Conference Program

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The AAPi Conference 2026 brings together leading psychologists, researchers, and practitioners from across the country for an inspiring and enriching three-day experience.

Designed to spark new ideas and elevate your practice, the program features a dynamic mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and practical, skills-based workshops - delivering real-world insights you can apply immediately.

Set in a stunning location, the conference experience goes beyond the program itself. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to balance high-quality learning with opportunities to connect, recharge, and enjoy time with peers in a relaxing, restorative environment.

**Up to 22 CPD hours available**

Registrants for the two main conference days will receive full access to the conference recordings (pre-conference workshops will not be recorded). With so many outstanding sessions and multiple concurrent streams, you can choose the sessions you most want to experience live, then enjoy complimentary access to the recordings afterwards to revisit favourite presentations, or catch up on sessions you were unable to attend during the conference.

19 October 2026
Day 0

20 October 2026
Day 1

21 October 2026
Day 2

Pre-Conference Workshop Day

Kick off the conference with our dedicated Pre-Conference Workshop Day, offering six interactive half-day workshops designed for hands-on, in-depth learning.

These sessions are an optional add-on to your conference experience – delegates may choose to register for one morning session, one afternoon session, or both.

These optional sessions give you the chance to dive deeper into key topics, sharpen your skills, and connect with fellow delegates before the full conference program kicks off on Day 1 - 20 October 2026.

Details

Workshops are $199 for members, $299 for non-members.
Morning workshops include morning tea, lunch, barista coffee.
Afternoon workshops include lunch, afternoon tea, barista coffee.

	Room 1	Room 2	Room 3
08:30 - 12:30 (including 30 minute morning tea break)	Workshop 1 The Business of Psychology (What They Didn’t Teach Us at Uni) In this workshop, Tess will teach you what she wishes she’d known when she began her private practice over 20 years ago. Six core pillars of business form the workshop’s foundation: Operations, Finances, Products/Services, Sales, Marketing, Staffing/Outsourcing. Presented by: Dr Tess Crawley	Workshop 2 Subtleties, Systems and Expanded States – How Somatic Psychotherapy Protects Psychologists and Rebuilds Bridges This experiential workshop explores how somatic (body-informed) and relational approaches can protect and empower therapeutic work before, within and after expanded states of consciousness. Presented by: Dr Emily Tunks	Workshop 3 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention with Children and Adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Children and Adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Presented by: Dr Tamar Black
12:30 - 1:30	Lunch
1:30 - 5:30 (including 30 minute afternoon tea break)	Workshop 4 Uses of AI for psychologists beyond the scribes There is a growing fascination around the uses of AI in psychology and this session will show you why. Whether you are new to the space or already using a scribe, this half-day workshop will be eye-opening. Presented by: David Lopis	Workshop 5 Working With Pain in Practice: Tools for Psychologists Chronic pain arising from illness and injury is a complex presentation frequently encountered across psychological practice. This practical, skills focused workshop supports psychologists to work confidently and compassionately with pain using an evidence informed, biopsychosocial, and trauma informed framework. Presented by: Danielle Mahoney	Workshop 6 Navigating the Minefields of Separated Family Work with Flexibility and Compassion Exploring and resolving some of the dilemmas arising when providing therapy to parents or children from separated families with through an applied functional-contextual framework. Presented by: Tiffany Rochester

Room 1

Room 2

Room 3

08:30 - 12:30

(including 30 minute morning tea break)

Workshop 1

The Business of Psychology (What They Didn’t Teach Us at Uni)

In this workshop, Tess will teach you what she wishes she’d known when she began her private practice over 20 years ago. Six core pillars of business form the workshop’s foundation: Operations, Finances, Products/Services, Sales, Marketing, Staffing/Outsourcing.

Presented by: Dr Tess Crawley

Workshop 2

Subtleties, Systems and Expanded States – How Somatic Psychotherapy Protects Psychologists and Rebuilds Bridges

This experiential workshop explores how somatic (body-informed) and relational approaches can protect and empower therapeutic work before, within and after expanded states of consciousness.

Presented by: Dr Emily Tunks

Workshop 3

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention with Children and Adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Children and Adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Presented by: Dr Tamar Black

12:30 - 1:30

Lunch

1:30 - 5:30

(including 30 minute afternoon tea break)

Workshop 4

Uses of AI for psychologists beyond the scribes

There is a growing fascination around the uses of AI in psychology and this session will show you why. Whether you are new to the space or already using a scribe, this half-day workshop will be eye-opening.

Presented by: David Lopis

Workshop 5

Working With Pain in Practice: Tools for Psychologists

Chronic pain arising from illness and injury is a complex presentation frequently encountered across psychological practice. This practical, skills focused workshop supports psychologists to work confidently and compassionately with pain using an evidence informed, biopsychosocial, and trauma informed framework.

