The Australian Society for Psychiatric Research

Bulletin 08.08.08

1. Message from President
2. ASPR Committee Contacts
3. ASPR Matters
4. Conferences and Related
5. Scholarships
6. Positions Available

________________________________________

1. Message From President

1. The organisation of the Newcastle Conference for 2008 is proceeding well; the Organising Committee under the chairpersonship of Amanda Baker is doing an outstanding job.

2. I am pleased to announce that the 2009 ASPR Conference will be held in Canberra. The Executive at its last meeting approved of the bid from the Centre for Mental Health Research at ANU. Peter Butterworth will be the Chair of the 2009 organising committee and he has already commenced plans for this conference.

3. You will recall from earlier bulletins that the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) was concerned that the Federal Government was holding back the release of the Second Australian Mental Health and Well Being Report. Tony Jorm has advised me that the report will be released in October 2008. I also received the same information from MHCA a few days ago.

4. Very shortly a separate email will go out to all members asking for nominations for ASPR prizes. These include: the Founders Award, The Eli Lilly Oration, The Organon Research Award and the Early Career Researcher Award. For more details see our website: http://www.aspr.org.au/

5. You will also be aware that for the first time Rotary has funded a Knowledge Dissemination Award which is open to non-ASPR members as well. Please see Section 5 of this Bulletin.

6. On behalf of ASPR I have written a letter in support of the submission of the Australian Mental Health National Consumer and Carer Advocacy Peak Bodies (23 May 2008) to the Senate Inquiry on Mental Health. This submission calls for the establishment of a Task Force to examine a number of issues relevant to people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). These issues include: the optimal evidence-based practice for the treatment of BPD; the education and training of primary and mental health practitioners in the treatment of BPD; and improving services for clients with BPD and their carers and families. The ASPR Executive gave its unreserved support to supporting this submission (25 July 2008).

All the best
Henry

2. ASPR Committee Contacts

Professor Henry Jackson (President)                    henryjj@unimelb.edu.au
Associate Professor Trevor Norman (Secretary)   trevorrn@unimelb.edu.au
Professor Andrew Mackinnon (Treasurer)            Andrew.Mackinnon@anu.edu.au

ACT: Dr Peter Butterworth                   Peter.Butterworth@anu.edu.au
NSW: Dr Helen Stain                           Helen.Stain@newcastle.edu.au
NZ:    Dr Caroline Bell                         caroline.bell@chmeds.ac.nz
NZ:    Dr Sunny Collings                       sunny.collings@otago.ac.nz
QLD: Dr Geoff Waghorn                    geoff_waghorn@qcmhr.uq.edu.au
SA:    Professor Cherrie Galletly            cherrie@drgalletly.com
VIC:   Professor Graham Burrows         gdb@unimelb.edu.au
WA: Ms Giulietta Valuri                       giulietta.valuri@uwa.edu.au
TAS: Dr Kristy Sanderson                    kristy.sanderson@utas.edu.au
Dr Clair Kelly (coopted)                       ckel@unimelb.edu.au
Associate Professor Brian Dean (coopted) bdean_mhri@iprimus.com.au
Dr Elizabeth Scarr (coopted)                     elscarr@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Eoin Killackey (coopted)                      eoin@unimelb.edu.au
Associate Professor Amanda Baker (2008 Conference Organiser) amanda.baker@newcastle.edu.au

3. ASPR Matters

Call for nominations – ASPR treasurer and Secretary
Trevor Norman and Andrew MacKinnon will be retiring from their positions in accordance with the ASPR constitution, which requires retirement following 9 years on the committee. This shall remain a standing item until nominations close prior to the AGM at the Newcastle Conference. Nominations should be directed to the President, Henry Jackson: henryjj@unimelb.edu.au

Call for nominations for President of ASPR – Henry Jackson completes his three year term as President in Dec 2009.The recent convention is that the successful nominee becomes President-elect one year prior to taking up presidency. This means the successful nominee would become President- elect in December 2008. This procedure allows the President-elect a year to shadow the precedent and become familiar with the policies and procedures of the ASPR.

Nominations for the position of President should be directed to Henry Jackson: henryjj@unimelb.edu.au

Help Via the Internet for People with Bipolar Disorder

Researchers at University of NSW are currently recruiting people with bipolar disorder throughout Australia to participate in an innovative online study designed to help them take control and stay well.

