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Program

 

This program is interactive. You can click on each of the presenter sessions to view the presentation outline and presenter’s biography.

The conference sessions will run on AEST – Queensland Time

Agenda items highlighted in:

Purple will be available in person and online via OnAIR.

Orange will be available in person only.

All sessions (excluding workshops) will be recorded and made available to delegates in the Resource Centre five business days after the conclusion of the conference.

Ready to register?  Click here.

To return to the website, click here.

Please email the Conference Manager if you have any questions – rural@anzmh.asn.au

The 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference reserves the right to amend or alter any advertised details relating to dates, program and speakers if necessary and without notice, as a result of circumstances beyond their control. All attempts will be made to keep any changes to an absolute minimum.


Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Kuranda Ballroom
Mossman Ballroom
Bluewater I
Bluewater II
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 1
Kuranda Ballroom - In-Person Only 		Workshop 2
Mossman Ballroom - In-Person Only 		Workshop 3
Bluewater I - In-Person Only 		Workshop 4
Bluewater II - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Time Trails Kowanyama: A Whole-of-Community Approach to Improving Youth Mental Health and Resilience
Dr Ernest Hunter, Helen Travers, Danielle Williams, YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence and Michelle Major, Kowanyama State School 		Incorporating Nature as a Co-Therapist - Experiential Therapy
Barbara Gilmore, B Gilmore Counselling 		Mustering Growth: Emotional Resilience for Rural and Remote Schoolchildren
Myfanwy Pitcher and Marg McKay, Rural Aid Limited 		Valuing Diverse Life Skills: Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs and Goals of Neurodivergent Children
Kathleen Davey, Social Science Translated
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards
Kuranda Ballroom
Mossman Ballroom
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 1
Kuranda Ballroom - In-Person Only 		Workshop 2
Mossman Ballroom - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Time Trails Kowanyama: A Whole-of-Community Approach to Improving Youth Mental Health and Resilience
Dr Ernest Hunter, Helen Travers, Danielle Williams, YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence and Michelle Major, Kowanyama State School 		Incorporating Nature as a Co-Therapist - Experiential Therapy
Barbara Gilmore, B Gilmore Counselling
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Bluewater I
Bluewater II
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 3
Bluewater I - In-Person Only 		Workshop 4
Bluewater II - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Mustering Growth: Emotional Resilience for Rural and Remote Schoolchildren
Myfanwy Pitcher and Marg McKay, Rural Aid Limited 		Valuing Diverse Life Skills: Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs and Goals of Neurodivergent Children
Kathleen Davey, Social Science Translated
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Kuranda Ballroom
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 1
Kuranda Ballroom - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Time Trails Kowanyama: A Whole-of-Community Approach to Improving Youth Mental Health and Resilience
Dr Ernest Hunter, Helen Travers, Danielle Williams, YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence and Michelle Major, Kowanyama State School
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Mossman Ballroom
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 2
Mossman Ballroom - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Incorporating Nature as a Co-Therapist - Experiential Therapy
Barbara Gilmore, B Gilmore Counselling
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Bluewater I
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 3
Bluewater I - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Mustering Growth: Emotional Resilience for Rural and Remote Schoolchildren
Myfanwy Pitcher and Marg McKay, Rural Aid Limited
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Bluewater II
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Registration Open
Welcome! Come and say hello to the Conference Team and collect your Name Badge!
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM Welcome to the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM Keynote Panel: Give Me a Challenge – Preferably Not Too Hard! The Reality of Rural Mental Health Care
Moderator: Lyn English AM, SA Lived Experience Advisor Panelist: De Backman-Hoyle, Independent Mental Health Advocate, Speaker & Educator Panelist: Paul Klotz, Lived and Living Experience Journeyman Panelist: Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM Stretch Break
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Consideration of Early Distress and Access in Regional Suicide Prevention
Professor Myfanwy Maple, Director, Manna Institute, University of New England
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon Tea
Workshop 4
Bluewater II - In-Person Only
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Valuing Diverse Life Skills: Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs and Goals of Neurodivergent Children
Kathleen Davey, Social Science Translated
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Your Own Time!
Take some time out to enjoy the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, or perhaps take a walk down to the Cairns waterfront lagoon. It's your time to relax.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Event
Relax and unwind on night one of the conference with your peers, colleagues and friends at a local heritage listed venue. Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf is located just a 5-minute walk at the Cruise Liner Terminal in Cairns and features waterside views across Trinity Inlet. You’ll be able to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and delicious grazing boards featuring local produce. Plus, you’ll have the option to order meals directly from the restaurant’s dinner and drinks menu. Cost: $30.00 Includes: Welcome Drink on arrival and Grazing Boards

