In a previous post about Melbourne’s annual homage to Freud, The Freud Conference  I mentioned that it was usually held at a place called ‘The Treacy Centre’, Parkville, in the centre of Melbourne.

This year, however, the venue is different. It will be at The Melbourne Brain Centre, Kenneth Myer Building, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville.

The Freud Conference has its origins in the Politics department at the University of Melbourne where a group of young intellectuals found a mentor in Professor Alan Davies ( Foo) and began to explore the application and influence of psychoanalytic theories and ideas upon the broader cultural context. That the Freud Conference welcomes attendance by anyone who has an interest in ways psychoanalytic theory intersects with our sociopolitical world is borne from these roots.

Advance notice for this year’s conference to be held on 18 May 2013 with guest speakers: research psychoanalyst Dr Nancy Hollander  and Australian barrister and human rights advocate Dr Julian Burnside,  can be found here.

The Melbourne Brain Centre itself is worthy of further exploration. As the largest brain research institute in the southern hemisphere it provides an umbrella for a number of organisations including….

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Melbourne Neuroscience Institute

The Melbourne Brain Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital

as well as The Dax Centre which follows the work of Cunningham Daz  through ‘fostering understanding of the mind. trauma and mental illness through art and creativity. It houses Dax’s collection of artwork made by people who have experienced mental illness and trauma.

And of course there is a cafe and a branch of a favourite Melbournian browsing place Readings Bookshop.