About this Event
Welcome to the 2026 Spinal Cord Injury Conference hosted by the RNSH Spinal Cord Injuries Unit (SCIU) in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI), Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service. This is a full week conference held from Monday 26th to Friday 30th October at 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards. Attendance at the conference includes a catered Morning Tea and Lunch each day.
If you are a health care professional who treats or manages patients with spinal cord injury at any stage throughout the life span, this conference will enhance your ability to provide evidence-based practice through skill and knowledge development. The conference aims to provide practical and theoretical knowledge which is relevant to everyday practice. You will accrue a minimum of 35 CPD points by attending the full week.
The 5-day conference offers a comprehensive and interactive learning experience. It provides a multi-disciplinary & inter-disciplinary approach to the management of the patient with a spinal cord injury, from the time of injury across the acute, rehabilitation and community reintegration phases. Long term issues, complications and current research will also be presented. The conference includes a tour of the acute spinal cord injury unit and therapy areas as well as an optional. but highly recommended, tour of Sargood on Collaroy, a world class resort for people with SCI (pls note that travel to and from Sargood on Collaroy is not included in the ticket price). The final day is designed to consolidate the week’s learning through an experiential learning session that typically receives exceptional evaluation.
A tentative timetable is available on Eventbrite. The conference will run from 8am to 5pm each day. The timing of sessions will be subject to change as we confirm our guest speakers, however, the topics covered should remain unchanged. We also offer some discipline specific "break out" sessions.
We are delighted to extend an invitation to join us for for dinner and drinks at The Beach Club, Collaroy, on the evening of Wednesday 28th October. This is an optional occasion (not included in ticket price) to provide the opportunity for socialising and networking.
Instructions for 2026 ticket purchasing:
Full Week ticket price - $896.67.
Pls contact Sonia or Wil if you experience any ticket purchasing issues.
Day 1
🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:10 AM
DAY 1 - REGISTRATION
Host: Komal, Ruyi, Wil , Eliza, Sonia
🕑: 08:10 AM - 08:30 AM
Introduction
Info: Sonia Jones & Wilhelmina Long, RNSH Spinal CNCs ; Komal Adarkar Network Manager, Statewide Spinal Cord Injury, Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI)
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:15 AM
Trauma Management
Host: Dr Geoff Healy
Info: Dr Geoff Healy, MBBS, BSpSc, DCH, Dip IMC (RCSEd), Dip RTM (RCSEd), Dip POM (ANZCA), FANZCA Director of Trauma, Trauma Physician, Trauma Service, Royal North Shore Hospital. Deputy Medical Manager, Consultant PreHospital and Retrieval Physician, ANZCA Supervisor of Training, Greater Sydney Area HEMS, NSW Ambulance. Consultant Anaesthetist, Perioperative Physician, Senior VMO, Clinical Lead, Trauma Anaesthesia, Department of Anaesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Royal North Shore and North Shore Private Hospitals. Clinical Lecturer, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney.
🕑: 09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Intensive Care Admission
Host: Sharon Mar
Info: Sharon Mar, RNSH ICU Clinical Nurse Educator
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:40 AM
MORNING TEA
🕑: 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
Acute Medical Management after SCI
Host: Dr Saranga De Silva
Info: Dr Saranga De Silva, RNSH Spinal Rehab Staff Specialist
🕑: 11:40 AM - 12:25 PM
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Host: Eliza King
Info: Eliza King, RNSH Spinal CNC2
🕑: 12:25 PM - 01:30 PM
LUNCH
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Skin Management
Host: Lucija Lavrencic & Yamuna Limbu
Info: Lucija Lavrencic & Yamuna Limbu, RNSH Spinal Plastics Service CNC & CNS
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Speech Pathology after SCI
Host: Mia Whitehall
Info: Mia Whitehall, RNSH Speech Pathologist
🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Pain & Spasticity Management after SCI
Host: Dr Sam Arthurs
Info: Dr Sam Arthurs, RNSH Spinal Rehab Specialist
🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Building the patient journey
Info: Sonia Jones & Wil Long , RNSH Spinal CNCs
Day 2
🕑: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Day 2
Host: Sonia Jones and Wil Long
Info: RNSH Spinal CNCs
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Bladder Management after SCI
Host: Sonia Jones
Info: Sonia Jones , RNSH Spinal CNC
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
Nutrition
Host: Marthury Jeyalingam
Info: RNSH Spinal Unit Dietitian
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Psychiatric Considerations post SCI
Host: Dr Ralf Ilchef & Dr Mitchell Wong
Info: RNSH CL Psychiatrist & CL Registrar
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
MORNING TEA
🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
ASIA INSCI prognosis and outcomes
Host: Dr Mel Tang
Info: Dr Mel Tang, Spinal Rehabilitation Specialist, Wolper Private Hospital
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Neurogenic Bowel Management Theory
Host: Wil Long
Info: RNSH Spinal CNC
🕑: 12:45 PM - 02:30 PM
TRADE DISPLAY & LUNCH
Info: RNSH 7E SCIU Courtyard
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:15 PM
Spinal Rehabilitation - held in Room 8A/B RNSH (We will escort everyone there)
Host: Gillian Garrett
Info: Gillian Garrett, Rehab CNC, Royal Rehab
🕑: 03:15 PM - 05:00 PM
Breakout Groups
