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The Project Air Strategy for Personality Disorders, °µÍø½ûÇø University Professional and Clinical Psychology programs and NSW Ministry of Health invite you to the 20th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders.
The conference presents an opportunity for professional development and to have a stimulating and thought-provoking exposure to new ideas and recent work in treatment of personality disorders by experts, service users, family members, carers, service directors, managers and clinical and professional leaders.
Conference Theme: "Creating Relationships That Matter"
The conference theme “Creating Relationships That Matter” reflects the general principle that personality disorders have been considered "a disorder of relationships and the medicine is relationships." Relationships that matter are central to recovery. This conference invites us to consider how to enhance the therapeutic alliance with those seeking care by bringing ourselves to this relationship in an active, responsive and validating way. "Creating" such relationships needs our spontaneity, kindness and deliberation in the setting of a safe and predictable frame for care and treatment. Carers, family, health care workers, teachers, welfare teams, employers and the broader community may all play a role. By learning to trust, reflection can be on things "that matter.” We invite you to join us in these discussions, presentations and reflections.
Attending the conference can be in-person, virtual, or a blend of both. Registration is essential and presentations and attendees from across the world are welcome.
Conference Event
Date
Lived Experience Day
Thursday, 5 November, 2026
Scientific Conference
Friday, 6 November, 2026
Clinical Workshop
Saturday, 7 November, 2026
Choose how you attend the conference
Enjoy valuable networking opportunities during catered breaks by attending in-person, the time-sensitive convenience of virtual attendance, or a blend of both. For in-person attendees, tea and coffee on arrival, morning tea and a light lunch is provided.
Ticket pricesare consistent across all attendance choiceswith Early bird and student registration prices available. Registration is online only with credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Register early as places are limited.
Invitation to present at the Scientific Conference or Lived Experience Day
We welcome proposals to present science and research, descriptions of therapies, lived experience stories and service innovations in any area of personality disorders. Please submit your proposal specifying: Title, Authors, and a 150-word abstract description of your presentation. Presentation formats are oral presentations (15-45 minutes), rapid updates (up to 15 minutes) and scientific poster presentations (Poster plus 2-minute lightning talk). Please indicate which format you prefer.
We invite you to exhibit your artwork at the Conference
The Conference will feature an art exhibition which provides a unique opportunity to see what creating relationships that matter means for people with lived and living experiences, carers, and clinicians.
Radical Renaissance: This is the recognition of the creativeness of people with lived and living experience of emotional distress, trauma, and being labelled. Creativity isn’t just healing - it speaks, takes up space, and redefines what a life worth living may mean beyond systems that may not see us as who we really are.
Rita Brown - Keynote Speaker (Victoria) From Overwhelm to Advocacy: A Lived Experience Journey Toward Creating Relationships That Matter
Scientific Conference Day, 6 November 2026
Chiara De Panfilis - Keynote Speaker (Italy) Intimacy, social cognition and social inclusion challenges in people with personality disorder: research and clinical implications.
Rita Brown - Keynote Speaker (Victoria) Mutuality, Connection and Hope: Creating Relationships That Matter
Clinical Workshop, 7 November 2026
Chiara De Panfilis - Keynote Speaker (Italy) Using Transference Focussed Psychotherapy (TFP) informed care principles to improve outpatient and community mental health therapy for people with personality disorder and complex needs - a clinical case based workshop
Full program and more speakers to be announced soon.
Idyllic surrounds, world-class facilities and world wide knowledge
The event will be held in the centre of the beautiful University of °µÍø½ûÇø campus in Building 67. The campus is set among a spectacular coastal and forested environment surrounding the city of °µÍø½ûÇø - about 90 minutes by car south of Sydney. More about the location.
Meet our keynote speaker: Chiara De Panfilis for the scientific conference and clinical workshop
Professor Chiara De Panfilis, MD, is a practicing psychiatrist and associate professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Italy.
