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Session 2C: Chronic Illness

Tracks
Track 3
Thursday, April 23, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Lennox 3

Speaker

Ms Sarah Kilgour
Clinical Psychologist
The Children's Hospital At Westmead

Co-Presenting: The Adolescent Bladder Clinic – Improving Engagement and Outcomes in Adolescents with Urinary Incontinence

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Sarah Kilgour is a Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital at Westmead in the Complex Adolescent Clinic and the Adolescent Bladder Clinic. She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney investigating pain education and clinical care for Australian high school students.
Mrs Jane Gauci
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Department Of Adolescent Medicine, The Children's Hospital At Westmead

Co-Presenting: The Adolescent Bladder Clinic – Improving Engagement and Outcomes in Adolescents with Urinary Incontinence

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Biography

Jane Gauci is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She works in the Complex Adolescent Clinic and the Adolescent Bladder Clinic and leads research in a nurse-led self-management clinic. Her PhD research focuses on self-management of adolescents with a chronic condition transitioning to adult care.
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Mr Mahamudul Hasan
Phd Student, Indigenous Epidemiology and Health Unit, MSPGH
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne

Prediabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people based on Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement: Results from the Next Generation Youth Well-Being Study

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Mahamudul Hasan is a PhD student with the Indigenous Epidemiology and Health Unit at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne. His doctoral research focuses on the epidemiology of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal young people.
Dr Kelsee Shepherd
Research Officer/ Registered Nurse
FASD Service, CICADA Centre NSW, SCHN

An unmet need: FASD in youth entangled in the justice system

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Kelsee is a Research Officer and Registered Nurse at the NSW FASD Diagnostic Service, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. With a PhD in neonatal physiology, she supports multidisciplinary FASD assessments, rural outreach, and research focused on service innovation for young people and adolescents with FASD.
Dr Lily Davidson
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
The University of Sydney

Optimising a Digital Intervention for Parents, Targeting Multiple Adolescent Health Risk Behaviours: Results from Phase Two of a Multiphase Optimisation Strategy Trial

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Dr Davidson is a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use. Lily's current focus is optimising and evaluating ‘Health4Life Parents and Teens’, aimed at preventing onset of the ‘Big 6’ health risk behaviours for chronic disease (CIA Dr Katrina Champion).
Dr Neda Karimi
Senior Research Fellow
Australian National University

‘Being part of the conversation’: developmentally appropriate communication in inflammatory bowel diseasea

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Dr Karimi is a functional linguist specialising in health communication. Using linguistic ethnography, she examines health literacy, clinician-patient alignment, and patient agency to improve outcomes. Her current research explores the communication needs of young people, aiming to inform developmentally appropriate strategies that strengthen engagement and support better healthcare experiences.
Ms Payton Soussa
Clinical Psychologist
Sydney Children's Hospital Network/ University Of Sydney

Understanding the Prevalence and Impact of Chronic Pain in Australian Neurodiverse Adolescents

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Abstract Document (PDF)

Biography

Payton Soussa is a Clinical Psychologist working in the Complex Adolescent Clinic at The Children's Hospital Westmead. Payton is also a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney researching chronic pain in neurodiverse adolescents.

Chairperson

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Jaspreet Sangha
Visiting Research Student
University Of Sydney

Aaron Thomas
Lived experience researcher
Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use

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