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
Mossman - In-Person
Bluewater I - In-Person
Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON ONLY
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision
Chair: Anita McRae 		First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity #1
Chair: Celeste Russell 		Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis 		Environment Sustainability and Mental Health
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Women’s Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities: Challenges and Solutions
Emma Iwinska and Bianca Blackmore, Women's Health And Equality Queensland 		PANEL PRESENTATION - Assessment and Advancement of Mental Health of Young Indigenous People
Professor Aleksandar Janca and Dr Zaza Lyons, University of Western Australia, Dr Ernest Hunter, YETI (Youth Empowered Towards Independence), Dr Siva Bala, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Kim Mulholland 		Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies
Sandra Volvricht, Kim Whitehead, and Dianne Van Giesen, CAMHS Northern Country 		Supporting Students Following the Northern Rivers Floods. A Partnership Between Mackillop Seasons and NSW Education
Lauren Brincat JP, Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services, NSW Department of Education and Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM The Peacock Centre - A Built Environment Tailored to Support Best Practice Mental Health Care
Peter Scott, Xsquared Architects 		Panel Presentation continued Co-designing Digital Wellbeing Support for Drought Impacted Communities
Dr Michelle Sweet, Menzies School Of Health Research 		The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and Our Role in Natural Disasters in Northern NSW
Steve Carrigg and Samantha Osborne, Northern NSW Local Health District
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Gippsland PHN’s Lived Experience Pilot Program: “Leading the Way”
Jess Edwards, Gippsland PHN 		Empowering a First Nations Workforce, The Past, The Present, The Future
Edward Mosby, Wakai Waian Healing 		Bridging Distances, Fostering Connections: Overcoming Isolation in a Geographically Dispersed Workforce
Rebecca Cort, Arches Foundation 		Navigating Life After Bushfires: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Discussions on the SANE Forums
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Sane
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health
Chair: Kathleen Davey 		Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe 		Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #2
Chair: Ailsa Rayner 		Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities
Chair: Steve Carrigg
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM Evaluation of CoreConnect: A Professional Training Program for Provisional Psychologists in Regional NSW
Zora Todoroska, Marathon Health and Nicole Sudmalis, Health in Mind 		Getting Your Research Published: The Australian Journal of Rural Health
Associate Professor Pim Kuipers, Australian Journal of Rural Health 		How Does Remoteness and Rurality Impact the Factors of Ageing Well?
Peach Robb, Charles Sturt University 		What Discourses Shape and Reshape Men's Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support?
Philip Ferris-Day, Massey University
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Mental Strength Fitness in Rural Mental Healthcare: Understanding the Neuroscience of Resilience
Nikki Butler, Nikki Butler Consulting & Training 		Social Recovery Approach for People with Psychosocial Injury or Illness in Rural and Regional Communities
Dr Caroline Howe and Belinda Lucia, My Social Support Network 		MHAOD Reform - An Approach to Increase Capacity in Rural and Remote Areas in QLD
Marie Kelly, Country to Coast PHN 		Learnings from Consultation to Implementation: Suicide Prevention Pathway in a Remote Hospital & Health Service
Damian Garozzo-Vaglio and William Luthi, Torres and Cape Mental Health Service
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Empathy Increased After Participation in the Hearing Voices That Are Distressing Simulation Workshop
Carol-Ann Stanborough, Flinders University Dept of Rural Health 		Rural Mental Health Strengths - Findings From ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Annika Luebbe, Queensland Centre For Mental Health Research 		Evidence-Based, Consumer Led Innovative Co-Design Through Healthy North Coast’s Mental Health Reform Project
Aimee McNeill, Healthy North Coast 		Caring for Carers in Rural Areas
Sue Goodwin, Arafmi
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Strengthening Rural Mental Health Workforce: Empowering Communities and Health Professionals In NSW Through the National Rural and Remote Suicide Prevention Program
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia 		Overcoming Barriers when Recommending Digital Resources to Rural Clients
Heidi Sturk, eMHPrac, QUT 		The Therapeutic Alliance: ‘Bigger Than Us’ Collaboration to Deliver Primary Mental Health Care
Dr Shelley Rowe & Jenny Sinclair, EACH 		Mental Health First Aid, Empowering First Nations Mob to Deliver Courses in Community and Workplaces
Lynette Anderson, Mental Health First Aid International
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages
Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
Mossman - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON ONLY
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision
Chair: Anita McRae 		First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity #1
Chair: Celeste Russell
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Women’s Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities: Challenges and Solutions
Emma Iwinska and Bianca Blackmore, Women's Health And Equality Queensland 		PANEL PRESENTATION - Assessment and Advancement of Mental Health of Young Indigenous People
Professor Aleksandar Janca and Dr Zaza Lyons, University of Western Australia, Dr Ernest Hunter, YETI (Youth Empowered Towards Independence), Dr Siva Bala, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Kim Mulholland
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM The Peacock Centre - A Built Environment Tailored to Support Best Practice Mental Health Care
Peter Scott, Xsquared Architects 		Panel Presentation continued
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Gippsland PHN’s Lived Experience Pilot Program: “Leading the Way”
