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overview
The 35th Annual Medico-Legal Congress will be held on 17-18 March 2026 at the Swissotel Sydney. The Congress is a key opportunity for professionals from both the medical and legal fields to come together and address the latest issues, trends, and challenges impacting their work.
The comprehensive program is designed for clinicians from multiple settings, legal professionals, medico-legal advisers, hospital representatives, insurers, in-house counsel, AHPRA representatives, medico legal societies, academics, and government officials. A cornerstone in the medico legal calendar: attendees will experience and learn from practical, in-depth discussions on emerging trends, regulatory changes, and real-world case studies that impact your practice.
Topics to be Addressed:
- Emerging Medico Legal Aspects and Legislative Reforms in Nurse Practitioner Practice
- AI in Clinical Radiology: Recent Developments and Ongoing Pain Points
- Cases within the Supreme Court: Health Practitioner Disciplinary Matters
- What Information Does the NDIA Need to Make Access Decisions?
- Obstetric Litigation and Critical Change in Maternity Practice: What Do We Need to Know?
- Duty of Care and Ethical Considerations in Virtual Healthcare
- Putting the Expert Back into Expert Witness
- Protecting Doctors’ Health Post-Regulatory Notifications
- Can Restraint of Patients with Mental Health Conditions Really be Eliminated?
- Medicolegal Implications of Delayed Diagnosis in Cancer Care
- Civil Liability: Breach of Confidence & Tort of Invasion of Privacy
- Medicolegal Reports Arising from Infectious Diseases and Virology
- The Aging Doctor and The Older Specialist
- Medicolegal Aspects of Robotics in Colorectal Surgery
- Death Certificates: Medicolegal Implications and Inconsistencies in Legislation
- Prescribing Obligations and Legal Requirements: RTMP and Medical Records
- The Rise of Sovereign Citizen Presentations to Mental Health Practitioners and the Courts: Causes and Medico Legal Congress
- Personal Injury and Workers Compensation
- Navigating Recent Trends and Cases within Coroners Court & Coronial Inquiries
Why Attend?
The Congress brings together professionals from both the legal and medical sectors to discuss practical, current issues. It’s an opportunity to:
- Stay informed on emerging challenges at the intersection of law and healthcare.
- Network with professionals from across the medico-legal field.
- Gain practical knowledge to help manage complex medico-legal issues in your daily work.
- Learn from expert speakers who will cover key issues impacting your practice.
If you are a lawyer, clinician, or any other professional working in medico-legal fields, this Congress provides a useful forum to stay updated, discuss challenges, and gain insights that can be applied directly to your work.
Register Your Interest
To receive updates on speaker announcements, early bird discounts, and the release of the agenda, register your interest here.
2025 Speakers
Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC
Barrister, The University of Melbourne
Professor Mary Chiarella AM
Professor of Nursing, University of Sydney
Professor William Rawlinson AM
Senior Medical Virologist, Director of Serology, Virology and OTDS Laboratories (SAViD), NSW Health Pathology Randwick
Dr Ainslie Senz
Emergency Physician, Director, Footscray Emergency Department, Western Health
Dr Owen Bradfield
Chief Medical Officer, Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS)
Professor Anne-Maree Kelly
Director, Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, Senior Emergency Physician, Western Health, Melbourne, Adjunct Professor, The Australian Centre for Health
Dr Marija Kirjanenko
Emergency Physician, Eastern Health and Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, Clinical Ethicist, Plunkett Centre for Ethics, Medical member, Mental Health Tribunal, Victoria
Dr Aran Thillainathan
former Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services, Hospitals North, Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania
A/Professor Julia Unterscheider
Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Birth Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne
Bill Madden
Senior Legal Counsel, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers, Adjunct Professor, Australian Centre for Health Law Research (QUT)
Alice Robinson
Director & Principal Lawyer, Polaris Lawyers
Danielle Corden
General Counsel, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Susan Shedda
Colorectal Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Eraine Grotte
Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers
Dr Michele Pathe
Forensic Psychiatrist, Professor, Swinburne University of Technology
Dr Robert Kuru
Spinal Surgeon, President, Spine Society, Independent Expert, Sinergy
Dr Natasha Laukens
Accredited Admitting Psychiatrist, Pine Rivers Private Hospital
Samuel Wolfhagen
Associate, Maliganis Edwards Johnson
Professor Tina Cockburn
Director, Australian Centre for Health Law Research
Dr Jamie Orchard
General Counsel, AHPRA
Justine Anderson
Senior Solicitor
Yolanda Kuruc
Special Counsel, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Chris Pagent
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Kate Betts
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Kevin Connor SC
Barrister, Maurice Byers Chambers
Ruanne Brell
Senior Legal Advisor, Avant Mutual
Dr Andrew Walby
Director of Medical Services, Portland District Health, Emergency Physician, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
James Lowrey
Barrister, William Foster Chambers
Dr Sandra Johnson
Consultant Paediatrician, Clinical Academic, The University of Sydney
Dr Kym Jenkins AM
Consultant Psychiatrist, Founding Member and Board Chair HandnHand Peer Support, Past Chair, CPMC, Past President, RANZCP
Dr Stephen Ginsborg
GP and Founding Board Member, Compassionate Communities Australia
Cameron Burge
Member, Workers Compensation Division, Personal Injury Commission of NSW
2025 Sponsors
2025 Exhibitors
Pricing
Testimonials
“The medicolegal congress is a unique way of finding links and information from others working in the juncture between medical and legal practice. The topics, speakers and organization allow meaningful insights to be gained over a short period of time.”