What is involved?
You will be offered one of three programs that involve online education about bipolar disorder. In addition, one of the programs includes email support from an 'Informed Supporter' (a person with bipolar disorder who is effectively managing his/her condition) who will provide information and practical advice about bipolar disorder. To take part in the program, you must be prepared to complete four questionnaires during eight months and continue to see your managing health professional.

For further information contact: onlineprograms@unsw.edu.au

4. Conferences And Related

ASPR CONFERENCE
2- 5 December 2008
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

The annual ASPR conference is being held in Newcastle, NSW, Australia - planning is underway to bring you an exciting, varied and innovative program.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Early April: Call for Abstracts Open, Registration open

31st July Close of Abstract Submission

1st September: Early Bird Deadline for Registration Closes.

For more information, log onto the conference website at: www.willorganise.com.au/aspr2008
Or contact the conference secretariat for more information (details below).

ASPR Conference Secretariat
PO Box 180
Morisset NSW 2264
Tel: 02 4973 6573
Fax: 02 4973 6609
Email: aspr2008@willorganise.com.au

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY – 10 OCTOBER 2008
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is a significant annual international event that aims to celebrate and promote mental health. The Day is internationally coordinated by the World Federation for Mental Health and cosponsored by the World Health Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations. In Australia, WMHD is held in conjunction with National Mental Health Week (NMHW), which is promoted by the relevant peak mental health organisations and other organisations in each State/Territory.
Events such as WMHD are crucial in raising awareness about mental health issues,
promoting mental health, preventing mental illness, and combating stigma, myths and discrimination.

Launch of WMHD
The Mental Health Council of Australia will officially launch WMHD 2008 at:
The National Museum of Australia (Peninsula Room)
10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Friday 10 October 2008.

For more information about WMHD and the World Federation for Mental Health, go to:
http://www.wfmh.org

10th Biennial Australasian Schizophrenia Conference
Recovery in Schizophrenia - The Great Open Road,
October 23-24, 2008, Lorne

The Australasian Schizophrenia Conference promises an enlightening programme of international and local speakers presenting the latest research in a variety of areas including cognition, neurodevelopment, neuroscience, psychosocial treatments, drug therapies and epidemiology.

Abstracts from all fields of schizophrenia research are welcome. Fellow professionals in all health streams, consumers and carers are welcome and encouraged to attend this important and exciting conference to foster further international collaboration and reform. We look forward to you joining us in the picturesque Victorian coastal town of Lorne for a conference which promises to open the road towards recovery in schizophrenia.

Venue          Mantra Erskine Beach Resort, Lorne Victoria
Date             22 to 23 Oct 2008
Email            info@asc08.com
Website       www.iepa2008.com/RelatedMeetings.html
Tel:               (03) 9682 0500

6th International Conference on Early Psychosis
Early Intervention – The Next Wave
October 23-24 2008, Melbourne

In 2008 national and international speakers will come together to:

Highlight the latest progress in research and clinical care in early psychosis
Focus on linkages across diagnostic groups in early intervention
Consider the relationships between different stages of illness
Promote further international collaboration and reform

Under the leadership of Professor Patrick McGorry, a scientific programme is being developed by leading mental health experts from around the world to ensure the content is stimulating, groundbreaking and highly educational.

Venue          Melbourne Convention Centre (Crn of Spencer St and Flinders St)
Date             20 to 22 October 2008
Email            info@iepa2008.com
Website       www.iepa2008.com
Tel:               (03) 9682 0500

4th AH & MR Congress, 16-21st November 2008, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Please visit the meeting website: www.ahmrcongress.org.au

The second Annual National Dementia Research Forum will be held at the Wesley Conference Centre in Sydney 18-19 September 2008. This year, we have been able to engage four international speakers and the program will include a variety of sessions: plenaries, workshops, poster sessions, a hypothetical, a breakfast with the experts and a working lunch for emerging researchers.

A program, registration form and call for poster abstracts are available from our website http://www.dementia.unsw.edu.au/DCRCweb.nsf/page/Forum.

