Experience hands-on learning and practical skill development at the ACORN 2026 Conference through our dynamic program of interactive masterclasses. Designed to complement the main scientific program, these focused sessions provide an opportunity to deepen knowledge, explore emerging innovations, and strengthen clinical and professional practice in a collaborative, small-group environment.

Masterclasses will be led by expert facilitators and supported by our valued industry partners, including Platinum Sponsor Mölnlycke and our Silver Sponsors Multigate, Solventum, Stryker and Medline. Their support helps bring the latest advancements, evidence-based practice and real-world solutions directly to your learning experience.

All masterclasses are included in your conference registration, however places are limited and pre-enrolment is required. Pre-enrolment is completed during the conference registration process or, alternatively, you can log in using the following link to enrol or change your selection after completing the conference registration.

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Below you’ll find an outline of the masterclasses available, with full details to be added as they are finalised.

Stop the drop – A hot topic

Reducing sharps-related injury in Australian operating theatres

Speakers: TBC

The last layer of protection: proven strategies for SSI reduction in the operating room.

Speakers: TBC

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) remain a significant challenge in perioperative care, impacting patient safety and outcomes. This interactive workshop is designed specifically for perioperative nurses and provides practical, evidence-based strategies to reduce SSIs in the operating room. 

Participants will explore the critical role of skin antisepsis and antimicrobial incise drapes in creating a safer surgical environment. Through hands-on demonstrations and real-world case discussions, nurses will gain confidence in applying best practices that strengthen infection prevention protocols and improve surgical outcomes.

Speakers: TBC

Surgical plume: we all see it, we all smell it – but are we really managing it safely and consistently?

Join us for an interactive workshop designed for perioperative nurses seeking practical, real‑world strategies to improve surgical plume management in the operating theatre. The session will explore key considerations in smoke evacuation and address common challenges encountered in day‑to‑day perioperative practice.

Whether you are advocating for safer practice, improving compliance, or looking for more effective ways to manage plume exposure, this session will provide the confidence, language and practical tools to make a difference in your perioperative environment.

Practical sustainable wins for your operating room
Speakers: Claire Lane (director and founder of Save Our Suppliers), Heather Campbell (educator) and Jackie Wilson (sustainability manager)

• The importance of pre-warming surgical patients
• The role of the perioperative nurse in ensuring pre-warming protocols are initiated and maintained
• Potential consequences of not adequately pre-warming patients
• Top tips and practical protocols to prevent perioperative hypothermia

Pre-warming surgical patients is already best practice in many hospitals but there’s still work to do to reduce the risk of perioperative hypothermia – and pre-op nurses are central to success, says Professor Jed Duff.

In this Q&A, Professor Duff explains why surgical pre-warming is critical and offer his top tips for practical protocols in the pre-operative phase.

Light breakfast, tea & coffee included.

This masterclass will outline how best to read and understand the new edition, focus on the major changes within the Standards from the last edition, and provide practical resources and tools for their implementation.

Note: this is a duplicate session of the Saturday masterclass and attendees need only enrol in one of these sessions.

This interactive masterclass is designed for perioperative nurses who want practical, real‑world strategies to make fluid management smarter, more sustainable and easier to implement across a range of surgical specialties.

Whether you are aiming to reduce clinical waste, improve workflow efficiency, or strengthen your ability to advocate for sustainable change, this session will equip you with the knowledge, language and practical skills to make a positive impact in the operating theatre.

Masterclass 6 – Haemostasis Optimisation (with JnJ)

Unravelling the new standards

Speakers: Edwina Eaton, ACORN Clinical Excellence Coordinator

The most evidence-based, practical and clinician-focused iteration in the nearly 50-year legacy of ACORN's standards, this updated edition strengthens usability for frontline clinicians, with transparent traceability of evidence and a strong focus on implementation across perioperative and procedural care settings. 

This masterclass will outline how best to read and understand the new edition of the Standards, will focus on major changes within the Standards from the last edition, and provide practical resources and tools for their implementation.

Note: this is a duplicate session of the Friday masterclass and attendees need only enrol in one of these sessions.

Sharps-related injuries remain a persistent occupational risk in perioperative practice, with implications for staff safety, workflow disruption and organisational burden. Despite sharps safety programmes and safe handling practices, sharps injuries can still occur during passing, handling, counting and disposal. 

Key trends indicate that the primary risk factor and common causes for sharps injuries occurs during the passing and handling of sharps. This interactive workshop discusses the most recent reported data and the new changes to standards and guidelines to aid in the reduction of injuries. 

Participants will engage in facilitated discussion and small group activities that support precision, organisation and protection in sharps handling. Through instruction for use demonstration and hands-on practice, participants in groups will practice the safe use of sharps using specific product features, for example, pre-cut foam slots. The demonstrations will follow recommended techniques that are based on product instructions for use.

Designed to be practical and participatory, this session supports perioperative nurses in refining sharps safety processes and strengthening a culture of prevention.

Emerging Evidence on Normothermia Solutions: Understanding the Differences in Device Performance.

Presenters: Professor Nicholas Ralph & Professor David Sturgess

 Maintaining normothermia during surgery is essential for patient safety, yet warming technologies can vary significantly in performance. This evidence-based session brings together two leading experts in perioperative care to examine the latest research on device design and its impact on clinical outcomes. 

Attendees will gain insights into comparative studies, understand how performance differences affect patient safety, and learn practical strategies to optimise normothermia protocols in the operating theatre. Through expert discussion and real-world data, this session will empower perioperative professionals to make informed decisions that improve surgical outcomes and reduce complications associated with perioperative hypothermia.