Jess Edwards, Gippsland PHN 		Empowering a First Nations Workforce, The Past, The Present, The Future
Edward Mosby, Wakai Waian Healing
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health
Chair: Kathleen Davey 		Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM Evaluation of CoreConnect: A Professional Training Program for Provisional Psychologists in Regional NSW
Zora Todoroska, Marathon Health and Nicole Sudmalis, Health in Mind 		Getting Your Research Published: The Australian Journal of Rural Health
Associate Professor Pim Kuipers, Australian Journal of Rural Health
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Mental Strength Fitness in Rural Mental Healthcare: Understanding the Neuroscience of Resilience
Nikki Butler, Nikki Butler Consulting & Training 		Social Recovery Approach for People with Psychosocial Injury or Illness in Rural and Regional Communities
Dr Caroline Howe and Belinda Lucia, My Social Support Network
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Empathy Increased After Participation in the Hearing Voices That Are Distressing Simulation Workshop
Carol-Ann Stanborough, Flinders University Dept of Rural Health 		Rural Mental Health Strengths - Findings From ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Annika Luebbe, Queensland Centre For Mental Health Research
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Strengthening Rural Mental Health Workforce: Empowering Communities and Health Professionals In NSW Through the National Rural and Remote Suicide Prevention Program
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia 		Overcoming Barriers when Recommending Digital Resources to Rural Clients
Heidi Sturk, eMHPrac, QUT
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Bluewater I - In-Person
Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN-PERSON ONLY
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis 		Environment Sustainability and Mental Health
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies
Sandra Volvricht, Kim Whitehead, and Dianne Van Giesen, CAMHS Northern Country 		Supporting Students Following the Northern Rivers Floods. A Partnership Between Mackillop Seasons and NSW Education
Lauren Brincat JP, Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services, NSW Department of Education and Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM Co-designing Digital Wellbeing Support for Drought Impacted Communities
Dr Michelle Sweet, Menzies School Of Health Research 		The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and Our Role in Natural Disasters in Northern NSW
Steve Carrigg and Samantha Osborne, Northern NSW Local Health District
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Bridging Distances, Fostering Connections: Overcoming Isolation in a Geographically Dispersed Workforce
Rebecca Cort, Arches Foundation 		Navigating Life After Bushfires: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Discussions on the SANE Forums
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Sane
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #2
Chair: Ailsa Rayner 		Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities
Chair: Steve Carrigg
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM How Does Remoteness and Rurality Impact the Factors of Ageing Well?
Peach Robb, Charles Sturt University 		What Discourses Shape and Reshape Men's Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support?
Philip Ferris-Day, Massey University
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM MHAOD Reform - An Approach to Increase Capacity in Rural and Remote Areas in QLD
Marie Kelly, Country to Coast PHN 		Learnings from Consultation to Implementation: Suicide Prevention Pathway in a Remote Hospital & Health Service
Damian Garozzo-Vaglio and William Luthi, Torres and Cape Mental Health Service
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Evidence-Based, Consumer Led Innovative Co-Design Through Healthy North Coast’s Mental Health Reform Project
Aimee McNeill, Healthy North Coast 		Caring for Carers in Rural Areas
Sue Goodwin, Arafmi
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM The Therapeutic Alliance: ‘Bigger Than Us’ Collaboration to Deliver Primary Mental Health Care
Dr Shelley Rowe & Jenny Sinclair, EACH 		Mental Health First Aid, Empowering First Nations Mob to Deliver Courses in Community and Workplaces
Lynette Anderson, Mental Health First Aid International
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision
Chair: Anita McRae
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Women’s Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities: Challenges and Solutions
Emma Iwinska and Bianca Blackmore, Women's Health And Equality Queensland
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM The Peacock Centre - A Built Environment Tailored to Support Best Practice Mental Health Care
Peter Scott, Xsquared Architects
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Gippsland PHN’s Lived Experience Pilot Program: “Leading the Way”
Jess Edwards, Gippsland PHN
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health
Chair: Kathleen Davey
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM Evaluation of CoreConnect: A Professional Training Program for Provisional Psychologists in Regional NSW
Zora Todoroska, Marathon Health and Nicole Sudmalis, Health in Mind
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Mental Strength Fitness in Rural Mental Healthcare: Understanding the Neuroscience of Resilience
Nikki Butler, Nikki Butler Consulting & Training
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Empathy Increased After Participation in the Hearing Voices That Are Distressing Simulation Workshop
Carol-Ann Stanborough, Flinders University Dept of Rural Health
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Strengthening Rural Mental Health Workforce: Empowering Communities and Health Professionals In NSW Through the National Rural and Remote Suicide Prevention Program
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Mossman - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN-PERSON ONLY
First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity #1
Chair: Celeste Russell
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM PANEL PRESENTATION - Assessment and Advancement of Mental Health of Young Indigenous People
Professor Aleksandar Janca and Dr Zaza Lyons, University of Western Australia, Dr Ernest Hunter, YETI (Youth Empowered Towards Independence), Dr Siva Bala, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Kim Mulholland
