Event description

Mindgardens Neuroscience Network presents the second edition of the Mindgardens Masterclass series, Foundations of Practice for Psychosis. This series is comprised of advanced, highly-interactive sessions designed for clinicians wanting to deepen their practice through applied learning, scenario-based activities, and guided skill development.

Build confidence in assessing and treating psychosis in this engaging, evidence-informed Masterclass designed for NSW Health clinicians. Foundations of Practice for Psychosis will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to accurately identify schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and respond with safe, effective care.

Masterclass Structure & Content

Across four interactive hours, you’ll deepen your understanding of the aetiology and neurobiology of psychosis, sharpen your diagnostic reasoning, and learn how to apply both pharmacological and psychological treatment strategies in real-world clinical contexts. Through guided discussion and case-based scenarios, you’ll practice translating theory into practical decision-making you can confidently apply in your clinical practice.

In this Masterclass you will:

• Strengthen your ability to accurately identify schizophrenia-spectrum disorders
• Understand the key neurobiological and psychosocial factors underlying psychosis
• Apply evidence-informed pharmacological and psychological treatment approaches
• Work through realistic case scenarios to build clinical confidence and judgement

Designed to be highly interactive, this session blends expert teaching with discussion, clinical examples, and applied learning, ensuring you leave with practical tools you can implement right away. This Masterclass is ideal for clinicians seeking a clear, structured foundation for working effectively with consumers experiencing psychosis.

Facilitators

Associate Professor Brooke Short is the Clinical Director of the Tertiary Referral Service for Psychosis (TRSP), a Senior Staff Specialist Psychiatrist at Prince of Wales Hospital, and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame. Brooke’s career has been shaped by a commitment to improving outcomes for individuals living with severe and complex mental illness, particularly schizophrenia and mood disorders. She has held academic appointments across major Australian universities, including UNSW, University of Newcastle, University of New England, and University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on the intersection of severe mental illness, comorbidity, and health service reform. She has led and contributed to several influential studies, including a world-first systematic review of ketamine’s safety in depression, the development of the Ketamine Side Effect Tool (KSET and KSET-R), probabilistic learning and prediction errors in schizophrenia, the role of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and service delivery, among others. Internationally, Brooke has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO), leading initiatives to transition psychiatric care from institutional models to person-centred, community-based approaches in multiple countries.

Suzanne Faraj is a Service Manager and Registered Nurse with the TRSP, and has over 22 years of experience as a mental health clinician working for public mental health services in Sydney. She has led numerous mental health teams throughout her career, including a large community mental health team with many consumers suffering from severe and complex psychotic disorders. During her career, she has worked closely with consumers, families, and large multi-disciplinary teams to try and ensure consumers are getting the best evidence-based treatment available to them. During her time with the TRSP Suzanne has contributed to many discussions and care plans which have enabled referring services to make changes and recommendations for their consumer.