Welcome to the Website of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research (a.k.a. ‘Parapsychology Australia’)
The aims of the organisation are:
- To collect, assess and disseminate factual information about claims of psychic (paranormal) phenomena.
- To support and encourage parapsychology (the scientific study of paranormal phenomena and paranormal belief). You can help by participating in ongoing research. Alex De Foe is running a survey about altered states (e.g., lucid dreams, out-of-body experiences): https://theaccs.org.au/asc. If you’ve recently had psychic or spiritual experiences, you are invited to participate in Lance Storm’s and Monika Goretzki’s study (Psi and Spiritual Experience). Or try Rosemary Breen’s study on paranormal events in everyday life (Paranormal Experiences).
- To provide support in matters to do with alleged or actual experiences of a paranormal nature that may require relief of suffering, distress, or helplessness (see seeking help).
- To undertake or promote activities (e.g., fundraising, social events, etc.) in support of the above.
- Psychic experiences (or claims of such) should be studied and treated in the same way as other human experiences.
- The AIPR places psychic phenomena in the broader context of experience, health and illness.
- The AIPR advocates the use of the scientific method.
The academic aims and philosophy of the AIPR are served through our peer-reviewed journal, the Australian Journal of Parapsychology which is published twice-yearly (June and December). The journal features research articles on parapsychology and book reviews.
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The AIPR publishes a newsletter, THE A.I.P.R. NEWS, which is available free of charge to journal subscribers. To find out more about the newsletter, go to the menu bar above and click on ‘THE AIPR NEWS’.
Parapsychology Australia (AIPR, Inc.)
presents
The AIPR Mini-Conference 2025
Venue: North Sydney Community Centre
(The Morton Room, Ground Floor)
220 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW
(rear of Stanton Library; near North Sydney Station)
(car-parking, 200 spaces)
Date: Saturday, November 29th, 2025
Time: 1:00pm to 5:30pm AEST (Registration at 12:45pm)
Lectures on Haunting, Déjà Vu, Apparitions, Coincidences, and Psi Testing
Chaired by Dr. Lance Storm
Research Psychologist, Adelaide, South Australia
$35.00 (Earlybird price; book before October 29th) to $40.00 per person*
* AIPR Members & Supporters get another $5 discount off those prices — click here to join
Further Information & Book Tickets
* * *
Mini-Conference Program
Presentation 1 (1:00pm to 2:00pm)
“Aradale: Pop Culture, Folklore, and Dark Tourism”
Dr. David Waldron
Associate Professor, Federation University, Melbourne, VIC.
First opened in 1867, the imposing Gothic structure of the former Ararat Lunatic Asylum, known as Aradale since the reforms of 1955, has loomed over the Victorian town of Ararat for more than 150 years. Over that time, it has borne witness to major shifts in psychiatric practice and broader societal attitudes toward mental illness, while also being the site of harrowing abuses and institutional scandals. Today, Aradale is popularly hailed as ‘Australia’s most haunted building,’ drawing thousands of visitors each year through a booming dark tourism trade. But beyond the ghost tours lies a contested heritage landscape, where folklore, pop culture, trauma, and memory intersect. In this talk, David Waldron draws on his book Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum to explore how this iconic institution became a site where history, folklore, and Popular culture entwine with Dark Tourism. Please note: This presentation discusses topics related to mental illness, psychiatric institutions, historical abuse, trauma, and death. It also includes references to suicide, involuntary confinement, and the exploitation of suffering through dark tourism and popular media. Audience discretion is advised.
* * *
Presentation 2 (2:00pm to 3:00pm)
“Two Short Lectures”
Dr. Tony Jinks
Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Psychological Science, ACAP University College, Sydney, NSW.
- “Finding Meaning in the Strange: What Moderates the Relationship between Déjà Vu and Psychological W
ellbeing?”
Déjà vu is common, but its negative effects are poorly understood. A study of Australian adults explored links between negative déjà vu, wellbeing, personality, and spirituality. Findings showed lower psychological wellbeing was tied to negative déjà vu. Openness had no impact, while strong theistic beliefs worsened outcomes, possibly due to existential tension. The study recommends therapy account for spiritual differences when addressing such experiences.
- “Ghost Sightings: A Comparison of Real and Imagined Reports of Apparitions”
Apparitions are often seen as hallucinations, but this study compared real and imagined ghost reports. With no major differences found, results suggest cultural influences shape these experiences. Apparitions were typically human-like, semi-transparent, in white, and appeared in bedrooms during winter weekdays.
