LIFELONG NEEDS, COMPLEX REALITIES

The Australian Society for Psycho-Social Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ASPOG) 2026 conference will be held between 9am Fri 15th May – 5:30pm Sat 16th May at the Westmead Innovation Quarter, Westmead, Sydney.

In “Lifelong Needs, Complex Realities”, we have an exciting line-up of keynote speakers covering a range of topics including menstrual health, menopause, contraception and perinatal mental health.

KEYNOTE Speakers

• Prof Deb Bateson - is a Professor of Practice at the Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, and formerly Medical Director of Family Planning NSW and Global Medical Director of Marie Stopes International. She has worked for over 25-years as a clinician, researcher, educator and advocate in sexual and reproductive health.

• Dr Alice Dwyer - is a psychiatrist with specialist expertise in perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health, and currently serves as Medical Director, Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at Tresillian Family Care Centres (Sydney). Her work spans psychotherapy-informed care, service delivery, and the practical realities of supporting families through the transition to parenthood across public, private, and community settings. Dr Dwyer has a strong interest in evidence-based assessment and interventions that strengthen the parent–infant relationship and promote early emotional development. In this session, she will explore contemporary approaches to perinatal mental health, including what meaningful care looks like in real-world clinical settings.

  Llewelyn-Jones Orator

• Prof Jane Ussher - Professor of Women’s Health Psychology at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, and an internationally recognised leader in research on women’s mental health and wellbeing across the reproductive life course. Her work spans premenstrual distress and PMS/PMDD, perimenopause and menopause, reproductive transitions, women’s sexual and reproductive health, and the social, cultural, and relational contexts that shape women’s experiences of their bodies and healthcare. Professor Ussher is widely known for her contributions to understanding women’s embodied experiences, including the ways gender norms, stigma, trauma, and interpersonal relationships influence psychological wellbeing and help-seeking. She has published extensively across psychology, health, and women’s studies, and her scholarship has shaped contemporary thinking about how clinicians and health systems can better recognise and respond to women’s reproductive mental health needs.

PANEL: PERIMENOPAUSE IN PRACTICE: NAVIGATING THE GREY ZONE

Perimenopause is often described as a ‘grey zone’ - fluctuating hormones, evolving symptoms, and uncertainty about what is normal, what is treatable, and when intervention is appropriate. This panel brings together perspectives from primary care, specialist gynaecology, and psychology to unpack the real-world challenges of recognising and managing perimenopause.

• Dr Marita Long - Victorian-based GP, educator and researcher, with a strong focus on women’s health and menopause care (including leadership roles with the Australasian Menopause Society).

• Dr James Brown - Sydney-based gynaecologist with clinical expertise in menopause management and women’s hormonal health, including involvement with specialist menopause services in South-West Sydney.

• Professor Jane Ussher - Professor of Women’s Health Psychology at Western Sydney University, internationally recognised for research on women’s reproductive mental health and the lived experience of hormonally mediated distress.

• Dr Terri Foran - NSW/ACT Director on the Australasian Menopause Society board, with a special clinical interest in contraception, menopause, and sexual health, and Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Women’s and Children’s Health at UNSW Sydney.

Together, the panel will explore practical questions clinicians face every day: symptom interpretation, communication and validation, navigating uncertainty, weighing treatment options, and supporting women whose experiences don’t fit neat diagnostic labels.

PANEL: Menstrual Health - from lived experience to clinical reality

• A/Prof Mike Armour — Associate Professor in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute (Western Sydney University), leading research and clinical trials across dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and menstrual health literacy, including evaluation of non-pharmacological approaches.

• A/Prof M Talat Uppal - is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist who works at Macquarie University and Hornsby Hospitals. She has additional training using ultrasound in gynaecology and digital health.

  She is the Director of Women’s Health Road, an integrated multidisciplinary model with a strong patient centred approach to women’s health care.

• Ayushi Upadhyay - is an incoming PhD researcher at Western Sydney University with an interest in menstrual health literacy and its role in shaping how individuals understand and respond to their health experiences. She brings a multidisciplinary perspective informed by seven years of experience in the corporate sector, spanning client management and engagement.

Venue

The Westmead Innovation Quarter, is part of Western Sydney University and located in Westmead [cnr Hawkesbury/Darcy Road], is a world class research facility.

Westmead is a vibrant suburb in Sydney, known for its cultural diversity, lush parks, and proximity to key attractions. It is well-connected by public transport, with the Westmead railway station providing access to Sydney's extensive train network. The suburb offers a variety of dining options, including Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurant, The Ginger Tiger, and Westmead Hotel. For shopping, nearby Parramatta boasts several shopping centers, such as Westfield Parramatta and Parramatta Farmers Market. Westmead in autumn - the weather is mild and outdoor activities are enjoyable.

