Professor Andrew Teodorczuk

President, Australasian Delirium Association

The Australasian Delirium Society’s DECLARED meetings are held every two years and represent the largest gathering of delirium specialists (“delirium-ologists”) in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2025, DECLARED was hosted in Cairns, tropical North Queensland — a fantastic setting to inspire new directions in delirium care, extend our reach into rural communities, and strengthen collaborations across Australia, New Zealand, and further afield.

This year’s event was the largest in the Society’s history, attracting over 240 participants and went above and beyond as we focussed on “Breaking Barriers to Delirium Care”.  The Shangri-La Hotel provided a stunning backdrop, combining tropical beauty with a relaxed environment that fostered meaningful professional and social connections. The atmosphere was enhanced by a vibrant, multidisciplinary mix of clinicians, researchers, and carers — all passionate about improving delirium care.

The scientific program, meticulously planned by the DECLARED Steering Group led by Professor Ajay Macharouthu balanced national and international speakers, cutting-edge science, and patient/carer perspectives, ensuring both authenticity and relevance. Delegates from countries around the world attended, actively participating in presentations, discussions, and social events that helped forge new international collaborations.

Pre conference Day

Breaking tradition, DECLARED 2025 reversed the usual format: instead of the standard pre-conference workshop, delegates began with plenary insights from leading national experts on delirium care standards, followed by three concurrent workshops:

1. Interprofessional Simulation (Foundations of Delirium Care) – Translating best practice delirium care into team-based scenarios.

2. Delirium Research Workshop – Nurturing emerging researchers and encouraging projects in challenging contexts.

3. Pathophysiology Masterclass – Led by Dr Colm Cunningham, offering deep scientific insights into delirium mechanisms.

Day One 

The opening plenaries set the tone. A/Professor Hosie 2023 Australasian Delirium-ologist of the Year, championed the patient voice in all aspects of delirium care and research. Professor Liz Sampson (UK) addressed policy change, demonstrating how to place delirium on government agendas to drive systemic reform. The afternoon offered a rich mix of oral presentations, posters, and symposia, exploring themes from AI applications in delirium to community-based care. The day concluded with a spirited debate on whether delirium should be renamed — ending in a draw. “Delirium” emerged as the true winner.

Day Two

The final day began with a provider breakfast focused on delivering safe delirium care in challenging Queensland settings, with practical discussions on system redesign. Standout plenaries came from Professor Adam Gordon, Ken Rockwood, Heidi Lindroth, and Jackie Close, offering world-class insights that bridged bench research with bedside care. The pathophysiology lecture in particular stood out for making complex concepts accessible and clinically relevant.

The conference concluded with the Awards Ceremony:

• Australasian Delirium-ologist of the Year – Dr Alison Mudge for her outstanding work with “Eat Walk and Engage.”
• International Delirium-ologist Award – Professor Liz Sampson, for landmark research in the Pain and deliriums space and a longstanding supporter of the Society and future president of the European Delirium Association.
  

Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks to the Steering Committee for their exceptional planning and to the Australasian Delirium Association Board for their cohesive, diverse, and inspiring leadership. It is a privilege to lead such a committed group of colleagues.

We invite all champions of delirium care to stay engaged and share their delirium stories as we continue our mission to improve practice, research, teaching and understanding in the fight against delirium. 

Reflections 

Three words captured the essence of DECLARED 2025: Inspiration, Connection, and Progress.

• Inspiration – from stories of clinical and research success.
• Connection – forging collaborations that will strengthen the delirium community.
• Progress – advancing policy, research, and care strategies for this complex condition.

With new ideas and renewed energy, delegates left ready to drive change in their own settings. The ADA now looks forward to DECLARED 2027 in Melbourne.