Rising to the Challenge: Innovating and Integrating for Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing

31st Annual Department of Psychiatry Wellbeing in Ageing Symposium, 2026

The University of Melbourne’s Department of Psychiatry Wellbeing in Ageing Team is delighted to invite you to their 31st Annual Symposium full-day event.

• Professor Tony Blakely will discuss weighing up the compression of morbidity against its impact on healthy ageing.
• Professor Josselin Houenou will unpack integrated neurobiological models and medication considerations for bipolar disorder in the context of ageing or dementia.
• Associate Professor, Dr David Darby will share real-world experience prescribing Lecanemab and Donanemab in private practice.
• Mr Matthew Corbett, the new co-Director of Workforce Development, at the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing will speak on key issues related to workforce.
• Associate Professor Ravi Bhat will share results from his doctoral research on delirium.
• Business Innovation Manager at Dementia Australia, Dr Tanya Petrovich, will share on innovations and digital technology at Dementia Australia.
• Dr Matthew Shrimpton, will share experiences from the DEMANDS team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
• Dr Jo-Anne Hughson will discuss the ‘Let’s CHAT’ Community Health Approaches To Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities program.
• The symposium will also conclude with a panel discussion focusing on Supporting Brain Health for ageing Australians: based on current evidence, to be facilitated by Professor Nicola Lautenschlager and featuring panel members Emeritus Professor David Ames AO, Professor Tony Blakley, Dr Tanya Petrovich, Associate Professor Kathryn Ellis and Dr Eleanor Curran.

A certificate of attendance is available following completion of the symposium.

Symposium attendance may count towards Continuing Professional development/ Education activities.

The symposium is suitable for researchers and health and lived-experience professionals who are passionate about cognitive and mental health, healthy ageing and wellbeing in ageing populations.

Registrations close 25th September 2026. Cancellations: For cancellations, an administrative fee of $40 will be incurred for each registration cancelled up until 2 October 2026. Refunds will not be given after this date. A substitute delegate is welcome to attend. For organisation invoicing: please contact wiat-team@unimelb.edu.au