On August 4th and 25th, 2017, Professors Chris Sharpley and Dr Phillip Fourie from UNE, plus Professor Vicki Bitsika, AM, from Bond University (pictured above), joined with the UNE Community Research and Innovation Network (CRaIN) for Health and Wellbeing in Regional, Rural and Remote Communities across the New England North West to provide two Professional Upgrade Training Workshops to over 100 clinicians in Armidale and Tamworth.

These workshops focussed on Autism Spectrum Disorder (Prof Bitsika), Anxiety (Dr Fourie) and Depression (Prof Sharpley) and consisted of a 1-hour lecture presentation by each speaker on these topics, plus a 2-hour workshop for clinicians in each of the three focus areas.

Participants expressed their enjoyment and appreciation to the UNE for these opportunities to learn about these disorders and to brush up their clinical skills in hands-on workshops. The audience consisted of psychologists, counsellors, teachers, and care personnel. The emphasis was on translating research into clinical applications, with workshops providing cases for participants to work on together to refine their skills.

The BBRG is delighted to have been invited to assist CRaIN in its important outreach work in the wider New England community.

The workshop audience included psychologists, counsellors, teachers, and care personnel

Professor Chris Sharpley presenting on the topic of Depression

Dr Philip Fourie presenting on the topic of Anxiety

Professor Vicki Bitsika presenting on autism spectrum disorder