Events

His Honour Justice Vandongen will share his reflections on the evolving legal landscape over his extensive career in criminal law, including interesting cases, ethical considerations working with mentally impaired accused and/or accused with cognitive/developmental disorders as prosecutor/defence/judge and how psychologists and psychiatrists can best assist the Court. Justice Vandongen graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia in 1991 and was admitted to legal practice in Western Australia in 1992. His Honour joined the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1996 and worked as a Crown Prosecutor in New South Wales before returning to Western Australia to take up the role of Consultant State Prosecutor in 2006. In 2008, his Honour joined the Independent Bar and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010. Justice Vandongen was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2022 and as a judge of the Court of Appeal in 2023. Justice Vandongen was appointed to the Federal Court on 17 December 2024. This event is a collaboration between The Piddington Society and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL). Please click here to register.

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming launch of Graham Loughlin's biography of South Australian lawyer Paris Nesbit KC by former High Court Justice the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr William Brereton will give a commentary on Paris Nesbit from a modern psychiatric perspective, comparing and contrasting his experiences with psychiatry today, and on forensic psychiatry, stigma, and the challenges of being a professional with major mental illness. Attendees will be invited to participate in a Q&A session on this theme moderated by William Boucaut KC. Event details: Date: Friday 22 May 2026 Time: 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM Location: Foyer AB, Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA Cost: Free, but registration essential (link). ANZAPPL (SA) is proud to present this event in collaboration with the Law Society of South Australia, the Adelaide University School of Law, Legal Services Commission, South Australian Bar Association, and Pride in Law, reflecting the intersection of law, mental health, and professional wellbeing. Paris Nesbit KC (1852–1927) was a brilliant yet controversial leader of the South Australian Bar for over 20 years, celebrated as a cultured scholar, poet, reformer and humanitarian, but criticised by some as erratic and egotistical. Intellectually gifted yet affected by mental illness, he was twice imprisoned and repeatedly confined to asylums. A prolific writer and lecturer inspired by liberal and Christian socialist ideas, he championed numerous social and legal reforms. Paris Nesbit KC: Quixotic Counsel explores his remarkable and turbulent life, tracing his career from articled clerk to King’s Counsel across five decades of South Australian legal history. Following the session, attendees are invited to stay for networking with light refreshments. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, with the author present for signing.

The 2026 Annual General Meeting of ANZAPPL NSW will take place at 7.00pm on Monday 2 March via Zoom. Members please click here to access relevant forms and the meeting link.

Dr Andrew Khoo now holds the Position of Medical Director of Military & Veterans Programs at Ramsay Clinic New Farm. He is the Deputy Chair of the RANZCP Committee for the Military, Veterans and Emergency Services Personnel Mental Health Network. He has represented the RANZCP at multiple government, Productivity Commission and Royal Commission inquiries. He is a member of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Expert Advisory Group. He is Chair of the Open Arms National Advisory Committee. He holds a Deputy Chair position for the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations Medical Assessment Tribunals - Psychiatric. Dr Khoo has externally reviewed mental health policy for the Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Police Service. He is the Principle Psychiatric Advisor to the Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR) and a member of the GMR Research Advisory Committee. He has chaired, been interviewed, presented or participated on panels around Australia and across all media platforms on Post Trauma psychological reactions and Military, Veteran and Emergency Service Workers’ mental health. He holds academic title with the University of Queensland within the School of Medicine and has published and continues to publish academic papers in peer reviewed psychiatric journals. He attained his fellowship from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2002, receiving a College medal for his final year dissertation on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has, for the last 28 years, overseen the provision of a nationally recognised CBT based group therapy program for PTSD previously at the Toowong Private Hospital and now at Ramsay Clinic New Farm. He was Director of Medical Services and Chair of the Medical Council at the Toowong Private Hospital between 2016 and 2025. This seminar will take place online from 12.30 - 1.30 AEST on Thursday 26 February. Attendance at this seminar is free for members but registration is essential. Please click here to register.

The 45th Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held at 5.00pm on Friday 5 December 2025, as part of ANZAPPL Congress at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, and via Zoom. Further information, including Nominations and Proxy Voting forms, can be found in the Members Section.

Join ANZAPPL QLD as two expert speakers discuss autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and criminal offending, and provide insights into how to identify, interact with, and respond to people with ASD who are also offending.  About the speakers Professor Dawn Adams (La Trobe University): Dawn is an international leader in autism research, with a particular focus on anxiety, mental health and wellbeing. Dawn’s work is grounded in over 20 years’ experience in paediatric psychology, clinical psychology, and applied research. Dawn commenced at La Trobe University in 2025 when she became the Olga Tennison Endowed Chair of Autism Research. Ashley Phelan (Queensland Police Service): Ashley is Manager of Forensic Behavioural Services, Child Protection Offender Registry, Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group. Ashley joined the Queensland Police Service after 20 years in the field of forensic, psychological and biomedical science. Ashley has extensive experience in the assessment, treatment, and management of male sexual offenders and other high harm offender cohorts. Registration is free for members but essential. Please click here to register.