2026 APS CCN conference

Applications must be submitted in English via the conference submission portal by close 11.59pm (AEDT), on stipulated date. Submissions via email will not be accepted.

The conference organisers will not be held responsible for submission errors caused by internet service outages, hardware or software delays, power outages or unforeseen events.

I understand that the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (NH&MRC, 2018) states that it is not acceptable to publish the same research findings repeatedly. Therefore, the material submitted must be substantially different from any previous presentation to another conference or publication outlet. This is a convention for psychology conferences and ensures attendees gain exposure to new, fresh material that has not been presented before.

Submitters must have access to the equipment required and will be able to work with the equipment provided as per the presentation format requirements.

The APS reserves the right to accept and decline submissions according to the final decision of the reviewers, and how the submission will be presented.

Each presenter are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation. Accepted presenters are required to register and pay for their registration for the conference otherwise, the presentation may be removed from the program.

If you are accepted and successful, your registration will be discounted by 30% off the full registration prices. Registration prices lsited below. Each presenter including co-presenters are required to pay and register. A presenter registration link will be supplied at the time of acceptance.

If this submission is accepted, I agree to indemnify the APS against any and all liability that it might incur as a consequence (direct or indirect) of either the submission or the presentation.

I have authority from all necessary parties to use, display and broadcast all of the content contained within your presentation (including YouTube/video clips, animations, music, images etc.)

I hereby certify that all participants named have agreed to participate and have agreed to the order of names shown in the submission or any associated material (such as the abstract or supplementary handouts)

I understand that my telephone and/or email address may be given to media outlets for the promotion of the conference and interview opportunities.

I have read the licence to use copyright material and agree to the stated terms and conditions.

All research reported at the conference must adhere to the APS Code of Ethics and The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and also the PsyBA enhanced Professional practice standards.

All presenters must also disclose any possible conflict of interest in order to allow attendees to form their own opinions on the information being presented. The disclosure of the conflict will vary depending on the situation, and advice can be sought from APS staff.

No honorarium or financial support will be provided to authors of accepted submissions.

Presenter Registrations Fees

Type	Incl GST	30% Discount Price
Full reg | Non Member	$1,100	$770
Full reg | CCN College Member	$880	$616
Full reg | APS Member	$990	$693
Full reg | APS/CCN Student	$330	$231
Full reg | Non Member Student	$400	$280

Conference theme and topics

Theme: Centre, Reflect, Transform: A Rights-Based Future for Neuropsychology

 

