
A Voice for Children
Registrations are now open! The 4th Annual Academy of Child and Adolescent Health Conference is set to take place in Melbourne, Australia from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 October 2023. ACAH23 promises to be an insightful and educational event, bringing together 150 health professionals from various disciplines in paediatrics.
This year’s theme, “A Voice for Children”, will feature inspiring talks by passionate clinicians on important topics such as Global and Refugee Health, Mental Health, and Rural and Remote Children. Attendees can look forward to learning from and connecting with their peers, and gaining valuable insights from patient stories and experiences.
And that’s not all – we’re bringing back the Abstract competition and Champion Awards to showcase innovative research, ideas, and to celebrate significant individuals who are advocating for the voice for children and young people. Cast your votes for the winning team in the Great Tech Debate.
Connect with fellow attendees, old friends and new, at our pre-conference workshops followed by a lovely evening of cocktails on Thursday, and a social dinner on Friday.
Register now for ACAH23 and join us for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun!
Introducing our speakers

A/Prof Jane Munro
Paediatric Rheumatologist, Royal Children's Hospital; Member of Victorian Government COVID Taskforce for Healthcare Worker Wellbeing

Dr Bo Remenyi
Paediatric Cardiologist, Royal Darwin Hospital; Northern Territory Australian of the Year 2018

Prof Frank Oberklaid AM
Foundation Director of Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital; Co-Chair of National Children's Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy Working Group

Prof Hasantha Gunasekera
Professor of Paediatric Priority Populations, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School; Editor of Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Dr Shabna Rajapaksa
General Paediatrician; Co-Head of Paediatrics at Grampians Health, Ballarat.

Dr Eric Levi
Consultant ENT Surgeon, Royal Children's Hospital; Honorary Fellow, Murdoch Research Children's Instititute; #Medtwitter influencer

Jennifer Darvas
Mercy Ships Volunteer in West Africa PICU Nurse Practitioner and Researcher, Children's Hospital at Westmead

Dr Nikola Morton
Médecins Sans Frontières Medical Advisor for Paediatrics; Sydney Children's Hospital Network Board Member

Saad Alkassab
Australian-Syrian Refugee; TEDx Speaker; Messenger of Peace Award Recipient; Medical Student, Melbourne University

Dr Karen Zwi
Consultant Community Paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital (SCH), Conjoint Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Head of the Department of Community Child Health, and the Clinical Director for Priority Populations at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN).
Novotel Melbourne on Collins
ACAH23 is set to take place in Melbourne, one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world! Centrally located on bustling Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne CBD, the Novotel Melbourne on Collins is renowned for its contemporary style, 4.5 star hotel comfort and unique event spaces.
Champions Awards
The Academy of Child and Adolescent Health established the ACAH Champion Awards in 2022 to recognise passionate, innovative people, from diverse backgrounds, who are gamechangers in Child and Adolescent Health!
The difference between these awards and other honours, is that these awards are peer-nominated and peer-voted.
Abstract Submissions
Healthcare professionals with an interest or specialty in child and adolescent health are encouraged to submit an abstract. Abstracts will be reviewed and scored to determine eligibility for oral presentation (8 minutes + questions) at the conference and eligibility for prizes.
Early bird sale is on!
Non-Members
Early bird registration- Entry to Main Conference
- Entry to Thursday Workshop Day
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Access to recordings
- Early bird registrations close 16 July
ACAH Members
Early Bird registration- Entry to Main Conference
- Entry to Thursday Workshop Day
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Access to recordings
- Early bird registrations close 16 July
Student Passes
Early bird registration- Entry to Main Conference
- Entry to Thursday Workshop Day
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Access to recordings for six months
- Early bird registrations close 16 July
Day Passes
Friday or Saturday entry- Entry to one-day conference (Friday or Saturday)
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Access to recordings for six months (Members receive ongoing access)
Digital Passes
Early Bird registration- Virtually attend the Main Conference
- Access to recordings (Members receive ongoing access)
Friday Dinner
Social function- Inviting friends and colleagues of the Academy to join us at Pure South Dining Melbourne for a lovely three-course dining experience on Friday 20 October!
- Attendance is optional and tickets can be selected at the time of registration.
Key dates
7 May 2023
Early Bird registrations open
14 May 2023
Research abstracts and Champion
Awards nomination portal opens
16 July 2023
Early bird registration closes
31 July 2023
Research portal closes
Late August 2023
Winners for research abstracts notified
Early August 2023
Champion Awards Voting Opens
19 October 2023
Workshop day
ACAH Mentoring Night
Thursday Cocktail Night
20 October 2023
ACAH23 Day One
Conference Dinner
21 October 2023
ACAH23 Day Two
ACAH2022 Gallery



Hear from our previous attendees
First trip out of Queensland, networking, quality of conference discussions and sessions. Great not just to hear about lists of causes or new drug management, but to spend time on “wicked problems” effecting our lives/work. Also to listen to passionate people where their job is a vocation!
Delegate, ACAH2022
I enjoyed connecting with like-minded people who are passionate about working to improve, and advocating for, children and young people’s health. The breadth and depth of accumulated experience of attendees and presenters at the conference was really inspiring to see.
Delegate, ACAH2022
Excellent conference – covered very topical issues in Paediatrics with each speaker best suited to speak on each. Very well organised. Thankyou.
Delegate, ACAH2022
Thank you to our Supporters

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The Academy of Child and Adolescent Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.