Inaugural PDA Conference Australia 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️ATTENTION⭐️⭐️⭐️

DIGITAL PASS holders & In-Person DELEGATES

Access to PDA Conference Recording

Thank you for your interest in, and support of, our Inaugural PDA Conference Australia 2025, held on Tuesday 11th November 2025 at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia with over 750 people in attendance! It was an incredible day of learning, sharing and connection between neurodivergent & neurotypical adults, families and medical/allied health/education & academic research professionals. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive; with so many families and professionals telling us it was the best conference they’d ever attended!

Your digital pass will give you access to a video recording of the entire event, which can be viewed for 3 months from the date of issue in December 2025. The recordings will include over 12 hours content as all concurrent streams are included. This will allow you to choose the sessions you’d like to view at your leisure within the 3 month viewing period.

You will be sent a link to the recordings in December when the video editing has been finalised by our audiovisual contractors.
Just to clarify, the Conference was not live streamed on 11/11/2025.

We hope you find the conference content engaging and beneficial in your family and/or work life. Thank you for supporting PDA children, adults and their families.

With our warm wishes,
from
Inaugural PDA Conference Australia 2025 Committee

Heidi Brandis
Convenor PDA Conference Australia 2025
Board Chair PDA Perth WA Incorporated (NFP)
Owner PDA Training Australia

E: [email protected] (Conference)
E: [email protected] (Work)

We wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and Aboriginal people from other lands. We celebrate the continuing traditions, living culture and spiritual connection to Boorloo (Perth) and the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ8R3gxkoji/?igsh=MTlkbnJlZjhncDlpMA==

PDA Conference in Perth 📚 What an inspiring and truly eye-opening experience it was to attend the PDA Conference in Perth. The event was filled with valuable information, insightful discussions, and genuine support from incredible guest speakers. I felt honoured to be part of this day — gaining deeper perspective and understanding around PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and the broader neurodivergent experience. The personal stories shared about life through a neurodivergent lens were deeply moving and thought-provoking. As a support worker and mentor, I am passionate about continuously expanding my knowledge and skills to better support individuals living with mental health conditions and neurodivergent profiles. I’m proud to walk away from this conference with greater awareness of the PDA profile — and a renewed sense of purpose in advocating for change, inclusion, and understanding. Together, as a community, we can create a kinder world for those whose brains are beautifully different from neurotypical individuals. #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthSupport #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #PDA #PathologicalDemandAvoidance #Inclusion #Empathy

https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/46/hopes-that-inaugural-conference-on-pda-sub-type-of-autism-will-lead-to-better-diagnosis-and-treatment/

Hopes that inaugural conference on PDA sub-type of autism will lead to better diagnosis and treatment Lack of awareness of Pathological Demand Avoidance in health and education systems leading to family

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It has come to our attention that many of you who purchased a Digital Pass to our Conference did not receive this information sent via TryBooking. If you are currently awaiting the link to the conference recordings see below:

𝗣𝗗𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 - 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Thank you for your interest in, and support of, our 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗗𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, held on Tuesday 11th November 2025 at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia with over 750 people in attendance!

It was an incredible day of learning, sharing and connection between neurodivergent & neurotypical adults/families/carers and medical/allied health/education & academic professionals. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive; with hundreds of families and professionals telling us it was the BEST conference they’d ever attended!!

𝟭) 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀:
Your digital pass will give you access to a video recording of the entire event, which can be viewed for 3 months from the date of issue in December 2025 (exact date TBC). The recordings will include over 12 hours content as all concurrent streams are included (see Program below in comments). This will allow you to choose the sessions you’d like to view at your leisure. You will be sent a link to the recordings in December as soon as the video editing has been finalised.

𝟮) 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻:
(including delegates, speakers, volunteers, committee, sponsors) will also receive the link to the recordings at the same time.

𝟯) 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 - 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀! 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱:
Available at www.trybooking.com/CXNJH for a limited time for $199. Includes over 12 hours content as ALL concurrent sessions are included. Select ticket category '𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀 (𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘀 & 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀)'

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟭/𝟭𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

We hope you find the conference content engaging and beneficial in your home and/or work life supporting PDA children and adults.

