ACT 2026 Travelling Scholar Dinner

ACT Branch 2026 Travelling Scholar

The ACT Branch welcomes Professor Vanessa Cobham as this years Travelling Scholar.

Professor Cobham will be presenting on: 'Most of our consumers have a complex trauma history…but are we ready to treat PTSD, complex or otherwise? A call to action.'

6:00pm - Pre-dinner drinks and canapes
7:00pm - Dinner and presentation
10:00pm - Event concludes

Registration closes: 7/08/2026

Event information

Bio - Professor Vanessa Cobham

Professor Vanessa Cobham is a Clinical Psychologist holding research and clinical appointments respectively within the School of Psychology, University of Queensland; and within Children's Health Queensland's Child and Youth Mental Health Service. Dr. Cobham is a global leader in child and adolescent mental health (>30 year's experience), with expertise in the fields of: emotional disorders (anxiety and depression), parenting, posttraumatic mental health, community-wide trauma, consumer co-design, and the interface between physical and mental health. She has published and presented her research in these areas widely.

Since 2006, Dr. Cobham has been seconded on several occasions to direct Child and Adolescent mental health responses following different Australian disasters. She has also been involved in providing consultation to government and training to clinicians both nationally and internationally following natural and man-made disasters; and her research has been cited in national and international government policy documents.

Dr. Cobham served on the Expert Advisory Group for the National Children's Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, the National Mental Health Commission's COVID-19 Children's Response, and the Prince's Trust International Roundtable to develop a blueprint for low-intensity intervention for youth exposed to disaster and terror. Major examples of her work include: (1) Leading the development and evaluation of a brief intervention for youth impacted by disaster and terror (SOLAR-Kids/Teens). Delivered by non-health 'coaches', SOLAR is designed for use in remote settings and low- and middle-income countries, where mental health services may not exist, ensuring equitable impact and access. (2) Leading the development, evaluation, and dissemination of a highly impactful approach to the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders - Fear-Less Triple P (online version funded by the Australian Federal governments to be freely available to all parents).

Learning outcomes

• An improved understanding of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and of key terms (such as 'potentially traumatic events');
• An improved understanding of a cognitive-behavioural formulation of PTSD;
• An improved awareness of and confidence in using psychometrically sound and reliable assessment tools;
• An awareness of evidence-based treatment approaches recommended for the treatment of PTSD by international guidelines (as well as an understanding of those approaches that do not have a recognised evidence base); and
• An understanding of key process issues for both clients and clinicians in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of either PTSD or C-PTSD.

Cost

Fellows/Affiliates - $70.50
Registrar/ Trainee/Associates - $45.00
PIF member - $45.00
Non-member - $88.00
Partners and guests - $88.00

Dress

Semi-formal

Cancellation / refunds

Delegate cancellation - change of mind
Change of mind cancellations must be made in writing and sent to ranzcp.nt@ranzcp.org.
Cancellation requests made between 12 May 2026 and 13 August 2026 will receive a full refund minus an administration fee of $75. Any cancellations made after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Delegate cancellation - medical
The health and safety of conference attendees is our highest priority. The RANZCP requests that any delegate who is feeling unwell or has cold or flu like symptoms does not attend the conference. If, on medical grounds, you are unable to attend the conference, you must cancel your attendance in writing by email to ranzcp.nt@ranzcp.org. A full refund will be provided.

Cancellation policy is as per the standard RANZCP Refund Policy.

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