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ASSBI Student EventsThe student ambassador teams have continued to organise several ASSBI student events throughout the year all around Australia! Keep an eye-out for upcoming events hosted by ASSBI student teams in your region via ASSBI social media pages! For any student enquiries please email nicole.feast@research.uwa.edu.au You can read more about the student events below: |
ASSBI Student Network – thank you to our outgoing TeamsWe wish to give our sincere thanks and appreciate to the outgoing Team Leaders and Student Ambassadors for 2025 who have finished their terms in the ASSBI Student Network. Thank you for all of your hard work in working together as teams with students from different disciplines and universities within your home city to run fantastic events and raise awareness about brain conditions. We are very grateful and wish you all the best for the next stage of your study and careers! Student Event recap: Newcastle TeamIn October, the Newcastle Team hosted a popular Brain-Themed Trivia Night, with approximately 30 attendees. This event promoted and raised awareness about ASSBI, as well as to offer students the opportunity to meet from different disciplines and discuss their shared interest in understanding brain conditions. There were prizes and refreshments were provided, with feedback from attendees being very positive in the opportunity to meet other people who are studying and researching in this area. Thank you to the Newcastle team for putting this together; Ella Jones, Sarah Haskard, and Emma Gifford Student Event recap: Brisbane Team
The conversation highlighted the importance of person-centred care, the role of collaboration across health and social services, and the profound impact of brain impairment on both individuals and their families. Panel members emphasised the value of lived experience in shaping services, fostering resilience, and promoting meaningful inclusion in the community. They also reminded attendees of the importance of not losing hope, even in the face of challenges, and reflected on the crucial role of funding bodies in supporting rehabilitation, research, and ongoing care. The discussion was both insightful and moving, offering attendees a richer understanding of the human stories, challenges, and strengths that exist beyond the medical framework. A big thank you to our panel members for generously sharing their experiences, and our attendees for joining us in this important conversation. Thank you also to the students who attended and made this event possible. Well done Brisbane team (Yi Wang, Aiden Tso, Carla dos Reis, Sebastián Gallegos Berrios, and Yi-Jen Su) for organising such a wonderful event! Student Event recap: Wellington TeamOn 20th August 2025, the Wellington ASSBI Student Ambassador team hosted a panel discussion "Perspectives on Aroreretini | ADHD" at Victoria University of Wellington. With strong interest from the community event attracted just over 100 attendees. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, students from psychology, education, nursing, the sciences and other disciplines, as well as individuals with lived experience of ADHD. The panel featured Giselle Bahr (Clinical Psychologist & author of the 'ADHD Files' Substack), Maggie Shippam (PhD candidate researching wellbeing in young adults with ADHD in Aotearoa & has lived experience of ADHD), and Dr Burt Hatch (Lecturer investigating early developmental trajectories). The discussion was facilitated by Dr Kris Nielsen (Clinical Psychologist & Lecturer). The conversation explored some of the big questions about ADHD, such as whether there really is a crisis of "over-diagnosis" or "under-recognition", myths and misconceptions about ADHD, and whether ADHD would still exist without our modern environments. The evening was a great success, with an engaged audience asking amazing questions during the Q&A session. Attendees had the chance to enjoy delicious kai while connecting with others from across different disciplines and experiences. A huge thank you to the panellists for sharing their expertise and perspectives, to all attendees who made this event possible, and to the Wellington Team (Elise Callagher, Dom Drummond, and Jessica Walsh) for organising this wonderful event.
Student Event recap: Melbourne Team The ASSBI Melbourne Student Ambassador team, in collaboration with the Monash Clinical Neuropsychology Society, hosted “Behind the Scenes: How Multidisciplinary Clinicians Work in Neuro Care”, a speaker panel event held on 20 August 2025, during Brain Injury Awareness Week. The event took place at Monash University’s Caulfield campus, attracting approximately 90 students from a range of universities and disciplines, including allied health, medicine, and nursing, both in person and online. We were privileged to welcome five outstanding speakers from diverse clinical backgrounds: Lauren Fletcher, Speech Pathologist with experience in adult neurological rehabilitation across hospital and community settings; Katie Davis, Community-based Physiotherapist specialising in neurological care; Millie Sloan, Occupational Therapist and NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner; Anna Pagnin, Social Worker experienced in both inpatient and community contexts; and James Lewis, Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinician Researcher. The panel offered rich insights into the realities of multidisciplinary neuro care – exploring professional roles, challenges, and opportunities for collaborative practice. An engaging case discussion further illustrated how these clinicians contribute to patient care across the continuum, from inpatient assessment to community-based rehabilitation, demonstrating the value of teamwork in neurorehabilitation. A heartfelt thank you to our speakers for generously sharing their time and expertise, and to all the students who attended and contributed to the event’s success. Congratulations to the Melbourne Student Ambassador team – Amy Huynh, Nicholas Cheng, Kimberly Chew, and Madeline Gibson – and our partners at the Monash Clinical Neuropsychology Society for organising such an inspiring and well-received event! Student Initiatives at the 7th Pacific Rim ConferenceRepresentatives from the ASSBI Student Network were involved in several aspects of the planning and delivery of the 7th Pacific Rim Conference, with several fantastic events pitched at a student and early career level. Dementia Prevention Student Panel Mentoring Lunchtime Workshop A huge thanks to Prof Shawn McClintock, Dr Robin Green and Aishani Desai for running the lunchtime mentoring session. Student Social Student Volunteers at the Conference
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On 25th September 2025, the Brisbane ASSBI Student Ambassador team were delighted to host a panel discussion: ‘Beyond the Diagnosis: Voices and Perspectives on Brain Impairment’, at Queensland University of Technology. The event brought together four unique voices - Janelle Griffin, Occupational Therapist, Dr Brooke Kooymans, Senior Social Worker, an individual with lived experience of brain injury, and a family member - to share their perspectives on life beyond a clinical diagnosis.
