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Conference closing Keynote/ Panel

Saturday, February 14, 2026
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Ballroom

Overview

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration. Panellist include Pamela Patrick, Kelly Howard, Glenn Howard, Tiffany Westphal, Siobhan Lamb, Chaired by Aspasia Stacey Rabba.


Speaker

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Dr Pamela Patrick
Monash University

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Submission/ Abstract

A Senate report in July 2023 indicated the growing and worrying trend of school avoidance. The government outlined several initiatives to tackle the issue, including a National Action Plan.
This panel will evaluate progress in this space since the Senate report and explore current knowledge and best practices in supporting schools and parents with student engagement and reducing school can’t.
The panel will collaborate from their varying points of view on 2-3 case studies to illustrate practical, collaborative and evidence-based approaches to responding to school disengagement.

Learning outcomes

Following attendance, participants will be able to:
Define key terms (e.g., school disengagement, school can’t)
Identify the potential causes of school can’t and barriers to school engagement.
Be familiar with evidence-based interventions for supporting students, families, and schools.
Develop a plan for a collaborative approach to reducing school can’t in schools.
Identify evidence-based methods of increasing school engagement for all students.

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Dr Pamela Patrick is a Lecturer in the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling within the Faculty of Education and a Board-Approved Supervisor. Following the completion of her PhD, Pamela worked as a school psychologist, supporting adolescents and school communities with a wide range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, school can't, eating disorders, and self-harm. This practice-based experience continues to inform her research and teaching. Pamela’s research focuses on cultivating inclusive and supportive school communities, enhancing teacher and student wellbeing, and addressing the needs of underrepresented groups in education. She has methodological expertise in the Delphi technique, mixed-methods research, and participatory action research. Pamela has a strong publication record exploring educator wellbeing, contemporary challenges in school settings, and research that amplifies the voices of young people and educators.
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Dr Kelly Howard
Monash University

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

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I'm a psychologist passionate about helping children and young people thrive by understanding how they learn and how their brains work. My work sits at the intersection of neurodevelopment, learning, and mental health, with a focus on supporting those who feel stuck or misunderstood in education settings. I’ve worked across research, clinical, and educational contexts—including the Learning Difficulties Centre at RCH, SPELD, and now the Endeavour Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry Team at Monash ELMHS. At Endeavour, I support young people experiencing school distress, often linked to undiagnosed neurodevelopmental and learning conditions. I also teach in the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology program at Monash University and manage the Monash Krongold Clinic, where I’m committed to high-quality supervision and training for future psychologists. I’m especially passionate about helping young people understand themselves and find meaningful pathways forward—whatever that may look like.
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Glenn Howard
QUT

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

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Glenn is the Director of Educational and Developmental Psychology Services at the QUT Health Clinic and Co-director of the Caroline Chisholm Centre (QUT’s partnership with Brisbane Catholic Education). Glenn is a Registered Educational and Developmental Psychologist and Accredited Supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. Glenn trains Provisional Psychologists to work effectively with clients across the lifespan, fostering inclusive, evidence-based practices that enhance wellbeing and resilience. Glenn is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Fellow of the APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists and has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2025 to travel to research best practice in assisting students with school attendance difficulties. Glenn has experience in organisations, universities, schools, counselling, assessment and teaching. Glenn's interests include psychology in schools, social-emotional wellbeing, systemic and preventative interventions, careers, parenting, assessment and therapy. Glenn is undertaking Certification in the TEAM-CBT Therapy method from the United States.
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Tiffany Westphal
Student Stress Investigation

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

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Social Worker, Disability Advocate, Director for School Can't Australia, research collaborator, and creator of the Student Stress Investigation (SSI) resource, are some of the roles Tiffany has. She is passionate about helping amplify student voice to improve the capacity of adults to identify and respond to school-based stressors which impact school attendance. Research conducted both in Australia and Germany using the SSI suggests that neurodivergent students experience an average of 41- 46 school based stressors out of 96 included in the SSI.
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Siobhan Lamb
Neurodevelopmental Educator
Developmental Paediatrics

Moving from “school cant” to “school can” - Harnessing Interprofessional Collaboration

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

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I am a Neurodevelopmental Educator with an interest in ADHD, Autism and Twice-exceptionality in school aged children. I am a registered teacher under NESA, an Associate Member of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association and a member of both the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented and the Australian Association of Special Education. My three children and myself are all Neurodivergent with a mix of Autism, ADHD, giftedness, Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. I am an experienced teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the education industry for over 20 years as a teacher in Diverse Learning (Head of Neurodiversity), Science and Head of Science and Executive Functioning in Australia and Singapore. I am an accredited ADHD, Executive Functioning and Parent Coach with certificate courses in emotional regulation and CPS (Collaborative and Proactive Solutions) and extensive experience supporting young neurodivergent people. Through experience supporting children and their parents, I have developed both an Executive Functioning program and a Parent Coaching Course. I hold a unique position as a Neurodevelopmental Educator and advocate for children at school. I have sat in everyone’s chair: the teacher, the parent and the child themselves.

Session chair

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Aspasia Stacey Rabba
2026 CEDP Conference Chair
Monash University/Monash Health

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