RACGP members who attend the 2025 AMMA Educational Workshop Series may quick log their CPD hours relevant to their scope of practice. If you require further assistance, please contact Melissa Wilkinson via email melissa.wilkinson@racgp.org.au.
Thank you to our Principal Sponsor
| Thursday 16 October 2025 | |||||
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| 1100 - 1600 | Registration opens Sponsored by |
Foyer M & N | |||
| 1215 - 1630 | Ballistics Workshop (Registration required) | L2 | |||
| 1700 - 1800 | AMMA COUNCIL MEETING | L1A | |||
| Friday 17 October 2025 | |||||
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| 0700 - 1800 | Registration Opens Sponsored by |
Foyer M & N | |||
| 0700 - 1530 | Barista Cart Opens Sponsored by   |
Halls MNO | |||
| 0730 - 1830 | Exhibition Opens | Halls MNO | |||
| 0730 - 1630 | Speakers Preparation Room Opens | L1A | |||
| 0830-0835 | WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT CAPT Ian Young AM RAN |
Hall L | |||
| 0835 - 0840 | WELCOME TO COUNTRY Cliffy Wilson, Cultural Educator with Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services |
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| 0840 - 0845 | OFFICIAL ADDRESS Chris Picton Minister for Health and Wellbeing, SA |
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| 0845 - 0900 | OFFICIAL OPENING & PATRON ADDRESS Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett AM |
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| 0900 - 0915 | OPENING ADDRESS CAPT Ian Young AM RAN |
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| 0920 - 1010 | OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS Four Decades of Caring for Those Who Served : Personal Reflections on the Evolution -- or not-- of Disability Entitlements related to Military Service Dr. Cyd E. Courchesne OMM, CD1, MD, MCFP, DAVMED, CHE (Captain (Navy) retired) With thanks to
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| 1015 - 1045 | Morning Refreshments & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by |
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| 1050 - 1200 | Session 1 Hall L |
Session 2 L2 |
Session 3 L3 |
Session 4 City Rooms 1&2 |
Session 5 City Rooms 3&4 |
| Chair: | CAPT Ian Young AM | LTCOL Csongor Oltvolgyi | Dr Andy Robertson | MAJ Brendan Wood | WGCDR Kim Davey |
| 1050-1110 | Beyond Force Protection: Environmental Health and the Operational Advantage in Complex Battlespaces Dr Andrew Mathieson |
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Veterans: A Novel Approach to Healing Trauma Through Structured Retreat Programs Dr Aileen Alegado |
Beyond the Blast: A Data-Driven Blueprint for Military Brain Health in Australia Paul Scanlan |
Implications for Australia of the 2025 update to NATO STANAG 2939 Minimum Requirements for Blood, Blood Donors and Associated Equipment BRIG Michael Reade |
An Exploration of the Role of Military Advanced Practitioners and Their Potential Employability in the Deployed Pre-Hospital Environment: A Mixed-Methods Study Dr Elizabeth Paxman |
| 1115 - 1135 | Rapid Medical Supply Delivery Dr Joni Sytsma |
Embedding Cultural Change through a Systems-Based Alcohol Management Framework in the Australian Defence Force Lucas Liew |
Stress, Resilience & Functioning: 8-Week Peer Led Program Colin Von Rechenberg |
Walking Blood Bank: Benefit in Contingency and Kinetic Operations Prof Mansoor Khan |
Maximising Military Healthcare Capability: Evolving Perioperative Nursing Roles for a Dynamic Future LCDR Jen Evans |
| 1140 - 1200 | Force Health Protection
Health Superiority as a Battlefield Multiplier WO Lee Matthews |
Fighting Mental Health Stigma from the Bottom-Up:Key Findings from an Integrated, Peer-Connected Group Program for Defence Kids Living in Families Affected By Military Associated Mental Illness WITHDRAWN |
A Medical Perspective of the VETS Act: Changes, Challenges, and Chances Dr Fletcher Davies |
Platelet Transfusions in a Military Context: Current and Emerging Evidence Dr Elissa Milford |
Clinical and Moral Readiness for Nursing Officer Deployment to Armed Conflict: Lessons from the Middle East LTCOL Jane Mateer |
| 1200-1310 | Lunch, Poster Session & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by |
Halls MNO Chair: MAJ Brendan Wood |
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| 1315 - 1445 | Session 6 Joint session with Australian and New Zealand Burn Association Civilian military partnerships in conflicts in burns (Joint with AMMA) Hall L |
