The Abstracts of the 1st APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group Conference 4–5 November 2005 Deakin Management Centre, Geelong, Victoria

We feel quite proud in taking this important step to bring together international presenters and local clinicians and researchers to discuss in the Australian context the clinical needs of older adults. The conference will have a very practical focus on issues such as assessment and intervention techniques and strategies for working with older adults. The conference aims to provide a stimulating and supportive environment where practicing clinicians, students, and psychologists who do research directly related to the clinical practice are able to present their work and gain feedback from experienced clinicians and international researchers who will be attending as keynote speakers or workshop presenters. We are pleased to be hosting as keynote speakers Professor Bob G. Knight, Ph.D., the Merle H. Bensinger Professor of Gerontology, Psychology, and Counseling Psychology at the Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, and Professor Bob Woods, Professor of Clinical Psychology of Older People at the University of Wales, Bangor. Both of these are internationally prominent clinicians in the field of geropsychology. In addition, we will have the pleasure of workshops offered by Professors Dolores Gallagher-Thompson and Larry Thompson, of the renowned Palo Alto Older Adult Center in California, where some of the pioneering work on therapy efficacy in older adults was undertaken. Time will also be set aside for the awarding of the Psychology and Ageing Interest Group Prizes, including the Elsie Harwood Award for best honours /Masters thesis on an ageing topic, and the Ed Helmes Student Travel Award. We look forward to meeting with our colleagues across Australia and sharing our knowledge and enthusiasm in the field of ageing