AusACPDM DMCN forward update

Abstract

Our scientific conference provides us with a unique opportunity to share knowledge, learn, build skills, and network with colleagues from across the globe. While we were able to pivot and conduct our conference virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunities for face-to-face networking were sorely missed. We are excited to once again meet in person for our biennial conference. On behalf of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM) we extend a very warm welcome to the 12th AusACPDM Conference, hosted from beautiful Cairns, the traditional lands of the Gimuy Waluburra Yidinji and Yirrganydji people in the tropical north of Australia, 31st July to 3rd August 2024.

The conference theme – Respect, Respond, Reimagine – embodies the core values and visions of our Academy and the program of preconference workshops, free papers, breakfast sessions, focused symposia, instructional workshops, and eminent national and international keynote speakers reflects this strong focus.

Respect for our First Nations people and their enduring connection to country and working together to close the gap in health inequities, respect for people with lived experience and those who care for them, with greater involvement in research from inception and co-design to implementation is reflected in the program. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges in low-resource settings is showcased as service delivery is reimagined, and technology and AI is harnessed. This impactful program features research from low-resource settings, features new technologies, community participation, orthopaedics, early intervention, pain, sleep, mental health, family wellbeing, adults, reimagining service delivery, measurement and outcomes, and best practice interventions.

Program content will be available on-demand for 3 months via our web-based platform. Our program continues to showcase the exceptional work from our two top PhD candidates in our platform presentations, and we are pleased that our top eight talented PhD scholars will present their work in one of the concurrent oral presentation sessions. We are excited to showcase the amazing work from these talented researchers. We are also supporting our early and mid career researchers with a networking session.

This supplement contains the abstracts of the free papers and PhD platform presentations in partnership with our Academy journal partner, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. We acknowledge and thank Leanne Sakzewski as the Scientific Chair and the Scientific Conference Committee for developing a diverse program. Thank you to our Conference Committee co-chairs Alicia Spittle, Sarah McIntyre and Kirsty Stewart, along with other members of our Conference Committee – Sian Williams, Margaret Wallen, Jennifer Lewis, Meredith Wynter, Tessa Devries, Lynda McNamara and our professional conference organisation team, for their enormous effort to bring this conference together. The AusACPDM are also very grateful for the ongoing support from our exhibitors and sponsors and we encourage you to visit the many virtual trade displays during the conference.

The conference will be run as a hybrid, with our commitment to equitable access for our clinicians, researchers, educators, people with lived experience, families, carers, and support workers from across Australasia and internationally. We welcome everyone to Respect, Respond, and Reimagine how people with childhood-onset disabilities, their families, and carers can live their best lives.

On behalf of the AusACPDM Conference Committee.