Session 7 L2 |
Session 8 L3 |
Session 9 City Rooms 1&2 |
Session 10 City Rooms 3&4 |
| Chair: | COL Keith Towsey | SQNLDR Gus Cabre | LTCOL Csongor Oltvolgyi | MAJ Brendan Wood | CMDR Martin Richardson |
| 1315 | RADM Sonya Bennett AM Surgeon General ADF Joint Health Command |
Leading Minds Left Behind: Why the Mental Health of Leaders Can’t Be an Afterthought Dr Kylie Tuppin |
Patterns Of Health Service Usage Among Ex-Serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) Members in the Year Prior To Suicide Alastair Herschel |
Accelerated Healing: Preliminary Outcomes from a 4-Day Intensive Trauma Treatment Centre (ITTC) Program for Veterans Using EMDR 2.0 and Prolonged Imaginal Exposure Dr Michelle Parker-Tomlin |
Moral Injury: Addressing Recommendation 78 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide CHAP (COL) Charles Vesely |
| 1330 | How will Civ-Mil Interface Work with Burns AIRCDRE Andrew Pearce |
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| 1335 | |||||
| 1340 | Supporting High Psychological Threat Missions Through the Use of the Hui Process Kirsty Whitehead |
Preparedness and Resilience: Environmental Surveillance for Biosecurity and the Opportunities of Biomanufacturing Dr Craig Rogers |
Wounded and Without Rescue: Having to Provide Clinical Care to Multiple Casualties Whilst Also Being Wounded By an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Clinical Decision Making and Leadership in Extremis LCDR Travis Robinson |
Moral Injury Skills Training (MIST): Past, Present and Future Dynamics for Addressing the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Defence and Veteran Suicide CHAP (WGCDR) Assoc. Prof Lindsay B. Carey |
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| 1345 | Does UK's practice make perfect when it comes to mass casualty? Nicole Lee |
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| 1350 | |||||
| 1355 | |||||
| 1400 | Current Geopolitical Implications for Trauma and Burns Providers in the (Potential) IndoPacific Theatre James Jeng |
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| 1405 | Personalised Virtual Reality Positive Mental Enhancement (VRPME™): An innovative Solution for Psychological Resilience in Isolated and High-Stress Military Environments. Findings from the Mars Society Arctic Analog Mission Dr Stephane Verhaeghe |
Female Veterans’ Perspectives on the Impact of Chronic Pain and Challenges to Obtaining Optimal Health Care Dr Rebecca Mellor |
Rapid Extrication of Poly-Trauma Patients from Military Armored Vehicles: An Inter-Agency Trial of Lessons Learned Robert Curtis |
Responding to Moral Injury in a Dynamic Maritime Crisis Senior Chaplain Daniel Hynes |
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| 1410 | |||||
| 1415 | Partnerships in Action: Building Burn Capability and Capacity in the Emirates LTCOL Eleanor Curtis |
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| 1425 | |||||
| 1430 - 1445 | Panel Discussion | From Past to Present: How Pre-Service Trauma and Current Cognitive and Behavioural Processes Shape PTSD Risk in Military Personnel Prof Jennifer Wild |
Psychosocial Outcomes for Australian Defence Force Veterans and Family Members During Military to Civilian Transition: Insights from the Families in Transition Study Amber Cohen |
Prolonged Forward Care- What does this Mean and What does it Look Like? CDRE Anthony Holley |
A Transferable Framework for Moral Injury: An Interdisciplinary Psychology and Chaplaincy Model from Emergency Services Jesse Winter |
| 1445 - 1525 | Afternoon Refreshments & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by Indulgence Cart Sponsored by  |
Halls MNO | |||
| Session 11 Short Oral Session |
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| Chair: | MAJ Brendan Wood | ||||
| 1530 - 1535 | The Hero's Journey: Narratives of Mental Health Recovery in NZDF Personnel SQNLDR Carsten Grimm |
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| 1535 - 1540 | Utilising the Veterans Lens Consultation Tool to Optimise Veteran Health and Wellbeing Dr Catherine Eltringham |
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| 1540 - 1545 | Beyond Insomnia: A New Era of Sleep Health Screening in the NZDF Amy Davis |