Presented by: Danielle Mahoney

Workshop 6

Navigating the Minefields of Separated Family Work with Flexibility and Compassion

Exploring and resolving some of the dilemmas arising when providing therapy to parents or children from separated families with through an applied functional-contextual framework.

Presented by: Tiffany Rochester


08:30 - 09:00	AAPi Welcome and Welcome to Country
09:00 - 10:00	Plenary 1 - Cultural Safety in Action: Special presentations - details TBC
10:00 - 10:30	Morning Tea
10:30 - 12:00	Concurrent Stream A The AI Revolution AI Brain Rot is Already Here. Is Psychology Ready? Presented by: Penny Locaso When Clients Use AI: What Clinicians Need to Know Presented by: David Lopis	Concurrent Stream B Workers Compensation Call to workers' compensation: Avoid pitfalls and open/reopen your practise to clients in receipt of workers' compensation Presented by: Chloe Woodcock Building confidence collaborating with insurers and third parties Presented by: Sarah Walsh
12:00	Smart Pups Presentation
12:30 - 1:30	Lunch
1:30 - 3:00	Concurrent Stream A Neuroaffirming Practice Beyond Either/Or: Integrating the Medical and Social Models of Disability in Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice Presented by: Emma-Rose Parsons Beyond the Standard Model: Practical Skills for Working with Dissociation, Trauma, and Identity Complexity Presented by: Johanna Knyn	Concurrent Stream B Innovative Therapeutic Approaches Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Outcomes, Learnings and Insights from three years of the Authorised Prescriber Scheme Presented by: Bianca Sebben, Dr Emily Tunks, Mark Baxter, Monica Schweickle
3:00 - 3:30	Afternoon Tea
3:30 - 5:00	Concurrent Stream A Decolonising Practice ACT for Activism: Anti-Oppressive Practice and Being a Political Psychologist Presented by: Sahra O'Doherty Returning to What Was Taken: Creativity and Decolonising our Practice Presented by: Emily Wilkinson Decolonising Complexity: A Systems‑Based Framework for Holistic Formulation and Treatment Presented by: Dr Averil Cook	Concurrent Stream B Advancing Psychological Practice in Women's Health The Dance of Hormones and ADHD: A Journey of Understanding and Empowerment Presented by: Melanie Turner and Dr Theresa Kidd Not Everything Is Depression: Reframing Distress in Early Motherhood Presented by: Frances Bilbao


08:30 - 10:00	Concurrent Stream A Working With Children Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Take Anxiety with You and Do What You Care About Presented by: Dr Tamar Black Supporting children and their families in regional and rural areas after a natural disaster Presented by: Daniela McCann Breaking down barriers for diverse learners: the role of psychologists in promoting inclusive environments with a focus on social and sensory environment Presented by: Emily Aylett	Concurrent Stream B Pain Management / Chronic Pain Conditions The Psychology of Pelvic Pain in Women and those AFAB Presented by: Laura Grace *Additional presentation details to be announced soon*
10:00 - 10:30	Morning Tea
10:30 - 12:00	Concurrent Stream A Working With Children and Separated Families Do I Need Consent from Both Parents? Why It’s Not Just a Yes/No Question Presented by: Terri Kelly The Psychology of Separation: Moving Beyond the Legal Model to Build Psychologically Durable Families Presented by: Tiffany Rochester Understanding Coercive Control: Myths vs Reality and What This Means for Your Professional Practice Presented by: Krasi Kirova	Concurrent Stream B Sexual Health Shame, Safety, and the Body: Rebuilding Sexual Self After Trauma Presented by: Dr Sarah Ashton Mainstreaming Misogyny: Clinical responses to the Manosphere, Increasingly Violent Pornography, and the Chronic Sexual Objectification of Girls and Women Presented by: Rachel Samson Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Sexual Intimacy: Clinical Implications for Practice Presented by: Den Abreu
12:00 - 1:30	Lunch
	Lunch Symposium, sponsored by Zanda The Automated Practice Playbook
1:30 - 3:00	Concurrent Stream A What We’re Not Talking About The emerging role of psychology in retirement planning Presented by: Hon Professor Joanne Earl Reclaiming Discomfort: The Lost Skill of Being Uncomfortable Presented by: Dr Madeleine Wishart The Forgotten Pillar: Why Psychologists Should Be Prescribing Social Health Presented by: Richard Thorpe	Concurrent Stream B Ethical Practice Management Ethical Decision-Making in Private Practice Presented by: Dr Tess Crawley Ethical HR Decision-Making for Practice Owners and Leaders Presented by: Den Abreu
3:00 - 3:30	Afternoon Tea
3:30 - 5:30	Plenary 2: Putting It All Into Practice In the final session, delegates will be invited to divide into small groups and will be given a series of case studies to discuss. Following the group discussion, an invited panel will discuss the approaches they would take. Conference wrap up.

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