HMHH is a women's mental health conference for professionals ready to challenge what we think we know about women's mental health.
Join clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals and changemakers as we explore the blind spots, missed presentations and systemic failures shaping women's mental health outcomes and discover practical, evidence-informed approaches to delivering better care.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & SpaMonday 31 August – Tuesday 1 September 2026
The Women We're Missing: Rethinking Mental Health Care for Women
Women are still being misdiagnosed, dismissed and overlooked across mental health and healthcare systems. HMHH26 brings together clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, service leaders and advocates to explore the blind spots, missed presentations and systemic failures shaping women's mental health outcomes — and what better care can look like.
HMHH26 is designed for professionals seeking practical, evidence-informed approaches to the complex factors shaping women's mental health, helping build confidence in recognising, understanding and responding to the realities too often missed in care.
Insightful keynotes from national and international leaders in women’s mental health
Practical sessions grounded in clinical decision-making and service delivery
Lived experience perspectives embedded as essential expertise
A deep dive into perimenopause, trauma, neurodivergence, inequity and systems reform
Space to connect, reflect and collaborate across disciplines and sectors
What you'll walk away with
At HMHH26, you'll gain practical insight into the clinical blind spots, emerging evidence and system challenges shaping women's mental health today.
You'll leave better equipped to recognise complex presentations, challenge assumptions and deliver more responsive, effective and gender-informed care.
Keynote Speakers
Jillian Whiting
Conference MC
Conference MC
Jillian is a familiar face on Queensland television – with over 30 years' experience as a journalist, newsreader and TV presenter with the Seven and Nine networks, She’s currently a presenter on Channel Seven’s much-loved lifestyle program, Weekender and owner of communication coaching firm, Media Potential.
A career in the media spotlight has led to a successful communication business, Media Potential, coaching corporate leaders, politicians, athletes and influencers to be engaging and unforgettable communicators... on and off camera.
Jillian is also highly respected as a host and moderator across a broad range of events from economic forums to opening night galas.
And she is proud to serve on the Women in Media Queensland Committee.
Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich
Deputy Director, HER Centre Australia
Deputy Director, HER Centre Australia
Caroline is an Associate Professor and a Clinical Neuropsychologist. She is the Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia, Monash University, Head of the “Cognition and Hormones Group"" and Chair of the Victorian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.
Caroline’s research interests are related to the neuropsychology of women’s mental health. She is particularly interested in how cognition and mental health can be impacted in some women at times of hormonal change, such as menopause. Caroline has over 100 publications that have contributed to a better understanding of cognition in mental health and mental illness. Caroline also works as a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice.
Rosie Luik
Author, Speaker and Lived-Experience Advocate
Author, Speaker and Lived-Experience Advocate
Rosie Luik is a Brisbane-based author, speaker and lived-experience advocate whose story highlights the mental health impact of being dismissed, misdiagnosed and unheard within the medical system. As Queensland’s first legal altruistic surrogate to twins, Rosie has navigated complex health journeys that required sustained self-advocacy over many years. The psychological toll of fighting to be believed — and to secure appropriate care — has shaped her commitment to women trusting their bodies and intuition. Today, she draws on that hard-earned insight to advocate fiercely for her daughters within the health system, bringing a powerful perspective on how medical dismissal reverberates across families.
Sharon Sherwood
Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach, Cabrini Health
Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach, Cabrini Health
I am Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach at Cabrini Health, with over 30 years’ experience in mental health nursing and leadership. I led the development of Australia’s first private Women’s Mental Health Service, work that reflects my deep commitment to improving access, equity, and outcomes for women. My career spans clinical governance, strategy, and service innovation across complex health systems. I am passionate about building high-performing teams, strengthening quality and safety, and shaping contemporary models of care that enable women, families, and clinicians to thrive.
Dr Hinemoa Elder
FRANZCP, PhD, MNZM. Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro.
Te Hiku Hauora. Kaitāia.
FRANZCP, PhD, MNZM. Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro.
Te Hiku Hauora. Kaitāia.
Dr Hinemoa Elder, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāpuhi nui tonu, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of 20 years and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists.
Hinemoa was awarded the MNZM, New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Psychiatry and to Māori in 2019, she is a member of the NZ Human Rights Review Tribunal, she is the Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro at Te Hiku Hauora and a best selling author.
Hinemoa is a Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Resident Alumni, a member of the Busara Circle, for the Homeward Bound Project, and Patron of Brainwave Trust.
