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Not “Naughty”, Not “Normal”- Behaviour Conference + Masterclass

Not “Naughty”, Not “Normal”- Behaviour Conference + Masterclass

Masterclass is full. Single-day registrations available.

See behaviour differently – as a vital sign, not a verdict.

Join us to gain the clinical tools to refine diagnostics, improve decision-making, and work together as a whole-clinic team, where every role contributes to behavioural wellbeing and better outcomes.

 The program features a three-day conference plus an intensive two-day practical masterclass for a small group of participants — offering hands-on experience and personalised guidance.

We’re delighted to welcome international keynote speakers Gonçalo da Graça Pereira (Portugal) and Shana Gilbert-Gregory (USA), together with an impressive line-up of local experts — Gabby Carter, Isabelle Resch, Jacqui Ley, Sally Nixon, Kersti Seksel, Bronwen Bollaert and Rachel Basa— who will share their expertise through engaging lectures, interactive discussions, and practical insights.

Across the 5-days, the program explores the following topics:

  • See differently – Integrating behaviour as a multidisciplinary and holistic discipline
  • When training is trauma – Training myths and behaviour modification in the young
  • Puppy culture and the myth of resilience – Neurodevelopment and spotting red flags
  • Is it gut or grief – The interplay of gastrointestinal health and behaviour
  • Strategies to manage client and clinician fatigue for chronic cases
  • What are we missing – Why are cats underrepresented in behaviour referral practice?
  • Bitten by pain – When aggression is the symptom and not the problem
  • What if the problem is on the other end of the leash? Understanding human psychology and the client–animal bond 
 

Program

Download the program here

Who should enrol?

This course is suitable for qualified veterinarians. Veterinary students are welcome to enrol in the conference only. 

Veterinary nurses, technicians and other allied professionals with a special interest in the topic are also welcome to enrol in the conference only. Please be aware that the course is designed for qualified veterinarians and you should consider this in light of your knowledge and experience before you register.

   3-day Conference    3-day Conference + 2-day Masterclass (Full)    Single Day Conference Registration (Mon - Wed)
Registrant Type Early Bird Full Rate   Early Bird Full Rate   Full Rate 
Member*  $1,710   $1,800  $3,320 $3,495  $720
Part-Time Professional
Recent Graduate
Nurse Member
 $1,283   $1,350  $2,893 $3,045  $540
Student Member  N/A   $710  N/A N/A  $360
eMember / Non-Member  N/A   $2,250  N/A $4,284  $900

*Members include: Practice Member Staff, Professional members.

Workshops and Conferences
Monday, 09 February 2026 to
Friday, 13 February 2026
8:00 AM
31 CPD Point/s

Super Early Bird
31 Dec 2025
Early Bird
05 Feb 2026

Webster Lecture Theatre Veterinary Science Conf.
Level 2, Regimental Drive
The University of Sydney NSW
Workshops and Conferences
Monday, 09 February 2026 to
Friday, 13 February 2026
8:00 AM
31 CPD Point/s

Super Early Bird
31 Dec 2025
Early Bird
05 Feb 2026

Webster Lecture Theatre Veterinary Science Conf.
Level 2, Regimental Drive
The University of Sydney NSW