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| 1545 - 1550 | Developing a Platform Agnostic HADR capability in the RAN CMDR Scott Squires |
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| 1550 - 1555 | Strategic and Operational Priorities for the growth of Military Medicine COL Tim Inglis |
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| Chair: | CAPT Ian Young AM | ||||
| 1600 - 1650 | KEYNOTE ADDRESS Building your Resilience Shield Dr Dan Pronk |
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| 1650 - 1655 | Welcome ReceptiON SPONSOR ADDRESSSponsored by Peter Behrendt Managing Director, Defence Serco AsPac |
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| 1700 - 1830 | WELCOME RECEPTIONWith thanks to |
Halls MNO | |||
| Saturday 18 October 2025 | |||||
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| 0740 - 1630 | Barista Cart Opens Sponsored by |
Halls MNO | |||
| 0800 - 1615 | Exhibition Opens | Halls MNO | |||
| 0800 - 1730 | Registration Opens Sponsored by |
Foyer M & N | |||
| 0800 - 1700 | Speakers Preparation Room Opens | L1A | |||
| 0830 - 0835 | WELCOME TO DAY 2 | Hall L Chair: CAPT Ian Young AM |
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| 0840 - 0930 | GRAEME SHIRTLEY ORATION Health Support for RAN Operations 1901-1976: Past Lessons for the Present and Future Dr Neil Westphalen MBBS (Adel), Dip AvMed, MPH, PhD, FRACGP, FACAsM, FAFOEM (RACP), psc Commander, Royal Australian Navy |
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| 0935 - 1005 | Morning Refreshments & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by |
Halls MNO | |||
| 1010 - 1145 | Session 12 Hall L |
Session 13 L2 |
Session 14 L3 |
Session 15 City Rooms 1&2 |
Session 16 City Rooms 3&4 |
| Chair: | COL Janet Scott | LTCOL Csongor Oltvolgyi | SQNLDR Gus Cabre | MAJ Brendan Wood | |
| 1010 - 1030 | The Pilot-RESTORE Trial: Driving Innovation in Severe Burns Resuscitation Dr Elissa Milford |
Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery and Prevention (MB-tr): A Community-Centred Adaptation of MBSR for Veteran Populations Lisa Brown |
Gender Differences in Reintegration and Adjustment to Civilian Life Among Ex-Serving ADF Members Dr Jie Hu |
The Proposed Garrison Health Rehabilitation Continuum: Optimising musculoskeletal rehabilitation services in the Australian Defence Force Simon Olivotto |
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| 1035-1055 | Operationalising Telemedicine in High-Risk Environments: Lessons from Aspen Medical’s Deployments Dr Katrina Sanders |
Risk factors for progression and chronicity in suicidal ideation and behaviours in contemporary Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel BRIG Nicole Sadler |
Process evaluation of the University of South Australia's Invictus Pathways Program: The Early Years Dr Dannielle Post |
Far-Forward Oxygen Delivery in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: A New Approach Using Rugged Chemical Oxygen Generation Alex Charlesworth |
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| 1100 - 1120 | Building National Healthcare Resilience in the Baltic Region; The UK: Estonia H-MIMMS Initiative 2023-2025 WITHDRAWN |
Treatment Preferences for PTSD Among Australian Defence Force Members: Preferred Treatment, Predictors and Reasons for Choice Prof Jennifer Wild Dr Zoe Jenkins | The ANZAC Research Institute: Opportunities for Research Collaborations Prof Tracy Smart |
A Cure for Phantom Limb Pain? Dr Kylie Hall |
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| 1125-1145 | Are We Medically Planning for the Greatest Casualty Load? WITHDRAWN |
Governance is Not a Dirty Word LTCOL Tara Miller |
Exploring Food and Nutrition Related Behaviours for Australian Veterans and their Families Prof Talitha Best |
Listening to the Force: A Social Listening Framework to Inform Defence Health Research & Innovation LEUT Dr Wan Nurul Naszeerah |
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| 1150 - 1300 | Lunch, Poster Session & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by |
Chair: MAJ Brendan Wood | |||
| 1150 - 1300 | Annual General Meeting (AMMA Members Only) Lunch will be provided |
City Rooms 1&2 Chair: CAPT Ian Young AM |
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| 1305 - 1355 | KEYNOTE ADDRESS Caring After Conflict: Lessons for Humanitarian Health Dr Stacey Pizzino |
Hall L Chair: Nader Abou-Seif |
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| 1400 - 1535 | Session 17 Hall L |