If you'd like to know, what last year's delegates said about the Forum, please have a look at our October 2007 DCRC Newsletter at: http://www.dementia.unsw.edu.au/DCRCweb.nsf/resources/News2006/$file/Newsletter+-+Dementia+CRC+-+Issue+4.pdf

The 8th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology will be held at UNSW Scientia on 3rd to 6th September 2008.
This landmark meeting serves to foster cross-fertilisation of scientific knowledge among clinical and preclinical scientists from different related disciplines. The theme for the 2008 meeting is “Protecting and Repairing the Ageing Brain”. The program will include healthy brain ageing and the full range of neuropsychiatric disorders in the elderly, including dementias, MCI, late onset schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders of late life, sleep disorders, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, stroke and cerebrovascular disease.
For further information please email: icgp2008@unsw.edu.au
Lauren Norton: 02 9382 2094
Website: www.icgp.org

Author Tour, September 2008
THE BRAIN THAT CHANGES ITSELF
stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science
by DR NORMAN DOIDGE

Psychiatrist and researcher Norman Doidge, M.D., travelled around the United States to meet the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity, and the people whose lives they’ve transformed. Dr Doidge has written an immensely moving, inspiring book that will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.

Sally Rosevear
Events & Marketing Coordinator
Scribe Publications

595 Drummond St
(PO Box 523)
North Carlton
VIC 3054

ph: 03 9349 5955
fax: 03 9348 2752
email: marketing@scribepub.com.au
website: www.scribepublications.com.au

Psychogenic Cardiovascular Disease Conference
3-5 September 2008
Prato, Tuscany

The Baker Heart Research Institute inaugural “Heart and Mind” conference will be held in the delightful Tuscan town of Prato, Italy, from 3-5 September, 2008. The Baker Heart Research Institute is Australia’s highest profile and most productive cardiovascular research institute.

The conference will have as its centrepoint the link between psychological medicine and cardiovascular disease, delineating the relationship between stress, mental illness, and the development and course of heart disease and hypertension. It will showcase the crucial epidemiology, mediating neural and other mechanisms, and social and psychological measures applicable to prevention and treatment. There will be invited addresses by international leaders in the field. The target audience will be general practitioners, cardiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, epidemiologists and social scientists.

For program details, registration and abstract submission visit www.heartandmind.prato2008.com

National Dementia Research Forum
18 – 19 September 2008
Sydney Masonic Centre
http://www.dementia.unsw.edu.au
email: dementiacrc@unsw.edu.au

5. Scholarships

Introducing the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) Knowledge Dissemination Award

Purpose of the Award
ASPR has a number of awards acknowledging excellence in research. However, there is often a gap between knowledge gained through research and the dissemination of that knowledge to clinicians, consumers and carers, and its implementation into policy and practice. ARHRF has therefore established an annual award to recognise excellence in knowledge dissemination and research translation.

Nature of the Award
The award consists of a framed certificate and the expenses of attending the ASPR conference. The expenses are for a total amount not exceeding $3000 and include: registration at ASPR Conference for that year, for two nights’ accommodation at the ASPR Conference and air travel within Australia.

The winner will be expected to attend the ASPR conference for that year, to present for 25 minutes at that same Conference and to be available to Rotary for no less than three speaking engagements over the ensuing 12 months. (Note that if these future speaking engagements are not held in the town or city where the successful applicant lives, then the ARHRF will cover the cost of airfare and accommodation).

Eligibility
The award is open to all researchers, clinicians, consumers and organisations who seek to advance the availability of evidence-based interventions for those who are experiencing mental illness in the Australian community.

The prize is open to individuals and organisations. They may be consumers, carers, researchers, or organisations involving these groups.

The winner will not need to be an ASPR member.

Selection Criteria
The prize is for the most outstanding effort to disseminate knowledge about evidence-based interventions in mental health. The entry should describe the activity, the target audience, and the evidence base for the research/knowledge which is being promoted. It should also describe the impact that their activity has had and how this was measured.

In 2008 guidelines for the award will be quite broad as it is uncertain what kinds of entrants the award may attract.

Judging
Judging will be by a panel of three, with two nominated by Rotary and one by the ASPR Executive.

How to Apply
Applicants will be required to submit a written entry describing their knowledge dissemination or research translation activity. This will need to be no longer than two A4 pages, 12 point font and 2 cm margins all around.