​​Theme	​Description	​Example topics/questions
​Professional Ethics: Cultural Safety, Social Justice, and Reflexivity  ​	​Encouraging self-awareness, critical reflexivity, and robust ethical decision-making aligned with evolving professional standards and rights-based frameworks.	​How enhanced Professional practice standards shape the ethical conduct of neuropsychologists in diverse contexts  ​Embedding reflexivity to enhance cultural safety in neuropsychological practice  ​Ways to cultivate ongoing self-reflexivity to enhance ethical decision-making within neuropsychology practice.  ​Systemic inequities and power in Neuropsychology within diverse contexts and peoples  ​How neuropsychologists can critically examine and dismantle systemic biases within clinical tools and practices.  ​Cross-cultural and cultural Neuropsychology: Understanding the difference  ​The role of social justice in neuropsychology practice.  ​How privileging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being, and doing in neuropsychology practice can lead to fairer outcomes  ​The importance of iterative reflexivity for checking our biases in understanding brain and behaviour across diverse contexts and peoples.
​Human Rights and Systems of Care	​Exploring neuropsychology’s role in advocating for equitable access, inclusion, and dignity within healthcare, education, justice, and community settings.	​Neuropsychology and human rights: Advocacy in healthcare and legal systems  ​Toward equitable neuropsychological service delivery: Overcoming barriers in rural and remote Australia  ​Human rights-based approaches to forensic neuropsychological assessment: Balancing risk and dignity  ​Balancing objectivity and advocacy: Human rights considerations in medico-legal neuropsychological assessments   ​How systemic policies facilitate or hinder access to equitable and just neuropsychological services within diverse settings.  ​How can neuropsychology promote human rights and equitable care within diverse settings.
​Lifespan Neuropsychology: Aging, Neurodevelopment, and Transitional Care	​Focusing on cognitive health promotion, assessment, and intervention in childhood, adulthood, and aging, including major life transitions.	​Tailoring cognitive assessments and interventions across the lifespan and at critical transitions  ​Neurodevelopmental conditions and aging: Clinical challenges and innovations  ​Strengths-based approach to neurodiversity and neuropsychological assessment.
​Wellbeing, Recovery, and Mental Health Integration	​Integrating neuropsychology within trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and holistic frameworks to support mental health and flourishing.	​Neuropsychology within trauma-informed mental health care: Principles and applications  ​Supporting cognitive wellbeing in complex psychiatric presentations: Evidence and practice  ​How neuropsychologists can integrate trauma-informed approaches to enhance mental health outcomes  ​Existing and emerging models for embedding neuropsychology within holistic recovery and wellbeing frameworks within diverse contexts and peoples  ​Trauma-informed and strengths-based cognitive remediation in mental health.
​Digital Innovations, Neurotechnology, and Contemporary Practice	​Addressing opportunities, risks, and ethical dimensions in tele-assessment, digital health, artificial intelligence, and emerging neurotechnologies.	​Neuropsychological assessments  ​Artificial intelligence and machine learning in clinical neuropsychology: Opportunities and challenges  ​Clinical and ethical implications of adopting digital neuropsychological tools in diverse populations.  ​How neuropsychologists can stay at the forefront of emerging neurotechnologies while maintaining rigorous standards.  ​
​Lived Experience, Consumer Partnerships, and Co-Design	​Incorporating perspectives of people with neuropsychological conditions and their families, promoting co-design, shared decision-making, and consumer leadership.	​Engaging lived experience in neuropsychological research and service design  ​Co-designing neuropsychological interventions with consumers: Methods and outcomes  ​How true partnerships with consumers can enhance neuropsychological research and clinical services  ​Overcoming existing barriers to meaningful involvement of lived experience in neuropsychology.
​Education, Training, and Workforce Development	​Examining initiatives for building capacity, cultural responsiveness, mentorship, supervision, and reflexive learning for Australia’s future neuropsychology workforce.	​Building cultural responsivity and reflective practice in neuropsychology training programs: Examples and case studies  ​Mentorship and supervision models to support early career Neuropsychologists in Australia in the context of professional practice changes.
​Neuropsychology and Public Health: Population-Level Impacts and Prevention  ​	​Population-level approaches for brain health promotion, cognitive health literacy, early identification and prevention of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions, and contributions to policy and community education.    Highlight neuropsychology’s contributions to brain health promotion, early detection, prevention, and shaping public health policies to improve cognitive wellbeing across diverse communities.	​Neuropsychological strategies for brain health promotion: Examples from research and clinical practice   ​Neuropsychological strategies for dementia prevention: Examples from research and clinical practice   ​Early identification of neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities in diverse communities: Public health implications  ​Understanding the social, historical, political, and cultural determinants of brain health and cognitive function  ​The role of neuropsychological knowledge in shaping community education and policy for brain health equity.​

Presentation formats

1. Workshop (Half or Full Day)

Workshops are interactive sessions involving equipment, activities, or simulations that require attendee participation. These may include mock consultations, role plays, or hands-on skill development.

Examples include:

• Small group learning
• Supervisor workshops
• Skills-building workshops
• Technical masterclasses
• Advanced therapeutic techniques

Duration:

• Half-day: 2.5–3 hours
• Full-day: 4–6 hours

2. Traditional Presentation (20, 30 or 60 minutes)

Ideal for individuals or groups of researchers and/or practitioners sharing study results or key insights. Presenters should aim to leave time for audience Q&A.

3. Panel Discussion (30 or 60 minutes)

A structured session featuring 3–5 experts discussing a shared topic. Each panellist provides a brief opening (5–7 minutes), followed by a moderated dialogue and audience Q&A.

4. Special Guest Fireside Chat (60 mins)

An informal, conversational session featuring a distinguished guest who shares insights, experiences, and perspectives on key topics. Designed to be interactive and engaging, this format encourages audience questions and fosters a relaxed yet thought-provoking discussion.

