Session 8A: Neurodiversity in Adolescence
Tracks
Track 1
| Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM |
Details
In this session, participants will explore neurodiversity during adolescence, gaining insights into diagnosis, management, and recent changes in prescribing practices, while also appreciating the perspectives of those with lived experience.
Objectives
-Understand how neurodiversity is diagnosed and managed during adolescence.
-Identify and evaluate services available for neurodiverse adolescents, including gaps in provision.
-Explain recent changes to GP prescribing practices for ADHD medications.
-Appreciate and reflect on lived-experience perspectives regarding the challenges of neurodiversity in adolescence.
Speaker
Dr Sally Poulton
Senior Lecturer
Nepean Clinical School, The University Of Sydney
ADHD and the new changes with GP prescribing
12:30 PM - 12:45 PMBiography
Alison [Sally] Poulton is a paediatrician with 30 years experience in treating ADHD in public and private settings. She has trained 6 GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD in general practice according to an evidence-based study protocol. She is a co-author of the ADHD Prescribing Guide for Australian Healthcare Professionals.
Prof Kenneth Nunn
Child and Adolescent psychiatrist
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD management challenges
12:45 PM - 1:00 PMBiography
A/Prof Natalie Ong
Senior Staff Specialist
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
Improving safety and quality of care for children and young people with ID/DD
1:00 PM - 1:15 PMBiography
Dr Natalie Ong is an Associate Professor and Senior Staff Specialist in Developmental Paediatrics at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney. With over 20 years’ experience, she specialises in complex neurodevelopmental disorders, leads multidisciplinary services and service improvement initiatives including training to upskill staff caring for neurodiverse children.
Fiona J
Youth Co-Convenor
AAAH
What My Culture Taught Me About Being Neurodivergent - Bridging the Gap Between Understanding and Care
1:15 PM - 1:30 PMBiography
Fiona is a passionate youth advocate with a strong commitment to improving health equity and amplifying young people’s voices in decision-making spaces. With experience spanning research, health promotion, and community initiatives, Fiona works towards healthier, more inclusive communities through evidence informed solutions that are co-designed with young people. Fiona is particularly passionate about mental and digital health, preventative care, and cultural safety, and they believe that meaningful change happens when young people and decision makers work in genuine partnership to reimagine systems together. As Youth Co-Convenor, Fiona is excited to create a collaborative environment centred on peer leadership, curiosity and intergenerational dialogue.
YHC 2026
Presentations
Q&A
1:30 PM - 1:45 PMBiography