On behalf of the Scientific Committee of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM) it gives me great pleasure to invite you to attend our Sixth Biennial Scientific Conference in Brisbane, Australia in May 2012. The theme for this year is "New Horizons" with an emphasis on emerging technologies and approaches. It should prove to be a most exciting conference as we eagerly welcome the opportunity to join forces with the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA). Following pre-conference workshops, we will start with a combined AusACPDM - ICNA day focusing on cerebral palsy, with keynotes from both ICNA and AusACPDM, Symposiums on "Cutting Edge Treatments" and "Genetics/Antecedents", Free papers and a "Meet the Experts" session on a current topic in the afternoon. This promises to be a very exciting and busy day! The AusACPDM will continue the following two days with our regular featured events including further keynote addresses, free papers and posters, breakfast sessions, workshops and PhD platforms.

We are extremely privileged to have an exceptional line up of international keynote speakers at this year's conference. Our international keynotes include Professor Martin Ferguson-Pell, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta; Professor Deborah Gaebler-Spira, Past President AACPDM and Professor in the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and Provost Associate Professor Terence Sanger, Director of the USC Pediatric Movement Disorders Center and coordinator of the NIH Taskforce on Childhood Movement Disorders. Martin Ferguson-Pell's research interests includes the design, development and evaluation of technologies for assisted living promoting increased independence and quality of life for people with functional limitations living in the community. Deborah Gaebler-Spira, well known to those who attend the AACPDM, has wide ranging research interests, from multisite oral medication trials for hypertonicity to assessing and developing robotics to improve function. Terry Sanger's research focuses on understanding paediatric movement disorders from both a biological and computational perspective aiming to discover new methods for treating children with movement disorders.

Our national line up is stellar and includes Professor Alastair MacLennan, Professor and Head of the Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Adelaide, and Head of the South Australian CP Research Group; Professor H. Kerr Graham, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Melbourne and Royal Children's Hospital; and Associate Professor Nadia Badawi, Macquarie Group Foundation Chair of Cerebral Palsy at Notre Dame University, School of Medicine and Medical Director of Grace Newborn Care, the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Alastair MacLennan, who gives the Dinah Reddihough Oration, is investigating genetic causes of cerebral palsy and their interaction with environmental risk factors during pregnancy. Kerr Graham, a regular contributor to the AusACPDM since its inception, is internationally renowned for his clinical research and in particular his research into the combination of orthopaedic surgery and Botulinum Toxin to improve walking in children with cerebral palsy, and management of the hips in children with cerebral palsy. Nadia Badawi, who will give the Presidential Guest Lecture, is a world renowned neonatologist who has extensive experience working in the field of cerebral palsy and is a recognised leader in Australian and International research on the causes of and treatments for people with cerebral palsy.

We are most grateful for the support of our sponsors and trade exhibitors who have again been very generous in their contributions. Finally, I wish to thank the Organising Committee members, who have all worked on your behalf. In particular I would like to thank the Convenors, Leanne Johnston and Julie Macdonald who have worked tirelessly in at times extremely difficult climatic conditions!

Adam Scheinberg, President