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM Panel Presentation continued
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Empowering a First Nations Workforce, The Past, The Present, The Future
Edward Mosby, Wakai Waian Healing
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM Getting Your Research Published: The Australian Journal of Rural Health
Associate Professor Pim Kuipers, Australian Journal of Rural Health
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Social Recovery Approach for People with Psychosocial Injury or Illness in Rural and Regional Communities
Dr Caroline Howe and Belinda Lucia, My Social Support Network
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Rural Mental Health Strengths - Findings From ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Annika Luebbe, Queensland Centre For Mental Health Research
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Overcoming Barriers when Recommending Digital Resources to Rural Clients
Heidi Sturk, eMHPrac, QUT
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Bluewater I - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN-PERSON ONLY
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies
Sandra Volvricht, Kim Whitehead, and Dianne Van Giesen, CAMHS Northern Country
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM Co-designing Digital Wellbeing Support for Drought Impacted Communities
Dr Michelle Sweet, Menzies School Of Health Research
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Bridging Distances, Fostering Connections: Overcoming Isolation in a Geographically Dispersed Workforce
Rebecca Cort, Arches Foundation
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #2
Chair: Ailsa Rayner
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM How Does Remoteness and Rurality Impact the Factors of Ageing Well?
Peach Robb, Charles Sturt University
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM MHAOD Reform - An Approach to Increase Capacity in Rural and Remote Areas in QLD
Marie Kelly, Country to Coast PHN
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Evidence-Based, Consumer Led Innovative Co-Design Through Healthy North Coast’s Mental Health Reform Project
Aimee McNeill, Healthy North Coast
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM The Therapeutic Alliance: ‘Bigger Than Us’ Collaboration to Deliver Primary Mental Health Care
Dr Shelley Rowe & Jenny Sinclair, EACH
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Thursday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 2 - Registration Open
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Conference Day 2 Opening
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM Making Ripples: Challenges Working Outside the Frame for Indigenous Youth Mental Health
Professor Ernest Hunter, Adjunct Professor, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Empowering First Nations Communities: The Local Lived Experience Network for Cultural Leadership and Systemic Change
Aunty Vicki McKenna, Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute and Louise Salee, National Network Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, Black Dog Institute
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Building Inclusive Mental Health Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities in Rural Areas
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Research Fellow, SANE
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Tea With Exhibitors
IN-PERSON ONLY
Environment Sustainability and Mental Health
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Supporting Students Following the Northern Rivers Floods. A Partnership Between Mackillop Seasons and NSW Education
Lauren Brincat JP, Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services, NSW Department of Education and Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and Our Role in Natural Disasters in Northern NSW
Steve Carrigg and Samantha Osborne, Northern NSW Local Health District
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Navigating Life After Bushfires: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Discussions on the SANE Forums
Dr Christopher Rainbow, Sane
12:25 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Exhibitors
Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities
Chair: Steve Carrigg
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM What Discourses Shape and Reshape Men's Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support?
Philip Ferris-Day, Massey University
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Learnings from Consultation to Implementation: Suicide Prevention Pathway in a Remote Hospital & Health Service
Damian Garozzo-Vaglio and William Luthi, Torres and Cape Mental Health Service
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Caring for Carers in Rural Areas
Sue Goodwin, Arafmi
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Mental Health First Aid, Empowering First Nations Mob to Deliver Courses in Community and Workplaces
Lynette Anderson, Mental Health First Aid International
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM Poster Presentations
Click to see the list of posters on display for the duration of the conference.
Join us for this inspiring Keynote Session
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM Sound Healing
Brought to you by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
3:55 PM - 4:25 PM Change The Picture: Beyond the Stereotypes in Farmer Mental Health
Steph Schmidt, Farm Life Psych
4:25 PM - 4:55 PM More Than a Walk in the Park, the Science and Practice of Nature Based Interventions
Dr Miles Holmes, NatureFix
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM Conference Day 2 Reflection
Chair: Barb Walters, Conference Co-Chair
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Tropical Nights Networking Event
You’re invited to join us at our conference networking event, poolside at the conference venue. Join us for an evening of great conversations, live music, local cuisine, drinks and entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, industry peers, sponsors and exhibitors. Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets for day registrants and accompanying persons can be purchased for $82.50 (incl GST) per ticket. Includes: Entertainment, light canapés and beverages

