Overview

People experiencing complex homelessness present with intersecting cognitive, mental health, neurodevelopmental, and substance-use difficulties that often persist despite access to housing. While cognitive functioning in homelessness has been described previously, the specific neuropsychological profile of complex homelessness has remained unclear.

This presentation reports findings from one of the first Australian studies to comprehensively characterise the neuropsychological functioning of people experiencing complex homelessness using robust psychometric methods, including performance and symptom validity testing. The session will outline patterns of intellectual functioning, memory, and executive impairment, rates of DSM-5-TR diagnoses, and the practical utility of neuropsychological assessment in facilitating access to housing, financial, and support pathways.

The presentation will emphasise clinical implications for psychologists conducting assessments with highly vulnerable populations and highlight how neuropsychological assessment can support advocacy, service navigation, and interdisciplinary decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• Describe the characteristic neuropsychological profile associated with complex homelessness across intelligence, memory, and executive functioning domains.
• Understand the role of performance and symptom validity testing when assessing individuals experiencing complex psychosocial adversity.
• Recognise how neuropsychological assessment can clarify, confirm, or disconfirm psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurocognitive diagnoses.
• Apply assessment findings to support referral pathways, access to services, and practical outcomes for people experiencing complex homelessness.

Presenter(s)

Dr. Jamie Berry

About the presenter(s)

Jamie Berry is an Australian clinical neuropsychologist with over 25 years’ experience across public health, private practice, and academia. He is Director of Advanced Neuropsychological Treatment Services and has led multiple programs focused on cognitive assessment and remediation for vulnerable populations. His research program centres on improving the reliability, validity, and real-world utility of neuropsychological assessment and intervention, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations, including people experiencing complex homelessness, acquired brain injury, and substance use disorders. Dr Berry has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and regularly delivers professional development activities for peers and frontline workforces supporting vulnerable people.

Notes

Please note: Event will commence at 5:30pm.

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists and health professionals.

Duration of Access

This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days.

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Zoom link) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators. 

• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, event-recording, and any additional resources shared during the session.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.