5. Other Presentation Types

We welcome innovative and engaging presentation ideas beyond the formats listed above. If you have a unique concept, please submit it for consideration via [email protected].

The APS aims to support, facilitate and promote appropriate high quality professional development activities which allow psychologists throughout Australia to maintain and improve their competencies and which are also responsive to the needs of clients, consumers, employers and the broader community.

To this end, APS invites eminent and authoritative presenters in psychology and related fields to present at its professional development events. APS relies upon the reputation of presenters to attract attendees to the events and upon each presenter to prepare appropriately for their presentation.

All speakers and presenters at APS events, conferences and other activities are asked to read the below terms and conditions and acknowledge their acceptance by returning a signed, dated and initialled (each page) copy of this document to the APS within 7 days of accepting an offer to present or speak.

The Presenter agrees to provide the services and deliverables to APS as agreed to with the APS.  The Presenter acknowledges that they have not entered an employment relationship with the APS but they are engaged to provide their services as an independent contractor of or independent contributor to the APS under these terms and conditions. 

Should the Presenter no longer be able to present, the Presenter will notify the APS in writing providing as much notice as possible and will not replace themselves without discussing a suitable replacement speaker and obtaining the agreement of the APS.

If compensation was agreed to, the Presenter acknowledges that no compensation shall be payable in the case of cancellation either by the Presenter or the APS.  The Presenter will advise and consult with the APS if they plan on delivering the same content at another event within the four weeks prior to their speaking engagement with the APS.

Please note this is done to try and avoid conflicts with competing events and organisations. 

The Presenter must not do or be a party to any act or omission that may, in the opinion of APS, damage or adversely impact the reputation of, or goodwill associated with, APS. If the Presenter breaches this, APS may immediately terminate the invitation to present by giving written notice to the Presenter. 

Where the presentation has been listed as recorded, the Presenter consents to APS recording (by any means) their presentation and agrees that the recordings are able to be used by the APS for its educative and related purposes as it relates to this event. 

The Presenter agrees they will not infringe the intellectual property or other rights of any third party in providing services to the APS. 

In providing services to the APS, the Presenter agrees to comply with APS's directions and applicable APS policies.  Should compensation be agreed to, the Presenter will invoice APS for 100% of the agreed to fees on conclusion of the services.

The APS agrees to pay invoices within 30 days of receipt of the invoice.  Neither party may use, disclose or reproduce the Confidential Information of the other party for any purpose unless the disclosure: a) is to the recipient’s personnel who have a need to know; or b) is required by law. 

The Presenter agrees to return any confidential information or documentation that was made available to them as part of their agreement to present.  Any Intellectual Property Rights created in the development of the presentation will be owned by the Presenter, provided that the APS is hereby granted by the Presenter an irrevocable and perpetual non-exclusive fee free licence to use the presentation and associated items for its educative and related purposes as it relates to this event. 

Nothing in this agreement affects the ownership of existing Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Presenter or any third party which are used in the provision of the Services or any Deliverable, but the Presenter grants or warrants that they have otherwise obtained for APS a licence to exercise those rights in order to use and otherwise deal with the Servicers and Deliverables, during the presentation and for the period of up to 12 months from the conclusion of the presentation. 

The Presenter grants the APS the right to use their name, logo, headshot, biography, other trademarks and information, in connection with the presentation.  The Presenter indemnifies, and keeps indemnified, APS against any Loss suffered or incurred by APS in connection with any claim which may be instituted against APS arising out of: a) any failure by the Presenter to perform any of its obligations; b) any breach of any warranty given by the Presenter. 

The APS strongly recommends that the Presenter holds reasonable Professional Indemnity insurance of at least $2 million AUD with an insurer reasonably acceptable to the APS. Where the Presenter has this insurance, they are asked to provide APS with evidence of the currency of the insurances on request. Students are excluded from this clause however student members of the APS can access complimentary Professional Indemnity insurance through AON. 

Should the presenter travel to attend this event, they acknowledge that they do so at their own risk and are responsible for ensuring they adhere to all State, Federal and Local government requirements, health orders and restrictions. The presenter acknowledges that by travelling at their own risk the APS will not be held liable for any additional costs or losses incurred due to changes in travel in restrictions. This includes but is not limited to expenses and losses such as mandatory hotel quarantine, loss of business or business opportunity and extended accommodation requirements due to border closures. Any such costs and/or losses incurred or suffered by the presenter are the responsibility of the presenter. 