Session 18 L2 |
Session 19 L3 |
Session 20 City Rooms 1&2 |
Session 21 City Rooms 3&4 |
| Chair: | MAJ Brendan Wood | CMDR Martin Richardson | COL Janet Scott | Dr Andy Robertson | WGCDR Kim Davey |
| 1400 - 1420 | Resilience Isn’t Enough: Why Role Design Matters for Operational Readiness Amy Davis |
Resilient Healthcare – Minimum Viable Capability in Clinical Governance AIRCDRE Andrew Johnson |
Silent Struggles: Hidden (Brain) Injuries in Defense Personnel and Veterans Dr Omer Shareef |
Ethical Relevance of the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law in Medical Operations: Case Studies from Ukraine and Gaza LTCOL Erin Shelley |
Would you let him fly? A case study of possibility SQNLDR Daniel Cehic |
| 1425 - 1445 | An Update on Drone Warfare & Ukraine – Rapidly Evolving Challenges in Military Medicine GPCAPT Jeff Stephenson |
Repeated Exposure to Low Level Blast: Review of the current understanding of associated neuropathology, cognitive effects, strength of evidence for longer term health effects and the Defence approach to management Dr Catherine Kelaher BRIG Damien McLachlan |
Invictus: Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration for Current and Former Serving Personnel Through the ADF’s Adaptive Sports Program Brian Heilbronn |
Optimizing ADF Medical Officer Capability by reducing time to Fellowship - An overview of progress since implementation of the PGY3 year for RACGP Registrars Dr Andrew Ramage |
MCAT, MERT, JECC? Developing Platform Agnostic Critical Care Retrieval Training in the ADF CMDR Scott Squires |
| 1450 - 1510 | Using Virtual Reality to Foster Deep Learning About Pain and Recovery: Safety, Acceptability and Feasibility in Veterans Dr Dianne Wilson |
Monitoring Low Level Blast Exposure to Personnel in Australian Defence Force Training Dr Antony Sutherland |
Building Expeditionary Health Readiness Through Bush Dentistry Dr Alexis Dieu |
Medical Decision Making in LSCO – Are We Prepared? An Overview of Modern Medical Ethics Through a Clausewitzian Lens MAJ Thomas Patterson |
Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation as a Proxy for Medical Return to Australia Surveillance SQNLDR Jordan Breed |
| 1515 - 1535 | Drones and AI: The Future of Mass Casualty Triage? WITHDRAWN |
Preventable Tropical Disease Threats in our Region Dr Rebecca Suhr |
The Joint Medic Training Continuum: Supporting Medic Career Progression Sarah Patterson |
Prevalence of War-Related Abuses and Mental Health Symptoms in Ukraine Since the Start of the War WITHDRAWN |
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| 1540 - 1615 | Afternoon Refreshments & Exhibition Viewing Sponsored by Indulgence Cart Sponsored by |
Halls MNO | |||
| 1615 - 1715 | Hall L | Psychology Breakout L2 |
NAVY Breakout L3 |
ARMY Breakout City Rooms 1&2 |
AIRFORCE Breakout City Rooms 3&4 |
| 1755 - 1855 | Adelaide Oval Tour (Pre-registration required, limited capacity) | Adelaide Oval | |||
| 1815 - 1900 | PRE-DINNER DRINKS | Southern Concourse. Adelaide Oval | |||
| 1900 - 2330 | CONFERENCE GALA DINNERThank you to our Principal Sponsor AMMA AWARDS CEREMONY |
William Magarey Room, Adelaide Oval | |||
| Sunday 19 October 2025 | |||||
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| 0800 | Arrival Coffee and Tea & Barista Cart Opens | Foyer of City Rooms 1-3 | |||
| 0830 | Registration Opens Morning Refreshments |
Foyer of City Rooms 1-3 | |||
| 0900 - 0905 | Welcome CAPT Ian Young AM RAN AMMA President |
City Rooms 1-3 | |||
| 0905 - 1005 | Military Healthcare in a Dynamic Environment in the Defence Health System Leadership Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett AM Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force |
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| 1005 - 1105 | Directorate of Force Health Protection – Inaugural Year LTCOL Emma Williams SQNLDR Jordan Breed FLTLT Jamie Clifford Dr Jace Drain |
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| 1105 - 1115 | Closing Remarks CAPT Ian Young AM RAN AMMA President |
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The 2025 AMMA Conference reserves the right to amend or alter any advertised details relating to dates, program and speakers if necessary and without notice, as a result of circumstances beyond their control. All attempts will be made to keep any changes to an absolute minimum.