REGISTRATION

          EARLY BIRD - EXTENDED

                              Early Bird Registration        Standard Registration
                                        Before 22 April 2026          After 22April 2026

Full Registration
ASPOG Member                         $600                                   $700
Non-member                                $700                                  $800
Nurse Registration                       $495                                  $550
Non-salaried Student                   $390                                   $450

Day Registration
ASPOG Member                            $370                                  $430
Non-member                                 $445                                   $500
Nurse Registration                       $310                                    $345
Non-salaried Student                   $245                                    $280

Full ASPOG Registration includes entry to all ASPOG sessions and displays; Friday and Saturday sessions, Networking Reception, morning and afternoon teas and lunches.

Student Registration is only available to those that provide evidence of their full-time, non-salaried student status. Includes entry to all sessions on Friday and Saturday, Networking Reception, morning and afternoon teas and lunches.

Day Registration includes morning and afternoon tea, Networking Reception and lunch on day of registration.

ASPOG 2026 Venue

Westmead Innovation Quarter
Level 4 
160 Hawkesbury Road
WESTMEAD NSW

Networking Reception
Friday 15th May 2026
Time: 5.30-7.30pm
Venue: Westmead Innovation Quarter, Level 4
An opportunity to network with colleagues and friends after the first day has closed. Canapés, as well as a beverage will be offered for 2 hours.

Ticket: Included in full registration fees, Extra Ticket at $65 per person (day delegates and accompanying persons) 

Cancellation Policy
Cancellation must be made in writing to the Secretariat. Cancellations received prior to 14th April 2026 will be refunded less an administration fee of $110.00. Cancellations made after this date will not be eligible for a refund, although registrations are transferable.

Payment of Fees – ASPOG is not registered for GST

• All prices are quoted in Australian dollars and do not include GST as ASPOG is exempt from charging GST and is not registered to do so. All hotels will provide a tax invoice for accommodation on departure.

• Payment options – online with credit card.

• The ABN for the ASPOG is ABN 66 168 702 936. Invoices will be issued to all registrants following receipt of the registration form. Unless otherwise requested in writing the Invoice will be in the name of the registered delegate.

Acknowledgement
All registrations will be acknowledged in writing with confirmation of requirements as indicated on your Registration and will be accompanied by a tax invoice and receipt for any payment received. If you do not receive written acknowledgement within 5 business days, contact the Meeting Manager. Please check your confirmation letter carefully and notify the Meeting Manager immediately of any changes required. 

ACCOMMODATION

Meriton Suites, 330 Church St, Parramatta 2150

Entry via Dirrabarri Lane

venue is 20 mins away using light rail [L4]

Self-contained apartments with everything you need.

With public transport, top-rated restaurants and key attractions only a few hundred metres away, you won’t have to travel far to access everything you need during your stay.

T: 1800 214 822

Novotel Sydney Parramatta, 350 Church St, Parramatta

venue is 15 mins away using light rail [L4]

Located by the river in the centre of Western Sydney's urban hub, Novotel Sydney Parramatta welcomes you to experience comfort with world-class service. Stylish and modern decor provide an urban haven in your room. Enjoy a bright start to your day with a delicious, nourishing breakfast at 350 Restaurant & Lounge off the sunlit Atrium and explore what Parramatta CBD has to offer.

Located within Parramatta's cosmopolitan dining precinct, this impressive Sydney hotel also favours leisure travellers, offering access to Riverside Theatres, Rosehill Racecourse, Raging Waters Sydney, Sydney Olympic Park, Westfields Shopping Centre and Sydney CBD.

Parkroyal Parramatta, 30 Phillip St, Parramatta

venue is 17 mins away using light rail [L4]

Be swept up in the colourful arts and culinary scene in Parramatta, Western Sydney. Start your journey at the charming PARKROYAL Parramatta, centrally located between Parramatta River and the restaurant-lined Church Street. Immerse yourself in rich history, lush greenery and eclectic food, and fall in love with Sydney’s vibrant second city.

T: +61 2 9689 3333

CPD PROGRAMS

Certificates of attendance will be issued.

RACGP

Refer to the RACGP website (https://www.racgp.org.au/education/professional-development/cpd/faqs-for-gps) for information about CPD program for GPs.  

RANZCOG

Self reporting is required through CPD Home.

ACCRM CPD

Self reporting is required through CPD Home.