Dr Michelle Garnett PhD is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in autism for more than 30 years as a clinician, clinic director, author, presenter and researcher. Alongside Prof Tony Attwood she co-founded Attwood & Garnett Events to enhance autism awareness globally. She has co-authored nine books on autism and many peer-reviewed journal articles. She has been an invited keynote speaker and conference presenter internationally for over two decades. Dr Garnett is autistic and has ADHD, late diagnosed.
A/P Magdalena Simonis AM
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM
MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS
Clinical Associate Professor Department of General Practice
University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM
MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS
Clinical Associate Professor Department of General Practice
University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis is a leading Australian general practitioner, researcher and educator at The University of Melbourne who is widely recognised for her contributions to primary care, women’s health, medical education, and health system improvement.
Magdalena is on the Breast Screen Australia Clinical Advisory Group, the National Endometriosis Action Plan Expert Advisory Group, the Victorian Multicultural Health Advisory Committee, Clinical Director of the Victorian Mobile Women’s Health Service pilot program and member of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s inaugural Clinical Advisory Group. Magdalena has multiple Board Director roles and enjoys countering misinformation as a health columnist for The Australian and weekly podcaster for SBS.
SOPHIE SCOTT OAM is an international speaker, an award-winning broadcast journalist and educator, Author, TedX speaker and a TopVoice on LinkedIn. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney in the Sydney School of Public Health. Sophie understands health and how to communicate it effectively. She has been a leading voice on Australian TV, radio and online in health and science for more than 2 decades. She won numerous awards for her ground-breaking health journalism and has a strong reputation for integrity and balance. She was awarded an Order of Australia for services to Australian broadcasting and community health. Her professional skills include health journalism, strategic communication, consulting and board experience. Sophie has guest lectured for numerous universities including Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame.
Nicky Bath
CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
Nicky Bath is the CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, the national peak body representing organisations and individuals working to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people. She brings experience across government, community‑controlled and public health systems, having worked with the NSW Ministry of Health, ACON, AIVL and the UK National Health Service. Nicky’s work centres on prevention, equity and advancing the health and human rights of marginalised communities.
Join HMHH26 and You Can:
✓ Build confidence recognising the presentations, patterns and risk factors that are often overlooked in women and girls.
✓ Better understand the impact of hormones, perimenopause, trauma, neurodivergence, burnout and social context on women's mental health outcomes.
✓ Learn practical approaches to assessment, formulation and care for complex and often misunderstood presentations.
✓ Explore where current systems, services and models of care are failing women — and what can be done differently.
✓ Hear directly from clinicians, researchers and lived experience leaders challenging traditional assumptions about women's mental health.
✓ Discover emerging evidence, innovative programs and real-world examples of gender-responsive practice.
✓ Connect with professionals across mental health, primary care, women's health, research, policy and community services.
✓ Take away practical ideas you can apply immediately to improve outcomes for the women you support.
✓ Be part of a growing national movement to rethink how women's mental health is understood, recognised and responded to.
Does this sound like you?
HMHH is designed for professionals, leaders and advocates working across the women’s mental health landscape.
You will be in good company if you are a:
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Psychology, psychiatry or mental health care
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Menopause, perimenopause, reproductive and hormonal health
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General practice or primary healthcare
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Women’s health, reproductive health or perinatal care
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Counselling, social work or community services
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Occupational therapy or allied health
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Lived experience leadership or peer work
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Research, academia or education
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Service design, commissioning or policy
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Disability, neurodivergence or trauma-informed practice
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Advocacy, systems reform or community leadership
Whether you work in hospitals, private practice, primary care, NGOs, education or government, HMHH26 is for people committed to improving women’s mental health outcomes.
What you’ll learn at HMHH
The content you’ll gain, and the conversations you’ll be a part of at HMHH26
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Perimenopause, Hormones & the Female Brain
A major focus of the program, exploring the mental health impacts of hormonal transition, cognitive change, menopause, ovarian insufficiency and how clinicians can better assess and support women across the lifespan.
- The Clinical Blind Spots in Women’s Mental Health
Sessions addressing misdiagnosis, masking, overlooked presentations and the systemic tendency to minimise or misunderstand women’s distress, particularly in relation to autism, ADHD, trauma and chronic stress. - Neurodivergence in Women & Girls
A strong stream focused on late diagnosis, masking, burnout, self-injury, ADHD and autism in women — including neurodiversity-affirming and ecological approaches to care. - When Distress Is Context, Not Pathology
A recurring theme throughout the program examining coercive control, medical trauma, caregiving pressure, inequity, violence and social conditions as drivers of distress rather than individual pathology alone. - Burnout, Mental Load & Invisible Labour
Exploring the emotional, cognitive and physiological toll carried by women across caring roles, workplaces and family systems — including neuroscience-informed approaches to burnout and sustainable wellbeing.
