Mental Health Aged
Care Conference 2026
MHAC
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
DAY 1 - Wednesday 28th October, 2026
0900 - 0915
Intro & Setting the Scene
A warm welcome to our 2 days of learning, sharing & discussion ...
Wayne Woff - Senior Consultant, AHCE & Conference Chair
Session 1: 0915 - 1000 (Presentation0915-0945; Q+A 0945-1000)
Mental Health Literacy - empowering everyone
Improving mental health literacy for older adults, their families/carers and all staff strengthens individualised care, informed decision making & collaborative care planning. With this approach, greater choice/independence and better health outcomes can be achieved. Lived experiences, stigma, language, confidence ... So let's talk about where you are at now & the road map forward to excellence.
Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 2: 1000 - 1045 (Presentation 1000-1030; Q+A 1030-1045)
Mental Health - Ageing Well
Logically following on from Session No. 1 on Mental Health Literacy, this presentation will explore a mental health and wellbeing psychoeducational group program which has run in the community and aged care settings over the past few years. Lessons, learnings, challenges, client benefits & applicability to other services will be discussed. An ounce of prevention!
Stephanie Perin, Senior Clinical Psychologist; Healthy Ageing Service (HAS), St Vincent's Aged Mental Health
Grace Billing, Team Leader, Occupational Therapist; Healthy Ageing Service (HAS), St Vincent's Aged Mental Health
1045 - 1115
AM Tea - Trade Display & Networking
Session 3: 1115 - 1200 (Presentation 1115-1145; Q+A 1145-1200)
Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Part 1)
Such a significant topic demands 2 parts - 1 on each day of the conference. Mood & anxiety disorders are common, treatable & yet still under recognised. Let's explore contemporary research & approaches, evidence based practice and clinical governance.
Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 4: 1200 - 1245 (Presentation 1200-1230; Q+A 1230-1245)
Mental Health & Elder Abuse - the twin challenge
How can we as professionals & our services respond to people who are experiencing mental health disorders & elder abuse concurrently. The impact on the individual can be absolutely devastating. Comprehensive systems are required to recognise, respond & support older adults and staff to meet the challenge.
Presenter - to be confirmed
1245 - 1345
Lunch - Trade Display & Networking
Session 4: 1200 - 1245 (Presentation 1200-1230; Q+A 1230-1245)
Session to be confirmed
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Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 6: 1430 - 1515 (Presentation 1430-1500; Q+A 1500-1515)
I Stopped Trying To Sleep ...
... and sleep returned. Striving for good sleep is one of the biggest psychological battles many older Australians face. Most of the clinical support available is symptom led with interventions being started, stopped, reintroduced ... usually with little ongoing benefit. In this session, Samuel shares client success stories who have restored good sleep by desensitising their nervous system, and paradoxically, stopped worrying about sleep itself. He will also share how through his work focusing on anxiety recovery, he discovered that nervous system desensitisation is the missing link to restoring good sleep and show you how to support your clients to achieve the same success.
Samuel Eddy - Founder, Open Change; Educator; Speaker; Executive Coach
1515 - 1545
PM Tea - Trade Display & Networking
Session 7: 1545 - 1630 (Presentation 1545-1615; Q+A 1615-1630)
Session to be confirmed
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Presenter - to be confirmed
0900 - 0915
Intro & Setting the Scene
Whether in a home, community care or residential setting the quality of clinical care provided is a key determinant of an older person's quality of life. And so to Day 2 ...
Wayne Woff - Senior Consultant, AHCE & Conference Chair
Session 8: 0915 - 1000 (Presentation0915-0945; Q+A 0945-1000)
Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Part 2)
This session concludes our 2 part exploration of these significant disorders. Mood & anxiety disorders are common, treatable & yet still under recognised. Let's explore contemporary research & approaches, evidence based practice and clinical governance.
Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 9: 1000 - 1045 (Presentation 1000-1030; Q+A 1030-1045)
Grief & Mental Health
Grief in its many manifestations for older adults may be well resolved or it can become prolonged & complex. In the later case, the risk of psychosocial, mental health or physical issues is highly likely. Knowing this landscape, health professionals & services are well placed to instigate preventative &/or responsive strategies to assist individuals. Let's hear how to best achieve this!
Presenter - to be confirmed
1045 - 1115
AM Tea - Trade Display & Networking
Session 10: 1115 - 1200 (Presentation 1115-1145; Q+A 1145-1200)
Mental Health & Financial Challenges - connections & impacts
The AIHW states (2025): "Financial stress has a profound impact on mental health, while mental health challenges can increase vulnerability to financial stress". This reality emphasises the need to be aware of all aspects of a person's life which can impact on their health & to work collaboratively with other professionals / organisations.
Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 11: 1200 - 1245 (Presentation 1200-1230; Q+A 1230-1245)
Mental Health ‘Matters’
A selection of innovations, ideas & resources
From a selection of speakers
1245 - 1345
Lunch - Trade Display & Networking
Session 12: 1345 - 1415 (Presentation 1345-1415; Q+A 1415-1430)
Session to be confirmed
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Presenter - to be confirmed
Session 13: 1430 - 1515 (Presentation 1430-1500; Q+A 1500-1515)
Session to be confirmed
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Presenter - to be confirmed
1515 - 1530
Conference wrap & close
A final summation of the 2 days of learning, sharing & discussion ...
Wayne Woff - Senior Consultant, AHCE & Conference Chair
DAY 2 - Thursday 19th June, 2025
END OF PROGRAM
CONTACT US
All Enquiries to the AHCE Team - contact@agedandhealthcareeducation.com.au
OR
Wayne Woff Senior Consultant
0422 484 209 | wayne@agedandhealthcareeducation.com.au |