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Tea Break – 1/2 hour (3:00pm to 3:30pm)
* * *
Presentation 3 (3:30pm to 4:30pm)
“Exploring the Many Faces of Coincidence“
Dr. Laurence Browne
Historian, Philosopher, Author, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
Coincidences may seem on the surface to be all of one kind. This, unfortunately, has led to a tendency towards either/or explanations to account for them. For example, there are some who favour a statistical approach to coincidences and tend to analyse them using probability theory. In contrast, there are others who are particularly interested in the potential meaning to be found in coincidences and what this might imply for the nature of existence. The aim of this talk is to present a comprehensive and inclusive approach to coincidences that explores the different ways they can be understood.
* * *
Presentation 4 (4:30pm to 5:30pm)
“Psychic Circuit Workshop: Next Generation Zener Cards”
Peter Kanellopoulos
Psychic Phenomena Enthusiast, Sydney, NSW.
Peter created Psychic Circuit as both a training ground and a global portal for intuitive development. In this presentation, Peter will give a live demonstration of Psychic Circuit, inviting audience participation to select targets and engage with the psychic process firsthand. Peter will also describe his synchronicities and a crop-circle experience in England.
* * *
Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research, Inc. (AIPR, Inc.)
presented
Parapsychology Australia Online 2025
(PAO #7)
Saturday, July 26th, 2025
Time: 9:15am to 3:00pm AEST
via Zoom
$35.00 (Earlybird price; book before June 27th) to $40.00 per person*
* AIPR Members & Supporters get another $5 discount off those prices — click here to join
Hosted by Joyce Bok
Psychologist, Perth, Western Australia
* * *
PAO #7 Program
Registration (9:15am to 9:45am AEST)
Welcome (9:45am to 10:00am AEST)
* * *
Lecture #1 (10:00am to 11:00am AEST)
“The Psychology and Parapsychology of Spiritual Emergency”
Dr. Monika Goretzki & Dr. Lance Storm
Research Psychologists, Adelaide, SA
Spiritual Emergencies (a.k.a. spiritual awakenings or transpersonal crises) are defined by Stanislav Grof as “critical and experientially difficult stages of a profound psychological transformation that involves one’s entire being”. In th
is presentation, Monika and Lance compare spiritual emergency and psychosis and note the major differences. People undergoing (or have been through) a spiritual emergency often experience so-called ‘psychic opening’ (a.k.a. psychic abilities or sensitivities). Monika and Lance tested this claim, and found evidence of a stronger psychic ability in those with spiritual emergency compared to a control group.
* * *
Short Break (10 mins.)
* * *
Lecture #2 (11:10am to 12:10pm AEST)
“Mindfulness Training: Can It Create Superheroes?”
Dr. Patrick Jones
Honorary Research Associate, Perth, WA
While the science of heroism explores everyday heroes, one might ask what gives rise to a superhero. This question leads to an examination of mindfulness and Buddhist psychology, which claim that advanced practitioners can develop supernormal abilities through mental discipline. Central to this are the eight “jhana” states and six “abhinnas” (special abilities) that arise from deep meditative absorption. Empirical studies suggest such practices can lead to enhanced physical health, cognitive performance, resilience, and even paranormal abilities. These findings imply that the path to enlightenment may unintentionally unlock extraordinary human potential.
* * *
Lunch Break – 1/2 hour (12:10pm to 12:40pm AEST)
* * *
Lecture #3 (12:40 pm to 1:40 pm AEST)
“The Shared Crossing Project and its Research Initiative Study”
Melanie Oborne
Psychologist, Geelong, VIC
The term ‘shared crossing’ broadly refers to an experience that one or more people may have before, during, or after a death. A shared crossing typically includes receiving information about dying or the continuation of consciousness, and it may include the appearance of the dying and/or deceased loved ones, which provides comfort and support. Melanie Oborne will (a) introduce the Shared Crossing Project and its Research Initiative Study; (b) review findings from her study on shared-death experiences (SDEs); (c) introduce SDE typologies; (d) present case studies which highlight the different modes of participation; and (e) highlight therapeutic benefits to experiencers.
* * *
Short Break (10 mins.)
* * *
Lecture #4 (1:50pm to 2:50pm AEST)
“The Almanac of a Cunning Man: Folk Medicine, Superstition, and the Persistence of Magical Belief in Colonial Australia”
Dr. David Waldron
Associate Professor, Federation University, Melbourne, VIC
David Waldron’s talk explores the intersection of folk medicine, supernatural belief, and social marginality in colonial Australia, focusing on the practices of so-called ‘cunning folk’. Drawing on archival materials, including almanacs and handwritten remedies, David examines the lives of figures such as Benjamin Noakes, a transported convict turned rural healer, and Margaret Foran, a fortune teller whose practices reflected deep-rooted traditions of supernatural belief.
