WA's One Day Branch Conference & Social Sundowner
The conference theme this year "Mental Health in Focus: Care, Community, Leadership, Research" is intentionally positioned as more than a traditional program. It brings together clinical expertise, system leadership, research and lived experience into a single, practice-oriented conversation.
Event information
Join us on Saturday 29 August 2026 at The University Club, UWA, for the RANZCP WA Branch Conference 2026 — a one-day, high-impact event bringing together the clinicians, leaders and voices shaping mental health care in Western Australia.
This year’s program reflects where practice, policy and lived experience come together. From Aboriginal mental health and lived experience perspectives, to emerging research, complex neurodevelopmental care, and advances in mood disorder treatment — the day delivers practical insight, clinical relevance and depth.
Importantly, this conference builds on the momentum of the recent WA Branch Social Sundowner, which demonstrated a clear shift in how members want to engage — informally, collegially, and with genuine openness to connection. We are intentionally carrying that forward, with space for meaningful interaction alongside a high-calibre program, culminating in a relaxed sundowner.
Why attend?
- Stay current with high-impact clinical and system updates
- Engage with leaders influencing mental health in WA
- Connect with peers in a collegial environment
Ticket prices (GST inclusive)
In-person event only (no online attendance or recordings)
Early bird rate (until 15 May)
RANZCP Fellow / Affiliate — $215
Trainee — $110
Non-member — $248
Regular rate
RANZCP Fellow / Affiliate — $242
Trainee — $138
Non-member — $275
Early bird closes 15 May — secure your place now.
Registrations close Friday 14 August
Conference Program
8:30 - 9:00am Dr Dharma Sathiaseelan - Wungen Kartup: An Indigenous-specific mental health service model to improve social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
9:00 - 9:30am Ms Jess Brentnall & Dr Kalliste Black - A conversation with a carer: lived experiences of navigating CAMHS, neurodivergence and mental health in regional Western Australia
9:30 - 10:00am Professor Osvaldo Almeida - Research in Psychiatry: interface of GLP-1 receptor agonists with mental health
10:00 - 10:30am Morning tea
10:30 - 11:00am Dr Leighton Chadwick - Assessment, medication use and general management in intellectual developmental disability and autism
11:00 - 12:00pm Professor Marie Bismark (Travelling Scholar) - The paradoxes of doctors' health
12:00 - 12:30pm Dr Nathan Gibson - WA Chief Psychiatrist's update
12:30 - 1:30pm Lunch
1:30 - 2:00pm Dr Ken Orr - Mood disorders: pharmacology updates and emerging treatments across sectors
2:00 - 2:30pm The John Penman Lecture - Dr Giulia Pace - The unique complexities of adolescent suicidality
2:30 - 3:00pm RACGP - Dr Tim Leahy & Dr Ramya Raman - ADHD: updates from the Specialist GP Training Program in WA
3:00 - 3:30pm Afternoon tea
3:30 - 3:50pm Dr Felice Watt - Women's mental health: an update
3:50 - 5:00pm Abstract presentations (5 × 15 minutes)
5:00 - 6:30pm Sundowner
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received before 31 July may incur a $50 administrative fee.
No refunds will be issued from Friday 31 July.
Registrations are transferable to another attendee. Please arrange payment directly with the transferee and notify the Branch Coordinator of their name and contact details.
Please note: special dietary requirements for transferred registrations cannot be guaranteed after 31 July.
If you are unwell or experiencing symptoms, please do not attend. We encourage you to arrange a transfer of your registration where possible to support the wellbeing of all delegates.
Directions
Parking is free on a Saturday at The UWA Club.
Contact
For more information please contact the RANZCP WA Branch Coordinator on angie.padoan@ranzcp.org.