Submission Portal

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) is pleased to invite abstract submissions for oral presentations and workshops, to be considered for the 2026 WA Mental Health Conference on 18 and 19 August.

Submissions should give an overview of your presentation or workshop, and the way in which it relates to one of the conference streams listed below, which are based on the overall theme of the event.

The deadline for abstract submissions is 5pm (AWST) on Monday 30 March.

Please find further supplementary information below to guide you through the submission process.

Presentation & Workshop Formats

Below is a guide for presentation and workshop formats, however, WAAMH reserves the right to ask presenters to modify their formats to accommodate event scheduling. Any proposed modifications will be communicated in advance of the event, before the official event program is confirmed.

Presentations should follow one of the following formats:

• 30 minute presentation, including time for Q&A
• 45 minute presentation, including time for Q&A

Workshops should follow one of the following formats:

• 1 hour workshop / activity (e.g. drumming, art therapy, sound healing session) 

Conference Streams

The theme of the 2026 WA Mental Health Conference is Towards wellbeing: Taking control in the face of change.

The event will unpack the role that control and optimism can play in sustaining mentally healthy people, communities and systems – and how we can respond when our ability to take control may be limited. This theme will be examined right across the lifespan, by exploring several different contexts, which covered by the following streams.  

1. INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES

Individual control and resilience in the face of uncertainty

In this stream, abstracts will explore how an internal locus of control and/or optimism can empower individuals to take action to enhance their mental health and wellbeing. For example, presentation or workshop topics could include internal locus of control; exploring the term resilience; navigating the grieving process; or regulation and somatic practice in everyday life.

2. CARERS & WORKERS

Supporting resilient, healthy communities

In this stream, abstracts will examine how supporters and/or practitioners can assist people to take control and/or maintain a sense of optimism, when circumstances have limited their ability to do so. For example, presentation or workshop topics could include supporting people seeking family and domestic violence, legal, and/or financial support; parenting children and/or adolescents with mental health challenges; addressing mental health challenges in ageing; or wellbeing and pain management, chronic illness, and/or preventative health.

3. ORGANISATIONS & WORKPLACES

Taking control of our wellbeing at work and leading resilient organisations

In this stream, abstracts will examine how employees, managers, and/or leaders can exercise control over wellbeing in the workplace and/or lead organisations in the face of uncertainty. For example, presentation or workshop topics could include psychosocial duty of care at work and/or school; managing psychosocial hazards to support employee and/or student wellbeing; mentally healthy cultures in the workplace and/or classroom; or vicarious trauma in the workplace.

4. POLICIES & SYSTEMS

Advocating for policies and systems that sustain wellbeing

In this stream, abstracts will examine how we can influence change to protect mental health and wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing benefits that come from advocating to improve our circumstances. For example, presentation or workshop topics could include the mental health benefits of finding your voice to affect change; or how to advocate for yourself and/or others.

When submitting your abstract, you should select the stream you think is the closest match.

To read more about this year’s theme, visit the conference website here.

Submission Guidelines

Please review the following guidelines before submitting.

• Submissions should be a maximum of 700 words.
• The association is only able to accept submissions written in English.
• You will be asked to provide a synopsis of your presentation or workshop. This should include an overview of the topic, a brief explanation or statement about how it relates to the conference theme, who your target audience is, and what the expected learning or outcome is for the intended audience.
• You will be asked to provide a biography. Biographies should be no more than 100 words and written using complete sentences and in the third person. It should contain information relative to your current position, career history and related professional achievements.
• By submitting your abstract, you are providing your consent for details from your submission to be published in the event program and associated materials.  
• WAAMH reserves the right to edit grammatical mistakes or formatting of abstracts but will not make edits that alter the substance of the abstract.
• Every effort will be made to accommodate presenters’ preferences, however WAAMH reserves the right to change the selected conference stream or modify the presentation or workshop format, to best suit the event program.  Any proposed modifications will be communicated in advance of the event, before the official event program is confirmed.
• The deadline for abstract submissions is 5pm (AWST) on Monday 30 March.
• Up to three (3) submissions per individual are permitted. Please submit a separate form for each submission.
• You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your submission and an attachment with the details you have provided.
• Where there is more than one presenter, all correspondence will be sent to the person who submitted the abstract.
• All submissions will be assessed by members of a Program Committee, who will assist in a fair and transparent selection process.
• Submitting an abstract does not constitute an offer to pay for travel, accommodation, event registration or speaking fees.  
• A Lived Experience participation payment may be offered to presenters who share their lived experience in a professional capacity.
• Presenters will be given a two-hour block to attend the event around the time of their presentation or workshop. If they wish to attend the event in its entirety, a full registration will need to be purchased, payable by the presenter.

If you require further information, please address any queries to:

Conference Secretariat
Event & Conference Co.
waamh@eventandconferenceco.com.au