The Wattle Centre

01/05/2026

Happy EMDR Association of Australia Conference everyone!

10/04/2026

Many of you have been following the recent media coverage around the legal impact of mental health interventions, particularly EMDR. I have had lots of questions around the historical context of the current situation. To address this, together with Anthony Hurst and Logan Harvey, we authored an article for the University of Melbourne’s Pursuit to shed light on the issue.

Here we outline that, despite strong evidence for EMDR, outdated legal assumptions continue to pose potential barriers for survivors looking for justice and healing, and in some cases, can even affect whether prosecutions proceed.

The article highlights why this gap persists and why greater alignment between current evidence and legal practice is needed
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/why-do-australian-courts-still-distrust-a-proven-trauma-therapy?in_c=articlelistingblock.

30/03/2026

Working with eating disorders using EMDR?

Renée Beer is in Australia for the EMDR Association of Australia Conference and will also be delivering an advanced, practical workshop on the EMDR-ED protocol to expand on her keynote presentation.

This training is designed for EMDR clinicians wanting more clarity and precision when working with complex eating disorder presentations.

You’ll learn how to:
• Select and prioritise targets effectively
• Apply flexible targeting strategies
• Conceptualise EDs within an EMDR framework
• Integrate EMDR-ED into your clinical work

📅 Online | 9 May
🎥 Recording available for 3 months

A hands-on day focused on skills you can use immediately in practice.

👉 More info or register: https://www.thewattlecentre.com/emdr-ed

08/03/2026

And its live. Grateful to have been able to add to the conversation. We know psychological interventions like EMDR can be lifesaving for some. Obviously no one shound need to chose between their mental health and justice, especially not due to outdated and unscientific legal precedent.

Katie Bird sought psychological help for intrusive memories related to alleged sexual abuse. Her court case was discontinued because she underwent eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

08/03/2026

Last week, with my colleague Dave Batten, I had the opportunity to speak with Emily Baker from the ABC about EMDR therapy abd give a demonstration. Grateful for the opportunity to share some information about EMDR particularly in legal contexts.

09/02/2026

Due to demand, we’ve added another 2-hour online EMDRAA accredited EMDR Basic Training Group this Friday at 11am AEDT 🙌
Can’t make it? We run lots of other groups at times to suit you.
Details here: https://www.thewattlecentre.com/

31/12/2025

📢 More spots now available – Level 1 EMDR Training (Melbourne, 5-6th February)

Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come basis.
🔗https://www.thewattlecentre.com/emdr

Feel free to comment or message us with any questions.

05/12/2025

✨ Our final workshop for 2025! ✨

As we wrapped up our last workshop of the year today, I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you.

In 2025, over 400 clinicians joined us for EMDR, imagery rescripting, trauma-informed practice and all the other trainings we’ve been privileged to run. Every single workshop was filled with thoughtful questions, generous sharing, and such genuine commitment to client care.

A massive thank you to our wonderful Wattle Centre facilitation team — Katie, Naomi, Brittany and Mel — and to everyone who supported us throughout the year. Your energy and presence make this work meaningful.

We can’t wait to bring you an even bigger and better 2026.
💛 Survive and flourish.

— The Wattle Centre Team

17/11/2025

We’ve just wrapped up our Eating Disorders & Trauma workshop with the wonderful Olivia Patrick, and I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us today.

The level of skill, thoughtfulness, and clinical insight in the room was incredible. It’s always a privilege to teach this work, and to learn alongside such committed clinicians.

We’ll be announcing 2026 dates soon, so keep an eye out if you’d like to join us next year.

01/10/2025

🌟🌟Thinking about adding EMDR to your toolkit, or wanting to improve your skills? 🌟🌟
We run EMDRAA-accredited EMDR trainings that are practical, supportive, and designed for therapists who want to build confidence using EMDR in real-world practice. Whether you’re brand new and looking for the basics, or you’ve already trained and want to explore more complex applications, we’ve got workshops that cover both.
If you’re curious, feel free to check out details on our website or send us a DM https://www.thewattlecentre.com/emdr

26/09/2025

Workshop: Trauma and Eating Disorders – A Unified Framework for Treatment
Working with clients who experience both trauma and eating disorder symptoms can feel complicated. Do you focus on the trauma or the immediate risks and behaviours?
If you’ve ever found yourself unsure where to start, this workshop is designed for you. With the brilliant Olivia Patrick, we’ll share a clear, practical framework to help you feel more confident supporting people with these complex presentations. You’ll leave with strategies you can put into practice right away.
👉 More info + bookings: https://www.thewattlecentre.com/ed-trauma

Questions? Feel free to DM me.