* * *
Closing & Finish (2:50pm to 3:00pm AEST)
* * *
Parapsychology Australia (AIPR, Inc.)
presented
The AIPR Mini-Conference 2024
Venue: North Sydney Community Centre
(The Morton Room, Ground Floor)
220 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW
(rear of Stanton Library; near North Sydney Station)
(car-parking, 200 spaces)
Date: Saturday, November 30th, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 5:30pm AEST
Lectures on Telepathy, Precognition, Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and the Yowie
Chaired by Dr. Vlad Dubaj
Paranormal Investigator, Melbourne, Victoria
* * *
Mini-Conference Program
Lecture 1 (1:00pm to 2:00pm)
“Is Psychic Ability Something You Are Born With Or Something That Can Be Developed?”
Sean Mulligan
Psychological Resilience Researcher & Novice Mystic, Sydney, NSW
Sean Mulligan discussed a wide range of anomalous experiences that occurred over a two-year period, including telepathic contact, channelling, mediumship, attack from negative entities, interaction with positive entities, repeatable visual experiences, and astral contacts. Sean drew upon parapsychological and esoteric concepts to provide a framework for the experiential facts, and he explained how and why these events occur. Sean also outlined how such experiences can fundamentally and permanently increase baseline well-being and psychological resilience.
* * *
Lecture 2 (2:00pm to 3:00pm)
“The Enigma of Precognition”
Professor Emeritus Richard Silberstein
Neuroscientist, Researcher, Melbourne, VIC.
A 2011 paper published by Daryl Bem, a professor at Cornell University created a firestorm of controversy by reporting experimental results showing that humans can predict the occurrence of completely random events at better than chance level. According to our understanding of the laws of physics, this should be impossible. In this talk, Richard Silberstein briefly reviewed the most common model proposed for precognition before discussing a precognition model suggested by neuroscience findings. Furthermore, he suggested that consciousness, defined in the broadest terms, determines the nature of future events.
* * *
Tea Break – 1/2 hour (3:00pm to 3:30pm)
* * *
Lecture 3 (3:30pm to 4:30pm)
“Psychedelic Psychotherapy“
Dr. Monika Goretzki
Registered Psychologist. Northern Rivers, NSW
Psychoactive substances occur throughout the natural world and have been used by various indigenous cultures for thousands of years for healing, learning and divination. In the mid-1900s, psychiatric research utilizing psychedelics in psychotherapy provided favourable results for treatment resistant conditions. However, this research ended when many of these substances were scheduled as ‘Class 1’ drugs. Monika Goretzki’s presentation discussed the history and resurgence of the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
* * *
Lecture 4 (4:30pm to 5:30pm)
“Tracking the Lore: Filming the Australian Bigfoot”
Attila Kaldy
Investigative Journalist & Film-maker, Sydney, NSW
Based on Attila Kaldy’s documentary ”Tracking the Lore”, Attila presented new information on Australia’s Bigfoot, the ‘Yowie’. Attila’s documentary has a strong indigenous element and Attila shared his journey and the knowledge he gained during filming. The presentation included excerpts from the documentary.
Parapsychology Australia (AIPR, Inc.)
presented
The AIPR Mini-Conference 2023
Venue: North Sydney Community Centre
(The Morton Room, Ground Floor)
220 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW
(rear of Stanton Library; near North Sydney Station)
(car-parking, 200 spaces)
Date: Saturday, December 2nd, 2023
Time: 1:00pm to 5:30pm AEST
Lectures on Automatic Writing, Retrocausation, the Entropic Brain, & Paranormal Metal-Bending
Chaired by Ms. Joyce Bok
Psychologist, Perth, Western Australia
* * *
Mini-Conference Program
Lecture 1 (1:00pm to 2:00pm)
“Automatic Writing”
Tom Ware
Toastmaster & Automatic Writer, Sydney, NSW
Tom Ware started with a true story about this life, and he dealt mainly with Automatic Writing. It took Tom 20 years to pluck up the courage to tell this story. Tom covered the development of his Automatic Writing ability, and he explained how others can develop it. Tom also described some of his experiences with Vipassana Meditation, which Tom has practiced for 36 years.
Lecture 2 (2:00pm to 3:00pm)
“Investigations into Retrocausal Effects in a Cueing Task”
Dr. Jordan Wehrman
Psychologist, Researcher, Sydney, NSW
Retrocausation is the idea that the future can affect the present. Rather than studying for an exam, and then getting a good grade, imagine sitting an exam, studying afterwards, and getting a better grade because of it. Jordan Wehrman discussed nine experiments on cueing after a response has been made. Two of the experiments showed a small, but significant, effect of future cueing on current performance. Jordan also gave a broad overview of the cognitive neuroscience tools he uses, and described how they may be used in future to better parameterise retrocausal effects.
* * *
Tea Break – 1/2 hour (3:00pm to 3:30pm)
* * *
Lecture 3 (3:30pm to 4:30pm)
“The Entropic Brain”
Dr. Vladimir Dubaj & Cherie Dupont
Paranormal Investigators, Melbourne, VIC.