Host: Sonia Jones & Wil Long
Info: 1) Lymphoedema Management - Emily Muldoon (OT/Lymphoedema Therapist - Swell Therapies) and Dr Stephanie Lam in the Spinal OT Space , Ward 7E 2) Physiotherapy after SCI - hosted by Helen Patterson, Isabella Stanfield, RNSH Spinal Physiotherapists in the Spinal Physio Gym 3) Nursing after SCI - hosted by Sonia Jones & Wil Long , RNSH Spinal CNCs, held in Room 9A/B RNSH.4) Medical - hosted by Dr Jessy Kaur - 7E Quiet Room
Day 3
🕑: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Day 3
Host: Sonia Jones and Wil Long
Info: RNSH , Spinal CNCs
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Medical/Surgical Management of SCI
Host: Dr Heath French & Dr Ragavan Manoharan
Info: RNSH Neurosurgeons
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Legal Issues , Solicitor, Shanahan Tudhope Lawyers
Host: Samantha Harrison
Info: Samantha Harrison | Solicitor Acer Law
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
MORNING TEA
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Tetraplegic nerve & tendon transfers
Host: Helen Patterson
Info: Helen Patterson, RNSH Senior Spinal Physiotherapist
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Orthotics
Host: Iromi Peiris
Info: RNSH Orthotist
🕑: 11:45 AM - 01:15 PM
Occupational Therapy
Host: Lisa Benad, Holly McCudden, Emily Hubbard & Jaimi Knep
Info: OT for SCI - Lisa Benad, Holly McCudden, Emily Hubbard & Jaimi Knep ; Early Intervention Vocational Rehabilitation and In-Voc :Rachel Harper - InVoc.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
LUNCH
Info: Conference Rooms1 Reserve Road
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Neurogenic Bowel Management Simulation Session
Host: Sonia Jones & Wilhelmina Long
Info: Sonia Jones & Wilhelmina Long, RNSH Spinal CNCs
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Travel time between RNSH and Sargood on Collaroy
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Optional Separate Event Tour of Sargood on Collaroy
Info: Sargood on Collaroy is a resort with accommodation especially designed for people with spinal cord injury, their families and carers. Open to all ages, the resort welcomes people with permanent damage to their spinal cord that is not progressive or palliative. We provide holidays and NDIS short term accommodation with a maximum stay of up to 28 days. Located on a spectacular headland at Collaroy beach, overlooking Sydney’s beautiful northern beaches peninsula, we are a world-first facility purpose-built for people with SCI.
🕑: 05:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Social Evening – optional event at The Beach Club, Collaroy
Host: The Beach Club, Collaroy
Info: The Beach Club
The Beach Club, as it is known today, is located within heritage listed Arlington Hall on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and its stunning location right on Collaroy Beach provides patrons with incredible views over the Pacific Ocean stretching from the Central Coast to Long Reef. Members and guests enjoy spectacular views in comfort and safety. The club boasts modern Australian Beach grill dining, choice of over 24 beers on tap and a range of premium wines and cocktails.
Day 4
🕑: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Day 4
Host: Sonia and Wil
Info: Course Convenors
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Sexuality & Sexual Function
Host: Candice Care-Unger
Info: Candice Care-Unger, Psychosexual Therapist, CARE Rehab
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Acute Physio Management following SCI
Host: Lydia Chen
Info: Lydia Chen, RNSH Spinal Physio
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Morning Tea
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Funding Options
Host: Yvette Mair
Info: Yvette Mair, Community Spinal CNC, NSHNS
🕑: 11:45 AM - 01:15 PM
Long Lunch Break
Info: Lunch will be delivered at 12noon
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Paediatric Perspective
Host: Sharon Tan
Info: Sharon Tan, CNC Spina Bifida & TBI/Spinal Outpatients, Kids Rehab, The Children’s Hospital, Westmead
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Fertility after SCI
Host: Sonia Jones
Info: Sonia Jones, RNSH Spinal CNC
🕑: 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM
The Spinal Outreach Service ( Metro & Rural)
Host: Melinda Beecham
Info: Melinda Beecham, Spinal Outreach Service
🕑: 03:45 PM - 05:00 PM
Seating and Pressure Management for people with SCI
Host: Dr Iain Brown
Info: Dr Iain Brown, Rehabilitation Engineer
Day 5
🕑: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Day 5
Host: Sonia & Wil
Info: Course Convenors
🕑: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Interactive Learning Session (Morning Tea included within session)
Host: Bernie Brown
Info: Facilitators -Bernie Brown, Counsellor
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
LUNCH
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PM
PsychoSocial Considerations after SCI
Host: Helen Tonkin & Bianca Dos Santos
Info: Helen Tonkin & Bianca Dos Santos, RNSH Senior Spinal SW & RNSH Spinal Clinical Psychologist
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Advanced Care Planning & Palliative Care
Host: Jacquie Endicott & Katrina Mann
Info: Jacquie Endicott , Clinical Nurse consultant/Palliative Care & Katrina Mann, Clinical Nurse Consultant/Palliative Care
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
AFTERNOON TEA
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Consumer Panel
Host: Dan Holt & Heidi Haydon
Info: Dan Holt & Heidi Haydon, Peer Support, SCIA
🕑: 03:15 PM - 05:00 PM
Course Finalisation & Certificate Presentation
Thank you for attending the 2026 Spinal Conference
Info: Wishing you a safe journey home
Event venue & nearby stays
1 Reserve Rd, 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards, Australia
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.