Conflicts of interest must be disclosed by the presenter to the APS before accepting an invitation to speak or during the presentation submission process. Additionally, if the speaker is selected to present at an APS event, they must, at the commencement of their presentation, disclose the conflict of interest to attendees.  Involvement of an entity with commercial interest related to the topic area must be disclosed and must not influence the content of the activity (no brand or service promotion within the content, although promotion can occur at the start or at the conclusion of the presentation). 

Acknowledgment of any sponsor associated with the presentation can occur at the start, during breaks, or after the presentation but must not be included in the presentation.

Submission review process

Structured peer review process including:

• Initial screening
• Peer review
• Scoring and recommendation
• Committee selection
• Notification to authors/submitter

Initial Screening

The first step involves the submission of papers to the conference by authors. Upon receipt, the organising committee screens these submissions to ensure they meet the conference's submission criteria.

• This initial check includes verifying:
• adherence to formatting guidelines
• relevance to the conference themes
• completeness of the submission (e.g., inclusion of all required sections)

Submissions that fail to meet these basic requirements are rejected outright, ensuring that only compliant papers proceed to the next stage.

Distribution to Reviewers

Following the initial screening, compliant submissions are prepared for review. This involves anonymising the papers to remove any identifying information about the authors.

The organising committee then assigns these papers to up to three anonymous reviewers, taking care to match submissions with reviewers who have expertise in the relevant subject area, wherever possible.

Each paper is reviewed independently by the reviewers to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. The organising committee coordinates this distribution process, ensuring a balanced review workload and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Review Process

Reviewers receive their assigned papers along with a set of criteria on which to base their evaluation, namely:

• originality
• methodological rigor
• clarity of presentation
• relevance to the conference themes
• significance of the findings or arguments presented

Reviewers assess each paper based on these criteria and provide a numerical score and an overall recommendation (definitely accept, accept if room in the program, or reject). They may also offer constructive feedback for the authors, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

Compilation of Reviews

Once all reviews are completed, the organising committee will collect the assessments for each submission.

This compilation includes:

• numerical scores
• qualitative feedback

The committee evaluates these reviews, paying close attention to the recommendations and comments to identify the submissions most worthy of inclusion in the conference program.

Selection Process

The organising committee assesses the total volume of submissions relative to the available presentation slots.

Starting with the highest-rated submissions, the committee selects papers for inclusion until all slots are filled. This selection process considers:

• reviewer recommendations
• quality of submissions
• the need for a diverse and balanced program across themes and topic area

Notification and Feedback

Finally, authors will be notified of the decisions.

 

Submission FAQs

❓Do I need to include my Positionality Statement?

At its foundation, a conference is about knowledge production. Including a positionality statement is important because knowledge is never neutral; it is produced through our lived experiences, values, and worldviews. By making our positions explicit, we promote reflexivity, transparency, and accountability, and help to disrupt dominant power structures that have historically silenced or marginalised certain perspectives and voices in research and professional practice. This is true broadly, and also specifically within the discipline of neuropsychology.  

For this year’s conference, we respectfully ask all presenters to include a brief statement of positionality as part of their abstract submission. This may reflect on how your identity, background, and privileges shape your perspective, research, and professional practice.  

If you are feeling unsure or hesitant, please know your response will not be graded or evaluated by the scientific committee. Our intent is simply to foster, from the beginning, a reflexive, culturally responsive, and socially just approach to this year’s conference, as acknowledging one’s privilege and standpoint fosters more ethical, respectful, and inclusive knowledge exchange.  

This process aligns with the following relevant professional competencies:  

Principle 2; Competencies 3.4, 3.5, 7.4 

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In the spirit of reciprocity, the Conference Committee Co-chairs have shared their own brief positionality statements:

Jody Kamminga is of British and Dutch settler heritage and lives on Awakabal land. She understands the discipline in which she is trained has historically been and continues to be used as a tool of colonisation. Jody is committed to decolonising and culturally responsive neuropsychology practice, informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology governance and leadership. In addition to completing a PhD to better understand this topic, she is privileged to work as a research fellow for the Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) under the leadership of Professor Pat Dudgeon AM. 