Friday, November 8, 2024

Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
Mossman - In-Person
Bluewater I - In-Person
Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #3
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis 		Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher 		Environment Sustainability and Mental Health #2
Chair: Philip Ferris-Day 		Enhancing Mental Health through Nature-Based Therapies and Alternative Programs in Rural Communities
Chair: Celeste Russell
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Empowering Rural & Remote Mental Health: Insight into a Nurse-led Crisis Intervention Program in NSW
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia 		A Novel Co-Designed Approach to Improving Mental Health in Farming Communities
Kelly Barnes, National Centre for Farmer Health 		Using Nature Based Interventions to Improve Individuals’ Physical, Mental Health and Community Health
Phil Wilson, Western District Health Service 		Saleyard Serenity: A Nurse-Led Mental Health Initiative
Sarah Austin, Yea and District Memorial Hospital
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Sleep Treat: The Online Insomnia Intervention Improving Health Outcomes in Rural and Regional Practice
Jay Court, This Way Up, Clinical Research Unit For Anxiety and Depression 		Lived Experience in the Delivery of Mental Health Services in the Rural Communities
Nathan Darvill, Expressive Mind Therapy and Jenelle Connors, Harrys Helping Hands 		Understanding Climate Change Emotions in Young People
Yumiko Coffey, University Of New England 		Can Animal-Assisted Services be a Possible Pathway for Rural Mental Health
Wendy Coombe, Animal Therapies Ltd
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM "Small Town Syndrome" Finding a Cure
Fran Caddell, Steps Group Australia 		My Name is Michael and I Have Schizophrenia…… a Love Story
Michael Marsh, FUNLHN SA Health and Dr Judith Keith, BHFLHN SA Health 		Detect & Protect - a Roadblock to Suicide, a Pathway to Rural Wellness
Christine Boucher, Wellness Worx 		Co-Designing Therapy with Adolescents: Adventure Therapy in Action
Jennifer Parke, Human Nature Adventure Therapy
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Building Community-Capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-Recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons and Dr Meaghan Vosz, Southern Cross University 		Co-Designing a Youth Mental Health Outreach Service in Ten Remote Communities in Western NSW
Hannah Kennedy, Impact Co and Brendan Cubby, Marathon Health 		Protecting Farmer Mental Health after Natural Disaster
Kelly Barnes. National Centre for Farmer Health 		Wholebeing Health Project – Breaking Barriers to Nutrition and Exercise Support for Rural and Remote Communities
Ellie Thompson, Verde Nutrition Co.
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe 		Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health #2
Chair: Christopher Rainbow 		Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #3
Chair: Sue Goodwin 		Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Building Connection in Northern Territory Remote Indigenous Communities
Mia Poklepovich, OT Inspire Australia Pty Ltd 		Comprehensive, Psychiatric Assessment Clinic for Rural/Remote Children and Their Referring Paediatricians – What Works, and How
Dr Josephine Anderson and Sarah McDowell, Royal Far West, UNSW 		Embedding Lived Experience in Local Mental Health Hubs: A Case Study on Supporting Rural Communities in Victoria
Jacqueline Gibson, The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) and Cat Hunt, Wellways 		Community Wellbeing Plans Utilising Collective Impact to Provide Local Solutions to Increase Safety & Wellbeing
Jo Drayton, Holyoake
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM Strong & Deadly Futures: Empowering Indigenous and Non-indigenous Youth Against Alcohol and Drug-related Harms
