12/11/2025
💥 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