Hig
hly entropic (disordered) brain states result in more dynamic connections between brain regions that can lead to creativity, spiritually meaningful insights, and paranormal experience. Hence, an overlap is likely between entropic states and mediumship experiences. Vlad Dubaj is interested in how this theory might suggest purposeful ways of changing brain activity to induce more creativity and meaningful experience. Cherie Dupont spoke on the ‘loose mind’—the conscious state needed for mediumship and psychic experiences. She conducted a brief meditation session on mindfulness.
* * *
Workshop (4:30pm to 5:30pm)
“Paranormal Metal-Bending”
Robb Tilley
Paranormal Researcher, Investigator, & Clearer, Sydney, NSW
Robb Tilley hosted this psychokinetic metal-bending (PKMB) workshop. The audience got hands-on PKMB experience bending steel spoons and forks. They made their own psychic souvenir using only their mind and PK energy. Stainless steel spoons and forks were provided for this mind over matter experiment.
Psychic Phenomena and the Brain: Exploring the Neuropsychology of Psi
Bryan J. Williams
Monograph No. 3 in the AIPR Monograph Series in Parapsychology
Dr. Lance Storm, Editor
“Psychic phenomena such as extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (‘mind over matter’) have been reportedly experienced by people from all walks of life. But are these phenomena real? And how could they possibly fit into our knowledge of the human brain? In this monograph, Bryan Williams examines some of the latest findings to emerge from efforts that parapsychologists have made to explore how psychic phenomena may be linked to brain functioning. Although they do not yet lead to a fully working theory, these initial findings do point to possible brain correlates that could be a focus for further study using advanced brain wave monitoring and functional neuroimaging techniques.” Bryan J. Williams, Research Affiliate, Psychical Research Foundation, Carrollton, Texas, USA.
Bryan Williams is an affiliate with the Psychical Research Foundation. He was a co-recipient of the 2008 Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship Award offered by the Parapsychology Foundation in New York.
Psychic Phenomena and the Brain: Exploring the Neuropsychology of Psi — Bryan J. Williams
December 2015 / AUD$35.00 / 169 pages paperback original / ISBN: 978-0-9870772-2-6
To purchase, click here: Psychic Phenomena and the Brain
Education in Parapsychology: Student and Instructor Perspectives
Harvey J. Irwin
Monograph No. 2 in the AIPR Monograph Series in Parapsychology
Dr. Lance Storm and Dr. Adam J. Rock, Editors
“This monograph addresses the provision of educational experiences in the field of parapsychology and is designed to meet the needs of both students and instructors. Part 1 of the monograph discusses issues of primary importance to the person who would like to study parapsychology. Topics examined here include motives and misconceptions about parapsychology; and unrealistic expectations and potential benefits of studying parapsychology. Part 2 looks at teaching a course in parapsychology, including the design of a balanced curriculum that maintains critical standards while still accommodating the wide range of students’ interests. The future of the discipline of parapsychology depends on the quality of its educational programs. Accordingly, this monograph, by drawing on many of my own successes and failures in teaching parapsychology, will help to enrich the educational experiences of both parapsychology instructors and parapsychology students.” Harvey J. Irwin, PhD, Adjunct Research Fellow, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
Professor Harvey J. Irwin is an Adjunct 
Research Fellow at the School of Behavioural, Cognitive, and Social Sciences, University of New England, where he conducts research on the psychology of parapsychology.
Education in Parapsychology: Student and Instructor Perspectives — Harvey J. Irwin
November 2013 / AUD$25.00 / 105 pages paperback original / ISBN: 978-0-9870772-1-9
To purchase, click here: Education in Parapsychology
The AIPR offers four courses in parapsychology: The AIPR Certificate in Parapsychology and the AIPR Advanced Certificate in Parapsychology. These two online courses give students an education in the field of parapsychology by providing a comprehensive understanding of paranormal phenomena. To find out more, click here: online courses.
AIPR Advanced Certificate in Experiential Parapsychology. This course is run for groups of students who like to experience psychic phenomena directly. The emphasis is on having fun; hands-on doing psychic things. There are no exams or written assignments. This course is run in Sydney, Australia. To find out more, click here: AIPR Experiential Course.
Poltergeist Disturbances and Hauntings. Almost everyone has a ‘ghost’ story involving paranormal phenomena. This course is run in Sydney, Australia. To find out more, click here: AIPR Poltergeist and Haunting.
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Or post a cheque or money order with your name, address and funding purpose, to:
Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research Inc.
P O Box 295
Gladesville NSW 2111
AUSTRALIA
All inquiries in confidence to our public officer, Robb Tilley on (02) 9816 4279.