Context Matters Symposium: Research and Developments in Contextual Behavioural Science

ANZ ACBS, in partnership with La Trobe University's ACTUALISE Lab, is excited to be co-hosting a one-day research symposium for researchers in our region - and beyond - to share advances in contextual behavioural science and understanding.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE click here to access. 

Keynote presentations will be delivered by Koa Whittingham and Louise Hayes

Dr Koa Whittingham

MotherCare: Developing brief online support for mothers of babies grounded in compassion-focussed therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy

Dr Koa Whittingham is a senior research fellow within the Child Health Research Centre at The University of Queensland and a registered psychologist with specialisations in both clinical and educational/developmental psychology. Her research focuses on three key interests: (1) parenting, (2) neurodevelopmental disabilities, and (3) acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion focussed therapy (CFT). She is particularly passionate about the application of ACT and CFT to parenting. Koa is the author of Becoming Mum, a self-help book for the transition to motherhood grounded in ACT and the first author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Parents.

Dr Louise Hayes

Building new paradigms is the key to helping young people in these uncertain times.

Dr Louise Hayes is a clinical psychologist, author, international speaker, and educator.  She is a Fellow and Past President of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science. Louise currently holds a position as Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University, where she collaborates on projects using contextual behavioural science. She is a peer-reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) trainer engaged in training professionals worldwide. She is also a certified Buddhist meditation teacher in the Dzogchen tradition. Together with Joseph Ciarrochi, she developed DNA-v, a leading acceptance and commitment therapy model that has sparked international studies. In 2022 she released a new book for helping adults thrive in the face of change – What Makes You Stronger. She is the co-author of two best-selling books for young people – Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teenagers; and Your Life Your Way. She is also the co-author of the practitioner book, The Thriving Adolescent. Louise is an active clinician, working with adults and adolescents. Louise’s passion project and the highlight of her work is establishing a not-for-profit endeavour of taking professionals on the journey of their life into the Himalayas to develop their mindful way of being while raising funds to help children in remote Nepal.