PRE-CONFERENCE MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

Meeting 1 – Scientific Meeting of the Mental Health Australian General Clinical Trials Network (MAGNET)

Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025
Time:  9:00am- 5:00pm
Venue/Room: SAMHRI, 2 North Terrace, Adelaide CBD
Cost: Included with SMHR Full Conference Registrations (covers morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea).

The MAGNET Scientific Meeting brings together Australia’s mental health researchers, clinicians, and Lived Experience Research Partners. It focuses on exploring innovative clinical trial ideas submitted for MAGNET trial endorsement. These proposals, aligned with national research priorities and community needs, will be presented for peer review and feedback. The goal is to improve trial design, methodology, and translation, while identifying opportunities for collaboration.

The meeting will also feature keynote talks from leading mental health researchers. It encourages open discussion and supports collaboration across the sector. Networking is a major focus offering valuable opportunities to build partnerships that can drive future mental health clinical trials research in Australia.

Presenters Biographies
Presenter Information to follow

Meeting 2 - EMCR Pre-Conference Workshop: Diverse Pathways to Success in Mental Health Research

Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025
Time:  2:00pm- 4:00pm
Venue/Room: Ground floor lecture theatre, Adelaide Medical School on North Terrace 
Cost: Included with SMHR Full Conference Registrations 

This interactive session is designed for early- to mid-career researchers (EMCRs) looking to build capacity, connect with other researchers, and gain practical insights into how to overcome challenges and achieve success in their research careers. The workshop will feature a panel discussion with a diverse group of researchers who have overcome challenges or taken diverse paths to achieve success (including grant success). Panellists will reflect on challenges they’ve faced - such as navigating career uncertainty, funding barriers, working in under-recognised or challenging areas of research, or taking a non-traditional academic trajectory. They will share practical strategies and tips for overcoming these sorts of challenges, securing grants, forming meaningful collaborations, progressing your career, and discuss the diversity in career paths and what a "successful" career can look like. Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit anonymous questions, including “hard to ask” or “you can’t ask that” questions. Following the panel, the workshop will include group activities designed to extend on the discussion and facilitate networking and connection with other EMCRs. The session will conclude with a “Pitch Your Project” challenge designed to highlight the importance of supporting each other and working together to achieve success. Participants will be encouraged to team up with others with complementary skills, shared interests or common goals to co-design collaborative project ideas and deliver a short pitch, with the best pitch receiving an award and prize.

Presenters Biographies
Presenter Information to follow