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Conference Program

 

The draft conference program is outlined below - details will be updated as they are confirmed.

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  • A Detailed Program containing details of concurrent session presenters and abstracts will be made available once review process of Call for Abtract is finalised. 

  • A downloadable PDF program will be made available a few days before the Conference.

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Please note all times are AEDT (Sydney time). 

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Day 1 - Tuesday 24 March 2026​

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​Opening Plenary -

9.00am to 10.30am
 

  • Welcome to Country

  • Introductory Remarks

  • Conference Welcome

  • ​Opening Address

 

Theme*: "How do we move preventive mental health and mental health promotion from niche to mainstream?" - An international and Australian perspective to set the scene on the current state of play and what's needed to spark greater action.

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Session Coordinators: Dr. Stephen Carbone, Prof. Rosemary Calder and Ms Suzanne Dick

Keynote Speakers:​​​ 

  • Keynote 1 - To be announced

  • Keynote 2 - To be announced​

Q&A with Keynotes

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10.30am - 11.00am - Morning Tea & Exhibition

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Plenary Session 2 -

11.00am to 12.30pm​

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Theme*: "Social and Emotional Wellbeing and First Nations People" - What does Social and Emotional Wellbeing mean and how can we apply First Nations’ wisdoms to our work in preventive mental health and mental health promotion.  

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Session Coordinators: Ms Kelly Kennington and Ms Rebecca Lee

Keynote Speakers:​​​ 

  • Professor Patricia Dudgeon, Professor, The University Of Western Australia

  • Professor Suzanne (Ethsi) Stewart, Director of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health, and Associate Professor in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Those keynote presentations will be followed by a panel discussion. 

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12.30pm - 1.30pm - Lunch & Exhibition

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Concurrent Session 1 - Abstracts presentations & Workshop

1.30pm to 3.00pm​​

Note that the Call for Abstracts review process results will be announced by end of November 2025.

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3.00pm - 3.30pm - Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

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Plenary Session 3 -

3.30pm to 5.00pm​

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Theme*: "Big ideas for solving big issues" - Responding to the major challenges in preventive mental health and mental health promotion both now and into the future.  

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Session Coordinators: Dr. Jaelea Skehan

Keynote Speakers:​​​ ​

  • Keynote 1 - To be announced

  • Keynote 2 - To be announced​

  • Keynote 3 - To be announced

Q&A with Keynotes

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5.00pm - 6.00pm - Welcome Reception​​​​

A great chance to network, catch-up with friends, make new connections and discuss the day's sessions.

Open to all delegates, registration is required. 

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*Our Conference Advisory Committee is actively working on themes and titles and details will be confirmed later.

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Day 2 - Wednesday 25 March 2026​

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Plenary Session 4 -

9.00am to 10.30am
 

Theme*: “Preventive Mental Health and Mental Health Promotion in action" - A panel discussion on the role of digital approaches to preventive mental health and mental health promotion to consider what’s working, what’s not, and how can we continue to do better.

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Session Coordinators: Mr Tom Mulvaney and Dr. Addie Wootten

Panellists to be announced. 

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10.30am - 11.00am - Morning Tea & Exhibition

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Concurrent Session 2 - Abstracts presentations & Workshop

11.00am to 12.30pm​

Note that the Call for Abstracts review process results will be announced by end of November 2025.

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12.30pm - 1.30pm - Lunch & Exhibition

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Concurrent Session 3 - Abstracts presentations & Workshop

1.30pm to 3.00pm​​

Note that the Call for Abstracts review process results will be announced by end of November 2025.

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3.00pm - 3.30pm - Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

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Closing Plenary -

3.30pm to 5.00pm​

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Theme*: "Working and learning together to promote a shared vision" - Tying in with Plenary 1, this panel discussion will consider how health promotion/preventive health and mental health promotion/preventive mental health actors can work better together and with other sectors, to seize the opportunities and address the challenges discussed during the conference.

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Session Coordinators: Dr. Stephen Carbone, Prof. Rosemary Calder and Ms Suzanne Dick

Panellists:​​​ ​

  • Mr David McGrath, CEO, National Mental Health Commission

  • Dr. Peggy Brown AO, Chair, Mental Health Australia

  • Ms Julia Knapton, Deputy Commissioner System Development Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs, Western Australia Mental Health Commission

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  • Conference Close

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*Our Conference Advisory Committee is actively working on themes and titles and details will be confirmed later.​

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