| Newcastle TeamTrivia Night In October 2024, the Newcastle ASSBI Team hosted an exciting Brain Trivia Night at the Bar on the Hill, at The University of Newcastle, attracting more than 50 students across 8 teams from a range of disciplines including psychology, chemistry, medicine, and more. The event aimed to raise awareness about brain injury in a fun and engaging way. The trivia night featured three rounds of questions: general knowledge, sports, and pop culture, all designed to challenge participants and spark some friendly competition. To keep things lively, we added three challenge rounds of true/false questions, covering topics such as brain anatomy, medical definitions, and even movie trivia. The night was a great success, bringing together students from various disciplines to showcase their knowledge of brain science and brain injuries while enjoying a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Students had the chance to bond (and compete!) over interesting questions, share their expertise, and enjoy some great food and conversation. |
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Melbourne TeamFree Workshop The ASSBI Melbourne Student Ambassador team hosted an "ACT for Brain Impairment" Speaker Panel Event on 19 August 2024 (the start of Brain Injury Awareness Week)! This was held at Monash University, Caulfield campus. Approximately 60 students from various universities and disciplines including allied health, medicine and nursing attended the event. We had the pleasure of having three fantastic speakers with experience using ACT/values-based approaches in both research and clinical practice: Dana Wong, President of ASSBI, Associate Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist; Reuben Lowe, Mental Health Therapist specialising in ACT and mindfulness-based therapies; and Clare Douglas, Speech Pathologist at the Victorian Neurorehabilitation Network, specialising in acquired brain injury. Our speakers provided valuable insights into using ACT/values based approaches whilst working with people with ABI, and provided interesting and relevant tools and case discussions to show how they integrate these principles into practice. A huge thank you to our speakers for generously sharing their time and knowledge with us, and to all the students who attended and made this event possible. Well done Melbourne Team (Kimberly Chew, Lara Piccoli, Madeline Gibson) for organising such a wonderful event! | 
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 | Adelaide TeamFree Workshop On August 22nd, 2024, at Flinders City Campus, ASSBI students led a workshop that introduced Adelaide's future practitioners to a fascinating type of therapy that has been growing in importance for those who suffer with brain injury: creative therapies! To help us on our mission, we had licensed art therapists, diversional therapists, and others on board to share their insights and experiences, providing informative presentations on their respective therapies. Not only that, but our event included a hands-on, interactive arts workshop where our therapist guest speakers guided us through the process of creating art in their creative therapies, and how they help people with brain injury. Our event was a multi-disciplinary showcase of Adelaide's future practitioners; students of psychology, medicine, speech pathology, health and medical science, nursing, OT, and neuropsychology were encouraged to attend. Alongside being a great opportunity to learn more about brain injury, attendees also had time to network with speakers, socialise with like-minded students, enjoy the free food, and gain insight into the future of Australia's health industry! |
Sydney TeamEvent Recap – Sydney Lived Experience of Brain Injury Panel On the 21st of May 2024, the Sydney ASSBI Ambassador team hosted a ‘Lived Experience of Brain Injury: Talk and Q&A’ event at Hermann’s Bar, University of Sydney. The event was attended by students from a variety of disciplines including allied health, neuropsychology, medicine and nursing. Three guest presenters spoke about their lived experience of a brain injury; Ian Roberts, former Rugby League star & actor who spoke about concussion in sports; and Gabrielle Webster and Jayden Alexanderson both spoke frankly about Traumatic Brain Injury following road accidents, physical and ‘hidden’ injuries, rehabilitation challenges and brain injury advocacy. Following these incredible stories, Dr Melanie Moses (Speech Pathologist), Samantha Grant (Clinical Psychologist) spoke about the role of rehabilitation professionals, and facilitated a thoroughly engaging and fascinating Q&A session. A huge thanks to the lived experience presenters and clinician speakers at this event. Well done Sydney Team (Kylie Southwell, Alex Manea, Ashna Nadan, and Jasmine Sandilant) for organising such a wonderful event!
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  | Melbourne TeamEvent Recap – Melbourne Team Movie Night! The student movie night took place on 12/04/2024 and provided a casual yet enriching atmosphere for attendees. Networking opportunities allowed students from different disciplines and universities to connect with peers over shared interests. Awakenings, the film chosen for the event, struck a chord with attendees, offering relevance to their experiences in clinical placements. Discussions based on the movie's themes were engaging and thought-provoking. Overall, the evening provided a relaxed setting for students to unwind while also reflecting on their professional journeys. Well done Melbourne Team (Kim Chew, Maddie Gibson and Lara Piccoli) for organising such a fantastic event! |
Student Initiatives at the ASSBI ConferenceRepresentatives from the ASSBI Student Network were involved in several aspects of the planning and delivery of the 47th Annual Brain Impairment Conference, including a student social and a ‘Meet the Researcher workshop’. ‘Meet the Researcher’ Event A huge thank you to our volunteer speakers for being involved in this event: A/Prof Libby Callaway (Monash University), Dr Lee Cubis (Summer Foundation), Dr Sophie Brassel (University of Sydney), Dr Kate D’Cruz (Summer Foundation), Dr Rachael Rietdijk (University of Sydney), Dr Petra Avramovic (University of Sydney), Dr Josh Faulkner (University of Wellington, NZ), Prof Olivier Piguet (University of Sydney), and Dr Kate Gould (Monash University). Student Social Student Volunteers at the Conference |
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