morbidities.
Join us in beautiful Hobart for two inspiring days, featuring engaging presentations and meaningful discussions. Connect with like-minded practitioners as you explore and advance this vital area of psychiatry together.
Speakers
Professor Jackie Curtis AM
Professor Jackie Curtis AM was appointed inaugural Executive Director of Mindgardens in April 2020. She is a psychiatrist and was previously the Clinical Director of Youth Mental Health at the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Her research and clinical work over several decades has focused on early psychosis and youth mental health, including improving the cardiometabolic health of people living with serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, with the aim of reducing health inequalities and increasing life expectancy.
Jackie developed and implemented the internationally recognised Keeping the Body in Mind program, demonstrating that antipsychotic-induced weight gain can be prevented with lifestyle intervention.
She is a Conjoint Professor in the School of Psychiatry at UNSW Sydney. In 2023, she was the recipient of the prestigious Margaret Tobin Award from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. In 2024, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
Professor Jackie Curtis AM was appointed inaugural Executive Director of Mindgardens in April 2020. She is a psychiatrist and was previously the Clinical Director of Youth Mental Health at the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Her research and clinical work over several decades has focused on early psychosis and youth mental health, including improving the cardiometabolic health of people living with serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, with the aim of reducing health inequalities and increasing life expectancy.
Jackie developed and implemented the internationally recognised Keeping the Body in Mind program, demonstrating that antipsychotic-induced weight gain can be prevented with lifestyle intervention.
She is a Conjoint Professor in the School of Psychiatry at UNSW Sydney. In 2023, she was the recipient of the prestigious Margaret Tobin Award from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. In 2024, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
Professor Ian Hickie
Professor Hickie is a Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director of Health and Policy, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Scientific Advisor for Innowell Pty Ltd. He has led major public health and health services developments in Australia, particularly focusing on early intervention for young people with depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours and complex mood disorders.
He is now focused on the development of real-time personalised and measurement-based care systems for use in partnership with young people and their families. These systems promote early intervention, use of new and emerging technologies and suicide prevention.
Professor Hickie is a Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director of Health and Policy, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Scientific Advisor for Innowell Pty Ltd. He has led major public health and health services developments in Australia, particularly focusing on early intervention for young people with depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours and complex mood disorders.
He is now focused on the development of real-time personalised and measurement-based care systems for use in partnership with young people and their families. These systems promote early intervention, use of new and emerging technologies and suicide prevention.
Associate Professor Elizabeth Scott
Associate Professor Elizabeth Scott is a Principal Research Fellow at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, a Consultant Psychiatrist, and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame.
She specialises in youth mood disorders, youth mental health service development, and the impact of sleep and circadian dysfunction. She is also a member of Medibank’s Medical and Mental Health Reference Groups.
Until January 2021, A/Prof Scott served as the Medical Director of Uspace, an inpatient service for young people with emerging psychiatric disorders at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Associate Professor Elizabeth Scott is a Principal Research Fellow at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, a Consultant Psychiatrist, and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame.
She specialises in youth mood disorders, youth mental health service development, and the impact of sleep and circadian dysfunction. She is also a member of Medibank’s Medical and Mental Health Reference Groups.
Until January 2021, A/Prof Scott served as the Medical Director of Uspace, an inpatient service for young people with emerging psychiatric disorders at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Registration
Early bird pricing closes at 11.59 pm on Friday 15 May 2026.
Conference registration includes:
- Access to all conference sessions on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August
- Refreshments and lunch on all conference days
- Conference name badge and access to the conference app
- One (1) ticket to the welcome reception on Friday 31 July, drinks and canapés will be served
Register below to secure your ticket
| Full registration | Early bird fee (before or on 15 May 2026) | Standard fee (after 15 May 2026) |
| RANZCP Fellow/Affiliate | $730 | $830 |
| Non-RANZCP Fellow- Psychiatrists and other medical practitioners | $785 | $885 |
| RANZCP CPD Participant | $755 | $855 |
RANZCP Trainee/ University student | $500 | $600 |
| Retired Fellow | $500 | $600 |
| Allied health | $500 | $600 |
Conference add-ons | |
Welcome reception - guest ticket | $105 |
Call for abstracts
Abstracts are invited for the Section of Youth Mental Health 2026 Conference.
If you wish to submit an abstract for consideration by the Organising Committee, you must also intend to register for the conference.
Please follow the instructions carefully to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly.
The deadline for abstract submission is Friday 15 May 2026.
Abstract submission key dates
Abstract submissions close: Friday 15 May 2026
Notification to authors: Friday 05 June 2026
Author acceptance due: Friday 19 June 2026
How to submit your abstract
Abstract submission is a two-step process:
Step 1
Download the abstract template [MS Word; 13.8 KB], save it to your desktop and complete it.
Step 2
Create an account via the abstract submission portal and upload your abstract
Please note:
- All abstracts must be prepared according to the guidelines provided. Incomplete or incorrect submissions will be returned to the author and must be re-submitted immediately in the correct format to be considered for inclusion in the program.
- Abstract submission will close at 23:59 AEST on Friday 15 May 2026
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Cancellation Policy
Delegate cancellation - change of mind
All requests for cancellation must be made in writing and sent to events@ranzcp.org. Cancellations received before 30 June 2026 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 events@ranzcp.org.
Delegate cancellation - medical
The health and safety of conference attendees is our highest priority.
If, on medical grounds, you are unable to attend the conference, you must cancel your attendance in writing by email to events@ranzcp.org. A full refund will be provided.
The RANZCP reserves the right to decline your registration at their discretion and if so, a full refund will apply.
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.
Health and Safety
All participants at the conference will be required to comply with the Health and 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 any relevant protocols and requirements will be communicated to delegates who will be bound by these requirements.
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.
