“Four key strategies for managing challenging behaviour” will be outlined by USC Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology Dr Jonathan Mason at a national conference on the Sunshine Coast to assist the families and futures of people with chromosome abnormalities.

He will present to more than 150 people, including families from across Australia and New Zealand, at the Australasian conference of the Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society to be held at Novotel Twin Waters resort from Friday 21 April to Sunday 23 April.

“I’ll provide evidence for the effectiveness of positive behaviour support, then outline the four strategies,” said Dr Mason, a former Head of Psychology at a secure service for offenders with disabilities in the United Kingdom.

Dr Mason, who joined USC in 2014 after working with the Queensland Government, has research interests including offenders with intellectual disabilities, evidence-based approaches to managing challenging behaviour, and developing psychological therapy services for people with disabilities.

Two visiting keynote speakers at the Chromosome 18 Conference also will deliver public lectures at USC’s Sippy Downs campus.

The conference will be held at Novotel Twin Waters (21-23 April) and both public lectures will be held at USC (Thursday 20 April and Wednesday 26 April).

• Thursday 20 April, 1pm to 2pm at USC: Professor Jannine Cody and Dr Dan Hale of the Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Centre in Texas, United States, on ‘How to conquer a chromosome abnormality’. These abnormalities are the most common causes of childhood disability and developmental delay, yet there is little research into specific treatments;
• Wednesday 26 April, 11am to 12pm at USC: Rick Guidotti on ‘Positive Exposure: change how you see, see how you change’. This former high-profile photographer left behind global fashion shoots to establish a New York-based, non-profit organisation that celebrates genetic diversity and challenges the stigmas associated with physical, behavioural and intellectual difference.

Mr Guidotti also will join a panel discussion at a community event at USC’s Innovation Centre on Wednesday 26 April from 6pm to 8pm including a screening of his film On Beauty.

The Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society was founded in 1990 as a charity dedicated to making chromosome 18 conditions the first chromosome abnormalities able to be treated.

Its Australian president Marlene Brightwell wants to create a Chromosome 18 Clinic and research base in Australia to work with centres based in the US and Europe.

To book for a public lecture at USC, email engagement@usc.edu.au or call 5430 1127.

For details of the conference or community event, email Dr Veronica Wain veronica_wain@yahoo.com.au or call 0433 433 204.

— Julie Schomberg