In the first instance, applications should be sent to Dr Eoin Killackey, the Convenor of the ASPR Knowledge Dissemination Working Party at eoin@unimelb.edu.au by 1 October 2008. The inaugural award will be presented by Australian Rotary at the Newcastle ASPR Conference in 2008.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Research in Early Psychosis.

The Psychosis Research Program of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary is recruiting full-time postdoctoral fellows funded through the Alberta Mental Health Centennial Chairs Program to start September 1st 2008.

The post doctoral positions will focus on developing original research and participating in ongoing research in early detection and intervention studies that are being conducted with individuals in the pre-psychotic phase of the schizophrenia or in the first stages. Research is carried out in conjunction with the Calgary Early Psychosis Treatment Service (EPTS) which is a well-established clinical program offering comprehensive and optimal treatment for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis and the Calgary PRIME clinic, a research clinic for young people at clinical high risk of psychosis. Studies will involve program development for early psychosis, psychosocial treatments, cognitive behavioural therapy, risk factors, social cognition and social functioning and imaging. The candidate will be expected to develop lines of research in two of these areas.

Applicant requirements include (i) a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical or counselling psychology, or a related discipline; (ii) previous experience in clinical assessment and treatment of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness; (iii) strong background in research design and methodology, statistics, and preparation of manuscripts; and (iv) interest in early psychosis and a demonstrated interest in further learning in this area. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada.

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and follow CIHR guidelines.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, CV, academic transcript, and up to 3 reprints/preprints and arrange for three letters of recommendation to:

Dr Jean Addington
Alberta Centennial Mental Health Research Chair
& Novartis Chair for Schizophrenia Research
Department of Psychiatry
Health Sciences Centre – Faculty of Medicine
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1
e-mail jmadding@ucalgary.ca

ASMR is pleased to announce the 2008 ASMR Professional Development Program to be held in five major cities:
Melbourne                  12 August
Brisbane                    14 August
Sydney                        18 August
Perth                           20 August
Adelaide                     22 August

The ASMR Professional Development Program is designed to fill what is currently a gap in executive training for mid-career Australian medical researchers.

Ongoing professional training is not available to the majority of medical researchers who while they may have excelled scientifically, still need to develop the management skills that will enable them to successfully run their own laboratories, attract funding and progress in the National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowship scheme.

Health and Medical Researchers who are between 5-12 years postdoctoral are invited to participate.

Topics covered will include:

How to set up, run and maintain a successful research group
I have great ideas; how do I fund them?
Work/Life balance
Master class in professional skills

For full program and registration details go to: http://www.asmr.org.au/breakingnews.html

Research and Practice (CPNRP) at the University of Melbourne, and the Australian Mental Health Consumer Network (AMHCN) are extremely pleased to announce the Partnerships in Wellbeing Awards 2008

The Partnerships in Wellbeing Awards, inaugurated in 2001, recognise and
support innovative programs to help people with a mental illness to optimise their lifestyle and improve quality of life.
Major awards up to $6000 each and recognition awards up to $1000 each will support the development and continuation of existing programs. The programs can be delivered within a mental health service or by voluntary community groups.
Applications will be judged by a panel of representatives from ACMHN, CPNRP and AMHCN.
Awards will recognise:
- The existence of an evaluation process, and any evidence from such a process. This will be highly regarded, as it will demonstrate the effectiveness of the program
- A focus on optimising consumers’ quality of life
- A multidisciplinary approach with involvement of mental health nurses and other allied mental health professionals
- An innovative approach that has not attracted significant funding from other sources

Application forms will be available in April, and can be obtained from www.mindbodylife.com.au
or by contacting Dr Mike Exton at Eli Lilly Australia at m.exton@lilly.com.

Winners will be announced at the ACMHN Conference, Melbourne, October,6th-10th, 2008.

The 2008 LIFE Awards are now OPEN FOR NOMINATION!!!

The LIFE Awards are a prestigious national annual event which acknowledges the vital work that is being undertaken in the prevention of suicide across Australia.

The LIFE Awards are held in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day, 10th September. The theme for this year is "Think Globally, Plan Nationally, Act Locally".

.The 'LIFE' AWARDS acknowledges great contribution to suicide prevention. Awards are in nine categories:
*       Business
*       Youth
*       Community
*       Indigenous
*       Public Sector
*       Media (print)
*       Media (non-print)
*       Research - Lifetime
*       Research - Emerging

Please visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org/Awards.aspx for more information including a description of each award category.

