Optimising Health and Well-Being through Social Prescribing and Connectedness

Come and enjoy a conference extravaganza in 2025.

DETAILS

Date: Friday, 17 October 2025
Time: Registration 8am, Symposium 8.30am - 17:00pm
Where: Spinnakers and Anchorage, Ballina RSL Club
Cost: See registration (Including morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea)
Payment methods: Pay when you register or email us at admin@dementiainclusiveballina.org.au

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Mandy Nolan, Standup Comedian, Author, Writer, Activist

PROGRAM*

08.00 – 08.30 Registration

08.30 – 08.40 Official Opening: Sharon Cadwallader Ballina Shire Mayor

08.40 – 09.00 Denise Duroux Community Elder: Welcome to Country

09.00 – 09.40 Keynote address: Scientia Prof. Henry Brodaty UNSW Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA): Social connectedness in context of dementia cognitive Impairment

09.40 – 10.20 Dr Jennifer Mann Healthy Ageing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Yarning circles and connection for first nations peoples

MORNING TEA

10.50 – 11.20 Ms Gautami Motupally Program Manager for the Western Sydney Alliance: Social Connectedness in Western Sydney.

11.20 – 11.50 Associate Professor Margaret MacAndrew School of Nursing QUT: The research behind a practical strategy for social connectedness

11.50 – 12.50 Dr. Hilton Koppe GP: Panel discussion: Prof. Brodaty/ Dr Mann/Ms Motupally/ Ass. Prof. McAndrew, Jo Winwood The practical application of social prescribing.

LUNCH

14.00 – 15.00 Dr Sabrina Pit: Younger Onset Dementia Panel Discussion: Craig & Chris McNally (lived experience), Kylie Strom (OT), Kaila Perusco (Carers NSW), Caitlin Geijer (Able and Rose)

15.00 – 16.00 Dr Rachel Jones Geriatrician NNSWLHD & Leanne White Health Promotion Unit NNSWLHD: Strong Hearts, Connected Lives: The Role of Social and Physical Engagement in Ageing - Interactive session

16.00 – 16.30 Professor Vicki Flood Head of School University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney: Social connection through food and family - Interactive session

16.30 – 17.00 Dr Louise Horstmanshof Senior Lecturer Psychology/Faculty of Health SCU: Closing Remarks

17.00 and after Networking

*Subject to change. Limited to 100 people. There will be several short breaks between the afternoon sessions.

Optimising Health and Well-Being through Social Prescribing and Connectedness

DETAILS

PROGRAM*

GOLD SPONSORS