- Rebuilding Women’s Mental Health Systems
Practical conversations around redesigning systems, improving service pathways, co-design, lived experience leadership and creating more responsive, integrated models of care. - Lived Experience as Essential Expertise
Lived experience perspectives are embedded throughout the conference — not as side conversations, but as central leadership voices shaping policy, practice and systems reform. - Trauma, Recovery & Gender-Responsive Care
Sessions exploring trauma-informed approaches to women’s mental health, including domestic and family violence, coercive control, maternal mental illness, pelvic pain, ageing and recovery pathways. - Identity, Culture & Inclusive Mental Health Care
Strong focus on First Nations women’s mental health, cultural perspectives, disability advocacy, parenting, survivorship and the intersection of identity and wellbeing.
- Identity, Culture & Inclusive Mental Health Care
Strong focus on First Nations women’s mental health, cultural perspectives, disability advocacy, parenting, survivorship and the intersection of identity and wellbeing. - Practical, Real-World Clinical Application
A major strength of HMHH26 is the focus on implementation and practical relevance — supporting clinicians and professionals with real-world approaches they can apply immediately within practice, services and communities. - Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration & Systems Thinking
The program brings together clinicians, researchers, lived experience leaders, advocates, policy professionals and service designers to move beyond siloed approaches to women’s mental health care. - A National Conversation About Women’s Mental Health
HMHH26 positions women’s mental health not as a niche topic, but as a major national conversation around healthcare, systems reform, clinical confidence and improving outcomes for women and girls.
Why This Conference Matters
HER Mind, HER Health responds to a clear gap in the mental health landscape.
Women’s mental health is frequently siloed from women’s physical health, leading to fragmented care and missed opportunities for early intervention and effective treatment. Emerging and under-served areas such as perimenopause, midlife mental health and neurodivergence in women remain poorly understood and inconsistently addressed.
This conference creates a shared national platform to build capability, challenge assumptions, elevate lived experience, and drive coordinated change across practice, policy and systems.
Register
Virtual
$499 + GST
Ends 31/07/2026
Live streaming of keynote sessions
and plenary sessions
Official conference app
On-demand session recordings post-event
- CPD points and a certificate of attendance
In-Person
$999 + GST
Ends 31/07/2026
All keynote presentations and concurrent
sessions- Practical workshops and panel
discussions - Premium catering and a high-quality
venue experience Official conference app
On-demand session recordings
post-event- CPD points and a certificate of attendance
- Networking function
Group of 3
$2,697 + GST
Ends 31/07/2026
All keynote presentations and concurrent
sessions- Practical workshops and panel
discussions - Premium catering and a high-quality
venue experience Official conference app
On-demand session recordings
post-event- CPD points and a certificate of attendance
- Networking function
Location
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
158 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
A 6-minute walk from the beach, this contemporary high-rise resort is also 1.8 km from the SkyPoint Observation Deck.
Refined rooms feature flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, plus desks, coffeemakers, and balconies with sea or mountain views. Studios and 1-bedroom suites add living areas. Room service is available.
Amenities include a cafe, a seafood restaurant, and a trendy Japanese steakhouse with a whisky bar. There's also a lagoon-style pool with cabanas and a waterfall, plus a day spa, a gym and a tennis court. Parking is available.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
158 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Accommodation is optional and can be booked during registration.
Room Only - $332 per night
Room + Breakfast for One - $367 per night
Room + Breakfast for Two - $402 per night
*All prices are AUD and include GST.

Travel Information
From Brisbane Airport (BNE), the resort is about 80–85 km away, typically around 1 hour by car via the M1 in normal traffic. Travellers can choose between self-drive, pre-booked chauffeured transfers, taxis or rideshare, or public transport using Brisbane’s Airtrain to the Gold Coast with a connection to the G:link tram, which altogether takes around 2 hours including transfers. There is also a once-daily coach service linking Brisbane Airport and Surfers Paradise for those preferring a direct bus option.
From Gold Coast Airport (OOL/Coolangatta), the resort is approximately 23–25 km and around 25 minutes by car or taxi in usual conditions. The most common public transport option is the 777 airport bus to Broadbeach South, then the G:link tram to Surfers Paradise North, which takes just under an hour including the transfer. Multiple shuttle operators also offer door-to-door services from both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports directly to the hotel, which can be convenient for delegates travelling in small groups.