Prof. Panfilis will present a keynote on the Friday Scientific Conference:
Intimacy, social cognition and social inclusion challenges in people with personality disorder: research and clinical implications
Prof. Panfilis will also provide an all-day Clinical workshop on the Saturday:
Using Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) informed care principles to improve outpatient and community mental health therapy for people with personality disorder and complex needs - a clinical case based workshop
Chiara’s research focuses on the potential social-cognitive mechanisms that shape the clinical picture and the psychosocial functioning of individuals suffering with personality disorders. Chiara is clinically active in implementing general psychiatric care for personality disorders with transference focused psychotherapy principles. Chiara is President-Elect of the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ESSPD) and co-founder and vice-president of the Personality Disorders Lab (Parma-Milan, Italy), and has authored more than ninety peer-reviewed publications.
Meet our lived experience keynote speaker: Rita Brown for the lived experience day and scientific conference.
Rita Brown OAM is a lived‑experience leader and a national and international advocate. As a family carer, she brings a deep belief in creating compassionate, inclusive systems where people living with personality disorder - and those who support them - can thrive.
Ms Brown will present a keynote on the Thursday Lived Experience Day:
"From Overwhelm to Advocacy: A Lived Experience Journey Toward Creating Relationships That Matter”
Ms Brown will also present a keynote at the Friday Scientific Conference:
“Mutuality, Connection and Hope: Creating Relationships That Matter “
Rita is President of the Australian BPD Foundation, the Associate Director of Lived Experience Workforce and Advocacy at Spectrum (the Victorian Statewide Service Specialising in Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma), a board member of Asia-Pacific Association for the Research and Treatment of Personality Disorder and a member of the ISSPD (International Society for the Study of Personality Disorder) Lived Experience Advisory Committee. Her advocacy, writing and national contributions were recognised in 2025 with the ISSPD Perry Hoffman Award for Community Service, and she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list for her contribution to community (mental) health.
All prices are in Australian dollars inclusive of the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Early Bird pricing is available until 5 October, 2026 - apply the code 'PROJECTAIR' during checkout to secure your discounted rate!
Conference Event
Standard Price
Clinical Workshop
$200
Scientific Conference
$180
Lived Experience Day
$15
All prices are in Australian dollars inclusive of the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Conference Event
Student Price
Clinical Workshop
$100
Scientific Conference
$90
Lived Experience Day
$15
All prices are in Australian dollars inclusive of the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Students may be eligible to receive a discounted rate for the Sunday Clinical Workshop and Monday Scientific Day. Please email info-projectair@uow.edu.au with a copy of your current Student ID or Enrolment record to receive a unique discount code and apply this during checkout.
Conference begins in
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date of event
Event location
The event will be held in the centre of the beautiful University of °µÍø½ûÇø campus in Building 67.
In the University of °µÍø½ûÇø’s 50-year history, it has built an international reputation for world-class research and exceptional teaching quality. We’re ranked in the top 250 universities in the world and we’re aiming higher every day.
With 17 beautiful beaches, a spectacular escarpment, a bustling city centre and your choice of restaurant and entertainment zones, °µÍø½ûÇø is here waiting for you to explore. There really is something for everyone in °µÍø½ûÇø and the greater Illawarra region.
Getting to UOW
Arriving by train - Take the 90 min scenic train to North °µÍø½ûÇø station followed by a short bus connection or 15 min walk. A free shuttle bus service, ‘The Gong Shuttle’ regularly runs to and from the University, train station and hotels, or the trip is a short taxi ride.
Arriving by plane -Sydney Airport is 80km from °µÍø½ûÇø and provides excellent connections to UOW from the airport train using the South Coast Line or by booking a shuttle/limousine service.
Arriving by car - From Sydney drive south past Sutherland on the Princes Highway then M1 Motorway and take the second exit at the bottom of Mt Ousley (signposted 'University'). The Western Car Park is closest to the conference venue; enter via the Western Entrance along Northfields Avenue. Parking fees apply.