Please share this post widely, thank you.

With our warm wishes,
from
Heidi on behalf of the Conference Committee

𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀
Convenor PDA Conference Australia 2025
Board Chair PDA Perth WA Incorporated (NFP)
Owner PDA Training Australia

E: [email protected] (Conference)
E: [email protected] (Work)

We wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and Aboriginal people from other lands. We celebrate the continuing traditions, living culture and spiritual connection to Boorloo (Perth) and the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River)

Inaugural PDA Conference Australia 2025 Announcing the INAUGURAL PDA CONFERENCE AUSTRALIA 2025 @ Optus Stadium, Perth, WA on 11/11/2025! * PDA Perth WA Incorporated (NFP) is thrilled...

💥 WOW!!! 💥 WOW!!! 💥 WOW!!! 💥

𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟰 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗗𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮; 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝟳𝟱𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 & 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀! It was something of a watershed moment for Australian families & health/education professional communities, coming together for the first time to collectively learn, connect and share knowledge & wisdom for the benefit of our PDA children & adults (~200k Aussies!).

⭐️ From the 𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕪 logistical abilities of my treasured friend & conference Mastermind Hazelden;
🖥️ Technical wizardry, endless patience & enormous compassion of Steve Metlitzky;
🫶 To our 60 fantastic volunteers;
❤️ 💛 🖤 McGuire's warm Welcome to Country;
🧠 Chief Psychiatrist of WA Dr Gibson's outstanding Opening Address;
🎶 the superb MC Geraldine Mellet's flawless orchestration of the day;
😭❤️ To talented Keynote speakers Diekman &
Occuplaytional Therapist Kelsie 'Mick' Olds (we were asked so many times why tissues were not included in the fabulous delegate gift bags, for both of your beautiful and moving presentations!);
👥 25+ absolutely fantastic presentations on lived experience & clinical / academic expertise from 32 generous volunteer speakers;
🎤 Volunteer MC's Dr Michele Toner OAM, Yvonne Kilpatrick, Tasha Alach and Renee Darbyshir
🩸🥵& 😢 Abundant blood, sweat & tears from our volunteer PDA Perth WA Incorporated Board and Conference Committee members; especially Toni Tomlin for endless patience and support in so many ways;
🤗 Support from sponsors Reid Chester RCOT, Amherst Psychology, Colour My World Therapy Services, Altius Group's PeopleSense Psychology and Wellbeing, Wagtail Therapy, Co, WA, The Kidd Clinic, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), ADHD Western Australia, Kiind, Developmental Disability WA (DDWA), Carers WA, PWdWA - People With disabilities Western Australia, Happy Giraffe, Alycia Keys Melville OT & Calming Kids Australia, , Mindful Support Services, Women's Health and Wellbeing Services
💰 Grants from Lotterywest, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing & Business Events Perth....

..🥰 to the emotional, practical, financial, technical, moral, intellectual & chocolate support from our families (especially the unparalleled Darrin Brandis, Sue Metlitzky, Sammy & Daniel Brandis), our friends, colleagues and communities;

..we just could not be more grateful or proud of this event & community!

HEARTFELT GRATITUDE & WARM THANKS TO EACH & EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CONTRIBUTED IN SOME WAY!! 👏 👏 xx
🩷Heidi
on behalf of the Board & Committee
Heidi Brandis
Conference Convenor

Our Conference was incredible! And we’re in the West Australian Newspaper today!!

Very proud of my hubby Darrin Brandis, Exec General Manager and Reg Psych at Psychology and Wellbeing by Altius speaking on supporting PDA Dads

Metlitzky rocking his PDA Dad’s talk!

Loving Occuplaytional Therapist! Thank you 🙏 Mick ❤️

ATTENTION - DIGITAL PASS HOLDERS:
***the Conference is NOT being live-streamed today***

Your pass gives you access to a recording of the whole event in December 2025, available for 3 months from date of issue.
Over 12 hours content as all concurrent sessions are included.

Sorry I have no capacity to respond to hundreds of emails today.