Kriscia Tapia, The Matilda Centre, University Of Sydney 		Government and Corporate Partnerships - Is This The Way Forward for Regional Mental Wellbeing?
Paul McFarlane, Converge International 		The Self Project - a Lived Experience Journey
Tahlia Isaac, Strong Empowered Living Free 		Just a Farmer - Story Telling to Create Awareness and Be a Catalyst for Change
Leila Sweeney-Mcdougall, Vam Paddock Productions
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Healing Through Connection in the Central Australian Outback: Play Therapy in Remote First Nations Communities
Hannah West, Royal Flying Doctor Service 		Training Rural Mental Health Staff in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: A Case Study from Rural NSW
Dr Anastasia Hronis, University Of Technology Sydney; Australian Institute For Human Wellness 		Supporting Mental Health Services and Staff to Provide Accessible Care and Support for Deaf People
Rebecca Reedman and A/Prof Frances Dark, Metro South Addiction & Mental Health Services 		Work and Study Support Providing Early Intervention and Recovery for 15 to 25 Year Olds
Zoe Walsh and Ella Sheehan, headspace
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
Mossman - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #3
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis 		Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Empowering Rural & Remote Mental Health: Insight into a Nurse-led Crisis Intervention Program in NSW
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia 		A Novel Co-Designed Approach to Improving Mental Health in Farming Communities
Kelly Barnes, National Centre for Farmer Health
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Sleep Treat: The Online Insomnia Intervention Improving Health Outcomes in Rural and Regional Practice
Jay Court, This Way Up, Clinical Research Unit For Anxiety and Depression 		Lived Experience in the Delivery of Mental Health Services in the Rural Communities
Nathan Darvill, Expressive Mind Therapy and Jenelle Connors, Harrys Helping Hands
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM "Small Town Syndrome" Finding a Cure
Fran Caddell, Steps Group Australia 		My Name is Michael and I Have Schizophrenia…… a Love Story
Michael Marsh, FUNLHN SA Health and Dr Judith Keith, BHFLHN SA Health
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Building Community-Capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-Recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons and Dr Meaghan Vosz, Southern Cross University 		Co-Designing a Youth Mental Health Outreach Service in Ten Remote Communities in Western NSW
Hannah Kennedy, Impact Co and Brendan Cubby, Marathon Health
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe 		Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health #2
Chair: Christopher Rainbow
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Building Connection in Northern Territory Remote Indigenous Communities
Mia Poklepovich, OT Inspire Australia Pty Ltd 		Comprehensive, Psychiatric Assessment Clinic for Rural/Remote Children and Their Referring Paediatricians – What Works, and How
Dr Josephine Anderson and Sarah McDowell, Royal Far West, UNSW
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM Strong & Deadly Futures: Empowering Indigenous and Non-indigenous Youth Against Alcohol and Drug-related Harms
Kriscia Tapia, The Matilda Centre, University Of Sydney 		Government and Corporate Partnerships - Is This The Way Forward for Regional Mental Wellbeing?
Paul McFarlane, Converge International
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Healing Through Connection in the Central Australian Outback: Play Therapy in Remote First Nations Communities
Hannah West, Royal Flying Doctor Service 		Training Rural Mental Health Staff in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: A Case Study from Rural NSW
Dr Anastasia Hronis, University Of Technology Sydney; Australian Institute For Human Wellness
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

