Overview

Ageing is not a single event. It is a series of transitions: retirement, changing health, shifts in independence, loss, and evolving family roles. Each brings its own psychological demands. While psychologists often have a strong understanding of development in earlier life, and are well versed in frameworks of lifespan development, later life is often underrepresented in training and practice. This is despite representing one of the most complex and fastest-growing areas of need. And, as AHPRA's core competencies call for practitioners to work confidently across the full lifespan, this is an area worth continuing to build knowledge and skill in.

Join us online for this panel discussion, which explores what is genuinely different about psychological work with older adults. Panellists will consider client factors such as attitudes to ageing, comorbid physical and cognitive conditions, accumulated wisdom, and a shifting time horizon that reshapes therapeutic goals. They will also examine context, including residential aged care, home-based care, and family dynamics, as well as clinician factors like our own attitudes, training gaps, and language. The panel will unpack the "ageing paradox," the finding that subjective losses. They will discuss what this means for positive ageing, and what core competencies underpin geropsychology practice.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Understand age-related changes and transitions across later life
• Identify the client, contextual, and clinician factors that shape psychological work with older adults
• Recognise the "ageing paradox" and its relevance to positive ageing
• Build knowledge of supports and services available to older adults and their families

Presenter(s)

About the presenter(s)

Professor Sunil Bhar is a Professor of Psychology at Swinburne University of Technology and a clinical psychologist specialising in psychological treatments for older adults. He directs the Swinburne Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults, which provides counselling and support to aged care residents, families and staff. Since 2005, his research has focused on developing effective, accessible and sustainable interventions to promote wellbeing in later life, particularly for depression, anxiety and suicide prevention. He has secured more than $13 million in research funding and received multiple awards for research, teaching and impact. Professor Bhar has also maintained a clinical practice for over 30 years.

Dr. Wendy McKenzie is a member of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists with expertise in age-related changes impacting mental health and wellbeing in later life. Wendy has a particular focus on supporting people living with dementia, family and carers and is passionate about helping people live well with dementia through education, accessing support, and connecting people with shared experiences.

A/Prof Kathryn Ellis is a Clinical Psychologist and Behavioural Neuroscientist whose work centres on ageing and neurodivergence. She is a Senior Clinical Psychologist within St Vincent’s Aged Mental Health Service and Clinic Coordinator of the Older Persons Autism Liaison Service (OPALS). She also maintains a small private practice and is a Psychology Board-approved supervisor. She divides her professional time between clinical practice and academic work at the University of Melbourne, where she is Deputy Lead of the Wellbeing in Ageing Team within the Department of Psychiatry, with a strong emphasis on capacity building and fostering clinical-research collaboration.

Notes

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists and health professionals.

Please note:

• 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.

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.

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.