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Judy Tang (she/her) is an Asian Australian born in Naarm. She is the daughter to refugee migrants from the Vietnam War, and has been a keen advocate for diversity and intersectional rights and awareness for the past 20 years. Her areas of advocacy include mental health, multiculturalism, ageing, disability, LGBTIQA+, First Nations, and neurodiversity. Judy has a private practise and is fortunate to learn and work with community organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Settlement Councils of Australia. She is also a current Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and Board Director at the Victorian Pride Centre.

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Dr. Vuletich is a clinical neuropsychologist, and borad approved supervisor, of settler Australian heritage, raised in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Her early experiences traveling on remote Country, planted a seed of deep appreciation of the resilience and importance of Aboriginal knowledges and culture and, as a young white person, the need to listen more. At UWA, she worked within the School of Indigenous Studies and has since continued supervision with leading Indigenous Psychologists, deepening her allyship and reflexive, decolonising practice. Her work spans WA Health leadership and private practice (since 2009), focusing on forensic medicolegal neuropsychology with justice-impacted peoples.

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• If you are interested in reading some more about the purpose and value of positionality statements, read HERE.

• Additionally, some examples of brief positionality statements for different contexts: HERE and HERE.

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❓Why do I need to include reference to PsyBA practice standards?

Including a statement about which PsyBA Code of Conduct Principles or Professional Practice Competencies (and sub-competencies) your presentation aligns with helps to strengthen the connection between our neuropsychological research, education, and professional practice at a time when our profession is still learning to embed these changes into the neuropsychology context.   

Among other things, this encourages presenters to: 

• Demonstrate relevance and accountability to the ethical and professional standards that govern neuropsychology practice in Australia. 
• Bridge theory and practice, showing how their work contributes to culturally safe, evidence-informed, and socially responsible professional conduct. 

• Promote reflective practice, aligning with PsyBA expectations that (neuro)psychologists critically consider how their work advances professional competence, cultural safety, and community wellbeing. 

• Highlight shared learning across research, clinical, educational, and community domains by linking individual projects to system-level professional values. 

Ultimately, we hope this approach reinforces the profession’s commitment to ethical, reflexive, and culturally responsive practice, ensuring that conference discussions contribute to both scholarly knowledge and professional growth. 

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❓Can I email, post, or fax my submission?

We only accept submissions via the online portal.

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❓Can I include images, tables, or other items?

Yes, if submitted as one document and directly relevant.

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❓When will I be notified?

• Within 1–2 months of submission deadline.
• Submission Deadline: 08 February 2026

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❓Who reviews submissions?

APS-affiliated peers and Program Committee.

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❓Presenter registrations

• Each presenter must register to attend and present at the conference.
• Mandatory registration applies to all presenters, regardless of session type.
• A 30% discount is available on the standard registration fee for presenters.
• Registration includes access to all conference sessions, networking opportunities, and conference materials.
• Presenters are responsible for completing registration by the advised deadline to confirm their place in the program.

Type	Incl GST	30% Discount Price
Full reg | Non Member	$1,100	$770
Full reg | CCN College Member	$880	$616
Full reg | APS Member	$990	$693
Full reg | APS/CCN Student	$330	$231
Full reg | Non Member Student	$400	$280

 

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❓Presentation format requirements

• Laptop, projector, screen provided
• Whiteboard/flipchart on request

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❓Compensation

In lieu of a presenter fee, you will receive the following benefits:

• Recognition – Be recognised as an expert in your field. Being accepted into the conference program demonstrates that you have met the reviewers quality standards as an excellent leader and presenter in the industry.
• Visibility – Increase your professional or company brand. Receive a wide reach of your presenter profile through conference marketing activities and direct access to an engaged audience.
• Advance the Profession – Align yourself with the leading psychology association in Australia in advancing and supporting the industry. Share your findings to build the knowledge and expertise of psychologists.
• Get Creative – Presenting allows you to develop your creativity and showcase your ability to share your findings in a dynamic way.
• Networking – Discuss and expand your findings with other experts from around Australia in an intellectually robust environment.
• Expand Your Opportunities – Presenting leads to other possible opportunities as it may help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organisation.

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❓Further questions

Please email: [email protected]

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