The Melbourne Chapter of Mind Medicine Australia is proud to invite you to:
Science vs Stigma: The True Cost of Psychedelic Censorship (incl. supper, drinks, door prizes, surprises and Q&A)
To celebrate Mind Medicine Australia’s third birthday, we are delighted to invite you to a special in-person screening event of the new short documentary Science vs Stigma (incl. supper, drinks, door prizes, surprises and Q&A) on Thursday 24 February 2022 at 6:00pm for drinks and canapes and then the screening at 6:30pm followed by the Q & A panel. This film was produced in collaboration with Mind Medicine Australia late last year by one of our generous and talented community members.
This brilliant new short documentary highlights the progress and outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The film features excerpts from Mind Medicine’s International Summit as well as hard-hitting interviews with PTSD survivors. Hear from key voices in the field such as Dr. Ben Sessa, Dr. Rick Doblin, Admiral Chris Barrie, and our very own Tania de Jong AM.
“Psychedelics will be as important for psychiatry as antibiotics were for general medicine.” – Dr. Ben Sessa
“Why don’t we have this in Australia, why isn’t this available to us?”
– Michael Raymond, Australian Airforce veteran whose PTSD was cured by MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
After the screening there will be a Q&A panel with Veteran and member of MMA’s Lived Experience Panel Michael Raymond, Director of the Mind Medicine Institute Nigel Denning & Executive Director of Mind Medicine Australia Tania de Jong AM. This will be an opportunity to engage in a discussion about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies for mental illness broadly, what Mind Medicine Australia is doing to build the ecosystem in Australia and how you can get involved.
If you are a member of the Melbourne chapter, you can use the discount code MMAMEMBER for a $10 discount.
Click here to join the chapter if you haven’t already>>
Membership of all MMA Chapters is FREE.
Date: Thursday 24th February 2022
Time: 6:00pm (supper and drinks) for 6:30pm start – 8:30pm (includes Q&A Panel)
Location: Dimension 5, Level 1, 10 Dorcas St, South Melbourne 3205
Ticket Price (incl. Supper, Drinks and Q&A): $40 General Admission / $30 Concession
Discount code: MMAMEMBER for Chapter Members
The Presenters
Nigel Denning
MA, MPsych
Managing Director and co-founder of Integrative Psychology and the Mind Medicine Institute
Nigel Denning is a Counselling Psychologist with 30 years of experience in the mental health sector. He is the Managing Director and co-founder of Integrative Psychology and the Mind Medicine Institute.
Nigel’s expertise covers developmental trauma, institutional abuse, family violence, attachment disorder, relationship therapy and advanced concentration meditation. He works with individuals, couples, families, groups and organisations. Nigel has been involved in therapy and court reporting on several hundred cases from the Royal Commission into Childhood Institutional Sexual Abuse. Nigel is a former Family Violence Coordinator for Relationships Australia. He has conducted research at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, under the supervision of Professor Kelsey Hegarty on male perpetrator typologies. For over 10 years Nigel facilitated group psychotherapy for male perpetrators of family violence. Nigel is an expert in trauma.
Nigel has extensive experience with psychedelic work internationally. He began working with altered states of consciousness 35 years ago when he was introduced to Holotropic Breathwork through the guidance of Alf and Muriel Foote. Twenty-five years ago, Nigel began to work with Dr Stanislav Grof, one of the leading pioneers in the clinical application of psychedelics. Nigel co-founded the world’s first Spiritual Emergency Centre based on Grof’s work, in partnership with Tav Sparks, Director of Grof Transpersonal Training in North Carolina. He was also lucky to meet Dr Albert Hoffman at a workshop organised by Grof at HR Geiger’s Museum/Gallery in Gruyere Switzerland. Nigel has also trained with the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and successfully completed their clinician qualification. Nigel is passionate about educating clinicians into the potential of non-ordinary state work when done ethically and skillfully.
Tania de Jong AM
LL.B (Hons), GradDipMus
Co-founder Mind Medicine Australia, Founder Creative Universe, Creativity Australia, The Song Room & Creative Innovation Global
Tania de Jong AM is a trail-blazing Australian soprano, award-winning social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst, spiritual journey woman, storyteller and global speaker. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators developing 6 businesses and 4 charities including Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and With One Voice, Creative Innovation Global, Mind Medicine Australia, Umbrella Foundation and The Song Room.
She works across the public, private, creative and community sectors. Tania speaks and sings around the world as a soloist and with her group Pot-Pourri releasing ten albums. She is Founder and Executive Producer of future-shaping events series, Creative Innovation Global. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2008 and named one of the 100 Women of Influence and the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs and in the 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics globally.
She regularly presents on psychedelic-assisted therapies, mental health and wellbeing at major conferences and events around the world and to Governments, regulators, clinicians, philanthropists and the general public.
Tania’s TED Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international interest. Tania’s mission is to change the world, one voice at a time!
Michael Raymond
Veteran Spokesperson and Lived Experience Panel Member
Michael Raymond served over 16 years in the Airforce as an Electrical Engineer and Avionics Technician, working on the F/A18F Super Hornet and F-111 Fighter Aircraft. He is now a Motorcycle Coach and Transformational Coach trained in the modalities of Matrix Re-imprinting Therapy, Time-Line Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Coaching. Michael received significant healing from psychedelic medicines such as Psilocybin, Ayahuasca (DMT), San Pedro and MDMA for his PTSD, anxiety and depression. He recently contributed to Mind Medicines Healing stories, sharing his journey to South America and the profound healing experiences within a traditional shamanic framework.
Michael now advocates for therapeutic use of plant medicines to the Veteran and wider community. He hopes to help reduce the stigma around these modalities and promote safe access.