Bluewater I - In-Person
Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Environment Sustainability and Mental Health #2
Chair: Philip Ferris-Day 		Enhancing Mental Health through Nature-Based Therapies and Alternative Programs in Rural Communities
Chair: Celeste Russell
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Using Nature Based Interventions to Improve Individuals’ Physical, Mental Health and Community Health
Phil Wilson, Western District Health Service 		Saleyard Serenity: A Nurse-Led Mental Health Initiative
Sarah Austin, Yea and District Memorial Hospital
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Understanding Climate Change Emotions in Young People
Yumiko Coffey, University Of New England 		Can Animal-Assisted Services be a Possible Pathway for Rural Mental Health
Wendy Coombe, Animal Therapies Ltd
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Detect & Protect - a Roadblock to Suicide, a Pathway to Rural Wellness
Christine Boucher, Wellness Worx 		Co-Designing Therapy with Adolescents: Adventure Therapy in Action
Jennifer Parke, Human Nature Adventure Therapy
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Protecting Farmer Mental Health after Natural Disaster
Kelly Barnes. National Centre for Farmer Health 		Wholebeing Health Project – Breaking Barriers to Nutrition and Exercise Support for Rural and Remote Communities
Ellie Thompson, Verde Nutrition Co.
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #3
Chair: Sue Goodwin 		Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Embedding Lived Experience in Local Mental Health Hubs: A Case Study on Supporting Rural Communities in Victoria
Jacqueline Gibson, The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) and Cat Hunt, Wellways 		Community Wellbeing Plans Utilising Collective Impact to Provide Local Solutions to Increase Safety & Wellbeing
Jo Drayton, Holyoake
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM The Self Project - a Lived Experience Journey
Tahlia Isaac, Strong Empowered Living Free 		Just a Farmer - Story Telling to Create Awareness and Be a Catalyst for Change
Leila Sweeney-Mcdougall, Vam Paddock Productions
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Supporting Mental Health Services and Staff to Provide Accessible Care and Support for Deaf People
Rebecca Reedman and A/Prof Frances Dark, Metro South Addiction & Mental Health Services 		Work and Study Support Providing Early Intervention and Recovery for 15 to 25 Year Olds
Zoe Walsh and Ella Sheehan, headspace
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL
Improving Mental Health Support in Rural and Geographically Dispersed Areas #3
Chair: Dr Anastasia Hronis
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Empowering Rural & Remote Mental Health: Insight into a Nurse-led Crisis Intervention Program in NSW
Cassandra Talbot, The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Sleep Treat: The Online Insomnia Intervention Improving Health Outcomes in Rural and Regional Practice
Jay Court, This Way Up, Clinical Research Unit For Anxiety and Depression
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM "Small Town Syndrome" Finding a Cure
Fran Caddell, Steps Group Australia
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Building Community-Capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-Recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons and Dr Meaghan Vosz, Southern Cross University
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
First Nations and Indigenous Mental Health Resilience and Equity
Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Building Connection in Northern Territory Remote Indigenous Communities
Mia Poklepovich, OT Inspire Australia Pty Ltd
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM Strong & Deadly Futures: Empowering Indigenous and Non-indigenous Youth Against Alcohol and Drug-related Harms
Kriscia Tapia, The Matilda Centre, University Of Sydney
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Healing Through Connection in the Central Australian Outback: Play Therapy in Remote First Nations Communities
Hannah West, Royal Flying Doctor Service
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

