Cross-examination of child witnesses is often described as a “how not to” of child interviewing because it typically involves linguistically complex, leading, and confrontational questions. This presentation examines the effect of the cross-examination process on children’s testimony and considers some empirically based options for a way forward. Dr Rachel Zajac is a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology Department at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research encompasses children’s and adults’ eyewitness testimony, social influences on memory, and psychological factors in the interpretation of forensic evidence.

Presenter: Associate Professor Warrick Brewer, Consultant Neuropsychologist Objectives of this workshop include outlining: the neurobiological basis of healthy emotion generation; the impact of insult upon normal developmental trajectories and how to efficiently identify the timing and nature of the same; the means for efficient targeting of unmet emotional need arising from common threats to healthy development with a view to formulating appropriate management plans within the criminal justice system, and; emotional intelligence including recognition and articulation of the emotional self and structured self-identity. Price $30 students (full time only – proof required upon registration) $40 ANZAPPL members $70 non-members Morning tea supplied.

Technology means that many people are accessing indecent images of children. This poses a challenge for the legal system in deciding what should be done with these people. Mark will discuss some of the critical issues concerning what risk these people pose and how risks should be managed. Professor Mark Kebbell is an academic at Griffith University. He does research on investigative psychology, with a focus on the investigation and prosecution of serious crime.

Speakers/panel: Shane Drumgold, Assistant Director, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, ACT Linda Crebbin, President, ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Owen Samuels, Clinical Director, Forensic Mental Health Services, ACT Health We will hear from panel members, Shane Drumgold, Linda Crebbin and Owen Samuels about ACT Law on mental impairment and diminished responsibility and the interface of the Courts and the Tribunal. This will be followed by mock cases highlighting the challenges inherent in the clinical assessment, legal tests and ultimately the disposition and rehabilitation of mentally disordered offenders. This will be an interactive event and we welcome questions and comments from our audience. We ask that audience members do not name or discuss the details of specific local cases. Please be mindful of the sensitive nature of this area of work which will impact victims, the offenders, family, carers and professionals alike.

The combination of decades of advocacy by women's organisations and a number of high profile cases has finally resulted in significant public and policy attention being paid to family violence in Australia. With this increased attention a range of facts and opinions are being aired and used to justify policy and funding decisions. Given the prevalence of and significant costs associated with family violence, it is essential that our responses at the societal and individual level are evidence-­based. In this presentation Dr McEwan will examine the research underpinning some common beliefs about family violence, identifying where policy and practice may be being informed by strongly held opinion rather than by evidence. Speaker Dr Troy McEwan is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical and Forensic Psychology at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, and a Senior Psychologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health. Dr McEwan's research interests lie in understanding, assessing and managing complex criminal behaviours including stalking, family violence, arson, and sexual offending. She is an internationally recognised expert in stalking behaviour and her publications in this area include the Stalking Risk Profile, a structured instrument used by mental health and law enforcement agencies around the world to assess and manage stalking-related risks. Dr McEwan focusses her research on projects with strong translational potential, aiming to directly influence practice and policy decisions to improve responses to complex criminal behaviours. She provides consultation to law enforcement on family violence and stalking and currently coordinates projects investigating methods of improving police risk assessment and management in family violence cases. Dr McEwan currently sits on the ANZAPPL national committee in the role of President-Elect and has previously acted as President of the Victorian branch of the Association.

Lawyer Shirley McMurdo will present on her new affordable legal service for victims of domestic violence.

The goal of this symposium is to enable researchers from around Australia working broadly in the area of psychology and law to discuss their current research and identify new avenues for research. The day will involve a series of invited individual presentations and panel discussion about current topics in psychology and law. Topics may include: Offending behaviour and rehabilitation Interviewing witnesses and suspects Conducting suspect identification procedures The effect of pre-trial publicity Judicial instructions Expert evidence and eyewitness testimony Jury decision-making Courtroom design and innovation

Presented by Magistrate Catherine Crawford who successfully obtained a Churchill Fellowship to undertake research in this much needed area.

Join us for an evening talk by Dr Nina Westera from Griffith University. Members and non-members both welcome. The presentation will examine how evidence-based practice in the interviewing of adult complainants of sexual assault can be used to improve the investigation and prosecution in these types of cases. Dr Westera, a former detective with the New Zealand police force, is a lecturer in criminology and criminal justice. She specialises in the application of psychology to law and her interests include investigative interviewing, criminal investigation and detective work, eyewitness testimony, the investigation and prosecution of sexual and violent offenders, and jury decision making. View on YouTube.