The Complex Needs Conference 2025 provided a platform to share ideas, forge partnerships and explore new approaches to supporting people with complex needs.
Left to right: Jon Faine AM (host), Tim Steveson (ACSO), Florence Morphy (DFFH) and Cody Stone (ermha365)
The conference took place from 26 to 27 March 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
More than 620 people attended the conference across both days. This included clinicians, researchers, academics and people with lived experience.
Attendees and presenters travelled from Victoria, interstate, Canada and New Zealand.
Program highlights
Left to right: Sue-Anne Hunter (Yoorrook Justice Commissioner), Rocket Bretherton (Campaigner and Advocate), Maggie Toko (Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission), Associate Professor Armon Tamatea (University of Waikato) and Jacqueline Gibson (Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission)
The exciting program asked how the complex needs sector could bridge gaps in service delivery and drive better practice. The conference looked at new approaches to improve the lives of people experiencing:
- mental health challenges
- harmful substance use
- behaviour that can lead to risk to self and others
- homelessness
- trauma
- disability.
The program offered more than 70 presentations across 4 streams:
- Best practice: building interconnected systems
- Innovative research: evidence-based approaches in the field
- Real stories, real solutions: hear from those who have been there.
- What’s working, what’s next: program evidence and new approaches.
Hosted by Jon Faine AM, the program also featured keynote addresses from experts Associate Professor Armon Tamatea, Dr Tonia Nicholls and Associate Professor Danny Sullivan.
Experience the conference in the highlights video.
Looking to continue the conversation around complex needs? Tune into the Get Real podcast, which features episodes from the conference.
Conference hosts and partner
The Complex Needs Conference 2025 was hosted by the Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) and ermha365 (Mental Health Disability Complex Services) with funding from the department.
The conference partnered with the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology. The centre lent their academic expertise in forensic mental health and forensic behavioural science to the event.
Contact
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email Central.ComplexNeeds@dffh.vic.gov.au
Professor Dr Tonia Nicholls (University of British Columbia)
Complex Needs Conference 2025 attendees
Charlene Muronda (ermha365)
Left to right: Jon Faine (AM), Tim Steveson (ACSO), Florence Morphy (DFFH), Cody Stone (ermha365)
Danielle Chaffey (DFFH) and Mandy Donley (DFFH)
Argiri Alisandratos (DFFH)
Choir of Hard Knocks