Mossman - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM A Novel Co-Designed Approach to Improving Mental Health in Farming Communities
Kelly Barnes, National Centre for Farmer Health
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Lived Experience in the Delivery of Mental Health Services in the Rural Communities
Nathan Darvill, Expressive Mind Therapy and Jenelle Connors, Harrys Helping Hands
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM My Name is Michael and I Have Schizophrenia…… a Love Story
Michael Marsh, FUNLHN SA Health and Dr Judith Keith, BHFLHN SA Health
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Co-Designing a Youth Mental Health Outreach Service in Ten Remote Communities in Western NSW
Hannah Kennedy, Impact Co and Brendan Cubby, Marathon Health
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
Workforce Development in Rural Mental Health #2
Chair: Christopher Rainbow
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Comprehensive, Psychiatric Assessment Clinic for Rural/Remote Children and Their Referring Paediatricians – What Works, and How
Dr Josephine Anderson and Sarah McDowell, Royal Far West, UNSW
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM Government and Corporate Partnerships - Is This The Way Forward for Regional Mental Wellbeing?
Paul McFarlane, Converge International
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Training Rural Mental Health Staff in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: A Case Study from Rural NSW
Dr Anastasia Hronis, University Of Technology Sydney; Australian Institute For Human Wellness
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

Bluewater I - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Environment Sustainability and Mental Health #2
Chair: Philip Ferris-Day
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Using Nature Based Interventions to Improve Individuals’ Physical, Mental Health and Community Health
Phil Wilson, Western District Health Service
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Understanding Climate Change Emotions in Young People
Yumiko Coffey, University Of New England
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Detect & Protect - a Roadblock to Suicide, a Pathway to Rural Wellness
Christine Boucher, Wellness Worx
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Protecting Farmer Mental Health after Natural Disaster
Kelly Barnes. National Centre for Farmer Health
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
Empowering Community Voices: Centring Lived Experience in Mental Health Service Provision #3
Chair: Sue Goodwin
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Embedding Lived Experience in Local Mental Health Hubs: A Case Study on Supporting Rural Communities in Victoria
Jacqueline Gibson, The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) and Cat Hunt, Wellways
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM The Self Project - a Lived Experience Journey
Tahlia Isaac, Strong Empowered Living Free
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Supporting Mental Health Services and Staff to Provide Accessible Care and Support for Deaf People
Rebecca Reedman and A/Prof Frances Dark, Metro South Addiction & Mental Health Services
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

Bluewater II - In-Person
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Sound Healing by Kate Godfrey, Crystal Bowl Sound Healing - Friday Session
Sound Healing is a holistic practice that uses various sound frequencies to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is based on the belief that sound vibrations and frequencies can affect the human body, mind, and spirit, restoring balance and resetting your Nervous System. If you’re an enthusiast or a beginner, everyone attending the conference is welcome to attend.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Day 3 - Registration Open
IN-PERSON ONLY.
Enhancing Mental Health through Nature-Based Therapies and Alternative Programs in Rural Communities
Chair: Celeste Russell
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Saleyard Serenity: A Nurse-Led Mental Health Initiative
Sarah Austin, Yea and District Memorial Hospital
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Can Animal-Assisted Services be a Possible Pathway for Rural Mental Health
Wendy Coombe, Animal Therapies Ltd
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM Co-Designing Therapy with Adolescents: Adventure Therapy in Action
Jennifer Parke, Human Nature Adventure Therapy
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Wholebeing Health Project – Breaking Barriers to Nutrition and Exercise Support for Rural and Remote Communities
Ellie Thompson, Verde Nutrition Co.
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM Day 3 - Morning Tea with Exhibitors
Promoting Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing in Rural Communities #2
Chair: Myf Pitcher
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM Community Wellbeing Plans Utilising Collective Impact to Provide Local Solutions to Increase Safety & Wellbeing
Jo Drayton, Holyoake
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM Just a Farmer - Story Telling to Create Awareness and Be a Catalyst for Change
Leila Sweeney-Mcdougall, Vam Paddock Productions
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Work and Study Support Providing Early Intervention and Recovery for 15 to 25 Year Olds
Zoe Walsh and Ella Sheehan, headspace
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Day 3 - Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for our final Keynote Session and Conference Closing
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Keynote Presentation Topic: Resource Allocation for Rural Mental Health Programs
Ivan Frkovic, Commissioner, Queensland Mental Health Commission
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM La Dolce Vita - Learning From Adversity
Dr Tahnee Bridson, Queensland Young Australian of the Year for 2022
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Conference Closing & Prize Draw
Chair: Professor Russell Roberts, Conference Co-Chair

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