– Delegate 2025
“It was is an outstanding event that brings together experts from both the medical and legal fields to discuss critical issues at the intersection of healthcare and law. It provides invaluable insights into emerging medico-legal challenges, case law updates, and best practices. The sessions are highly informative, featuring thought-provoking discussions led by industry leaders. Beyond the knowledge gained, the congress offers an excellent platform for networking with peers, sharing experiences, and staying ahead in this rapidly evolving field. I highly recommend it to anyone involved in medico-legal practice.”
– Delegate 2025
“Fantastic event! Great mixture of topics and expertise. Valuable insights.”
– Delegate 2025
“I have just returned from your two-day conference, and I feel it is only appropriate that I take the time to give my personal thanks for such an excellent event. I recognize that it must have taken a great deal of time to plan and organize, and it was time well spent. With speakers of the highest standard as well as the introduction of a specialist key note speaker, it was the most memorable of all conferences. The organizers kept to the timing of each speaker. The venue was a perfect location for our visitors from interstate to attend and participate, as was the food. Your team made the event a joyful occasion. The overall quality of this year’s 33rd medicolegal conference was outstanding. Congratulations, and thank you.”
– Delegate 2024
“Diverse range of topics and speakers, fantastic/respectful discussion, great chairs each day”.
– Delegate 2023
“The congress provided great opportunities to meet and float research ideas which further reminds us of the importance of communication in healthcare”.
– Delegate 2023
“Very broad coverage of medico legal topics. Very easy to understand and no overlapping”.
– Delegate 2023
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
The Annual Medico-Legal Congress is one of Australia’s leading events for the medico-legal community, offering a unique platform to engage with key industry stakeholders and senior decision-makers across this industry.
As a sponsor or exhibitor, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience, share insights, and foster meaningful conversations about the latest developments in the field. This congress is not just about showcasing products and services; it’s about building lasting relationships and contributing to the future of medico-legal practice in Australia.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact;
Lily Doherty
Sponsorship Manager
+61 2 9080 4340
[email protected]
Insights
When regulatory decisions are challenged – insights from Dr Jamie Orchard of Ahpra
Read more >>
Informing decisions about medical negligence in complex infectious diseases cases
Read more >>
What do NSW health workers need to know about the new voluntary assisted dying laws?
Read more >>
Why more medico legal defendants are winning on causation
Read more >>
How might voluntary assisted dying legislation in NSW compare with other jurisdictions?
Read more >>
Wrongful birth damages – an interview with Bill Madden
Read more >>
Professor Euan Wallace’s keynote address at the Medico Legal Congress
Read more >>
The role and major challenges of a medical legal counsel
Read more >>
What are the Trends and the Future of Medical & Health Law?
Read more >>
The black, white and grey area of assisted suicide
Read more >>
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive an annual subscription to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.
Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.
We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.
To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.
when & where
contact
Still have a question?
Speaking Enquiries
Katrina Bowns
+61 2 9080 4322
[email protected]
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Lily Doherty
+61 2 9080 4340
[email protected]
Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
[email protected]