Join the CVE

Become a member today to receive member pricing

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Sponsor/s

Silver Conference Sponsor

Tutor/s

Gonçalo da Graça Pereira
DVM MsC PhD Dip ECAWBM (BM) Dip ECAWBM (AWSEL)
Gonçalo da Graça Pereira is one of Europe’s most respected veterinary behaviour specialists. After studying veterinary science at Lisbon University, he undertook a master’s in clin...
Shana Gilbert-Gregory
VMD MS DACVB
Dr. Shana Gilbert-Gregory grew up in New York City and at a very young age, she developed a passion for animals and their well-being. Her experiences with sheltering and animal res...
Kersti Seksel
BVSc (Hons) MRCVS MA (Hons) FANZCVS DACVB DECAWBM
Kersti Seksel graduated in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney, then from Macquarie University with a BA in Behavioural Sciences majoring in psychology. She has an MA(...
Rachel Basa
BVSc DiplomateECVS PGCertVS MVCS MANZCVS PhD
Rachel is a specialist in senior lecturer in small animal surgery. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 2009 and worked in general practice at various clinics in Sydney. ...
Bronwen Bollaert
VSc MSc MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour) FFCP (Veterinary)
"Animals are fascinating! How and why they do what they do is so interesting to me – the way the brain functions, how an animal’s development, environment and learning all interact...
Gabrielle Carter
BVSc (Hons) MSc MANZCVS DACVB
Gabrielle is a veterinary specialist in animal behaviour. She has many years of experience in both small animal general practice and behaviour consultancy. She currently works at t...
Jess Hawes
BSc/BAdv.Studies (Hons)
Jess Hawes is a final-year PhD candidate within the Ashe Lab at the Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Her research investi...
Jacqui Ley
BVSc (Hons) FANZCVS (Animal Behaviour) CMAVA PhD
Jacqui Ley is a registered specialist in Behavioural Medicine. She graduated from Melbourne University Veterinary School in 1995. A long time interest in animals, animal behaviour ...
Sally Nixon
BVSc FANZCVS (veterinary behaviour) DACVB
Dr Sally Nixon graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne in 2000 and became a Fellow of the Veterinary Behaviour chapter of the Australian an...
Jodie Pignone
-
Jodie has been working in veterinary nursing since 2002 and is a Registered Veterinary Nurse. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) and the Association of ...
Isabelle Resch
BVSc(Hons), MVS, MANZCVS(SA Medicine, Vet Behaviour)
Dr Isabelle Resch graduated from the University of Sydney and has worked in general small animal and non-traditional companion animal practice. She has always continued studying, h...
Gonçalo da Graça Pereira
DVM MsC PhD Dip ECAWBM (BM) Dip ECAWBM (AWSEL)
Gonçalo da Graça Pereira is one of Europe’s most respected veterinary behaviour specialists. After studying veterinary science at Lisbon University, he undertook a master’s in clin...
Shana Gilbert-Gregory
VMD MS DACVB
Dr. Shana Gilbert-Gregory grew up in New York City and at a very young age, she developed a passion for animals and their well-being. Her experiences with sheltering and animal res...
Kersti Seksel
BVSc (Hons) MRCVS MA (Hons) FANZCVS DACVB DECAWBM
Kersti Seksel graduated in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney, then from Macquarie University with a BA in Behavioural Sciences majoring in psychology. She has an MA(...
Rachel Basa
BVSc DiplomateECVS PGCertVS MVCS MANZCVS PhD
Rachel is a specialist in senior lecturer in small animal surgery. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 2009 and worked in general practice at various clinics in Sydney. ...
Bronwen Bollaert
VSc MSc MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour) FFCP (Veterinary)
"Animals are fascinating! How and why they do what they do is so interesting to me – the way the brain functions, how an animal’s development, environment and learning all interact...
Gabrielle Carter
BVSc (Hons) MSc MANZCVS DACVB
Gabrielle is a veterinary specialist in animal behaviour. She has many years of experience in both small animal general practice and behaviour consultancy. She currently works at t...
Jess Hawes
BSc/BAdv.Studies (Hons)
Jess Hawes is a final-year PhD candidate within the Ashe Lab at the Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Her research investi...
Jacqui Ley
BVSc (Hons) FANZCVS (Animal Behaviour) CMAVA PhD
Jacqui Ley is a registered specialist in Behavioural Medicine. She graduated from Melbourne University Veterinary School in 1995. A long time interest in animals, animal behaviour ...
Sally Nixon
BVSc FANZCVS (veterinary behaviour) DACVB
Dr Sally Nixon graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne in 2000 and became a Fellow of the Veterinary Behaviour chapter of the Australian an...
Jodie Pignone
-
Jodie has been working in veterinary nursing since 2002 and is a Registered Veterinary Nurse. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) and the Association of ...
Isabelle Resch
BVSc(Hons), MVS, MANZCVS(SA Medicine, Vet Behaviour)
Dr Isabelle Resch graduated from the University of Sydney and has worked in general small animal and non-traditional companion animal practice. She has always continued studying, h...

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Not “Naughty”, Not “Normal”- Behaviour Conference + Masterclass

Small Animal Behaviour
See behaviour differently – as a vital sign, not a verdict. Join us to gain the clinical tools to refine diagnostics, improve decision-making, and work together as a whole-clinic team, where every role contributes to behavioural wellbeing and better outcomes.

Masterclass is full. Single-day registrations available.

See behaviour differently – as a vital sign, not a verdict.

Join us to gain the clinical tools to refine diagnostics, improve decision-making, and work together as a whole-clinic team, where every role contributes to behavioural wellbeing and better outcomes.

 The program features a three-day conference plus an intensive two-day practical masterclass for a small group of participants — offering hands-on experience and personalised guidance.

We’re delighted to welcome international keynote speakers Gonçalo da Graça Pereira (Portugal) and Shana Gilbert-Gregory (USA), together with an impressive line-up of local experts — Gabby Carter, Isabelle Resch, Jacqui Ley, Sally Nixon, Kersti Seksel, Bronwen Bollaert and Rachel Basa— who will share their expertise through engaging lectures, interactive discussions, and practical insights.

Across the 5-days, the program explores the following topics:

  • See differently – Integrating behaviour as a multidisciplinary and holistic discipline
  • When training is trauma – Training myths and behaviour modification in the young
  • Puppy culture and the myth of resilience – Neurodevelopment and spotting red flags
  • Is it gut or grief – The interplay of gastrointestinal health and behaviour
  • Strategies to manage client and clinician fatigue for chronic cases
  • What are we missing – Why are cats underrepresented in behaviour referral practice?
  • Bitten by pain – When aggression is the symptom and not the problem
  • What if the problem is on the other end of the leash? Understanding human psychology and the client–animal bond 
 

Program

Download the program here

Who should enrol?

This course is suitable for qualified veterinarians. Veterinary students are welcome to enrol in the conference only. 

Veterinary nurses, technicians and other allied professionals with a special interest in the topic are also welcome to enrol in the conference only. Please be aware that the course is designed for qualified veterinarians and you should consider this in light of your knowledge and experience before you register.

   3-day Conference    3-day Conference + 2-day Masterclass (Full)    Single Day Conference Registration (Mon - Wed)
Registrant Type Early Bird Full Rate   Early Bird Full Rate   Full Rate 
Member*  $1,710   $1,800  $3,320 $3,495  $720
Part-Time Professional
Recent Graduate
Nurse Member
 $1,283   $1,350  $2,893 $3,045  $540
Student Member  N/A   $710  N/A N/A  $360
eMember / Non-Member  N/A   $2,250  N/A $4,284  $900

*Members include: Practice Member Staff, Professional members.

When
9/02/2026 8:00 AM - 13/02/2026 4:30 PM
AUS Eastern Summer Time
Where
Webster Lecture Theatre Veterinary Science Conf. Level 2, Regimental Drive The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA
Registration
Online registration not available.