Upcoming Events

The Michael McDowell Oration in Melbourne

We are pleased to announce The 2026 Michael McDowell Oration, to be held on Thursday 26 March 2026 at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. 

We are delighted to welcome Professor Frank Oberklaid AM as our special guest speaker. Professor Oberklaid is the Co-Chair of Thriving Kids, and highly respected leader in child health and developmental paediatrics. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to come together for an evening of learning, reflection, and connection, as well as to hear more on the Government's Thriving Kids initiative. This event is open to members and non-member of the Society. 

Register Here for the Michael McDowell Oration

The Oration will be preceded by a clinical skills workshop, also to be held at the Sofitel.

The workshop will focus on the following topics:

Clinical case formulation - Dr Michael McDowell 
Clinical care and longitudinal care in developmental paediatrics - Dr Jane Lesslie
Principles of prescribing in developmental paediatrics - Dr Daryl Efron

The workshop is a Members Only Event.

Please click here for more details on how to become an ASDP Member. 

Event details: 

Venue: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins St, Melbourne

Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026

Program: 
3.00pm - 5.30pm - Clinical Skills Workshop (members only)
6.00pm - 7.00pm - Networking and Canapes (members & non members welcome)
7.00pm - 8.30pm - Annual Lecture - Professor Frank Oberklaid (members & non-members)
 

Fourteenth Annual Conference Melbourne 2026 - Development and Learning: Unlocking the puzzles

ASDP 2026 Annual Meeting
Development and Learning, Unlocking the Puzzles
20–22 August 2026
Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, Melbourne VIC

The ASDP 2026 Conference website is now live, marking the official start of the countdown to the Fourteenth Annual ASDP Conference, to be held in Melbourne 20 - 22 August 2026, with pre-conference workshops and Special Interest Group meetings to be held on Wednesday, 19th August. 

The conference theme for ASDP 2026 is Development and Learning, Unlocking the Puzzles. Come and join us in the festival city for a broad and exciting program that will focus on the intersection between the clinic and the classroom. What is best practice in childhood education and what is the clinician's role? How can we best bring sectors together so that kids can thrive? The diverse array of conference presentations will include learning disorders; intellectual disability; school refusal; trauma; pharmacotherapy; addiction medicine and more.

The conference will be hosted at the Pullman Melbourne, Albert Park and the enticing social program will aiim to echo some of Melbourne's great festivals. Registration is now open, with accommodation bookings available as part of the registration process. Delegates are encouraged to register early to secure their place and access the conference accommodation options. This will be an in-person only event. 

We also encourage members to review the conference website regularly, as new content is added. 

The countdown to ASDP 2026, Melbourne is on!

For more information and registration visit the conference website here.