SPA would encourage nominations to be sent in as early as possible, but no later than COB Thursday 28th August 2008.

Please note, you are able to self nominate for a LIFE Award.

The Australian Society for Medical Research
The ASMR Research Awards

The Australian Society for Medical Research invites applications for “The ASMR Research Awards”.

Each award ($5000 international or $2000 domestic) will support a postgraduate student member of the Society nearing completion of their studies or a recently graduated postdoctoral member to undertake a short period of research in a laboratory outside their home city.

The award specifically excludes support for conference attendance and travel for an extended period of postdoctoral studies.

Applicants for “The ASMR Research Awards” must have been members of the ASMR for at least 12 months immediately preceding the year in which the Award application is to be considered. Applicants must have conducted no more than 3 years active research post their highest degree (career interruptions will be considered). The Award must be taken up during the first 6 months of the following
year.

The recipients of the Award will be announced at the National Scientific Conference of the Society. A condition of receipt of the Award is that the recipients will be available to present their data at the National Scientific Conference of the Society in the year of the Award. Further, the recipients will provide an article about their research for inclusion in the November issue of the newsletter of the Society in the year of the Award. Any publications resulting from work supported by the Award should acknowledge the financial contribution of “The ASMR Research Award”.

For more information go to: http://www.asmr.org.au/Awards.html

Applications must be received by the closing date (5:00 pm, Tuesday September 30, 2008). Facsimiles will not be accepted.

An original application form and four copies should be sent to:
The Honorary Secretary, ASMR,
145 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

The Australian Society for Medical Research ACN 000 599 235 -ABN 18 000 599 235
145 Macquarie Street. Sydney, 2000 Ph: (02) 9256 5450, Fax (02) 9252 0294

Email: asmr@world.net, Website: www.asmr.org.au
Enquiries should be addressed to :Snr Executive Officer: Catherine West

Have you heard about Alzheimer's Australia Research's 2008 Dementia Grants Program?

AAR is happy to be offering a wide range of research grants in 2008, including travel grants, grants focusing on dementia care, and grants for new researchers, and is encouraging quality applications from all around Australia:

Research Grants

4 x AAR Dementia Research Grants for new researchers of $20,000
Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care of $20,000

Travel Grants

Rosemary Foundation Travel Project Grant of $10,000
Rosemary Foundation Travel Stipend Grant of $5,000

Postgraduate Scholarships

Hunter Postgraduate Research Scholarship into the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease ($23,000 per year for 3 years)

Postdoctoral Fellowships

AAR Post-doctoral Fellowship ($90,000 per year for 2 years)
4 x Viertel Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships in Dementia ($45,000 per year for 2 years with payments matched by applicants’ institution)

Postgraduate Scholarship applications open in September 2008 and will close on 31 October 2008.

Application forms and further information can be found at http://www.alzheimers.org.au/content.cfm?topicid=250 .

If you have any questions please contact:

Dinusha Fernando
Email: aar@alzheimers.org.au
Phone: (02) 6254 4233
Alzheimer’s Australia Research
PO Box 4019
Hawker ACT 2614

6. Position Vacant

**VICSERV Employment for People with Mental Illness

Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV), the peak body for psychiatric rehabilitation and support services in Victoria, is conducting an employment campaign for people with mental illness. The VICSERV campaign focuses on the following issues:

develop a national mental health employment strategy to adequately address employment issues for people with mental illness seeking work,
review and overhaul the Job Capacity Assessment process, which currently acts as a disincentive and barrier to people with mental illness seeking work, and
recognise the need for a system that is sufficiently flexible and supportive to meet the needs of people with mental health issues in accessing and retaining work.

Organisations can participate in this campaign by opting-in and ordering postcards from VICSERV, who will provide full-colour postcards (printed with the organisation’s logo) and a pdf kit (created with the organisations logo and contact details) outlining the issues and the actions to involve members/supporters. Individuals and organisations can also participate in the campaign by signing-up and receiving information including postcards and a kit.

Information on the campaign is available through the VICSERV website at http://www.vicserv.org.au/

This is a very worthwhile campaign being undertaken by VICSERV and MHCA members should contact or seek further information from VICSERV if they are interested in taking part.