12-20 September 2026
Adventure therapy often uses challenging activities as a pathway for personal growth. However, participants - and sometimes facilitators - can unintentionally confuse the task of a certain activity with the therapeutic goal. This presentation explores how cultural...
The Great Debate is back for its fourth big year! Join us for an evening of compelling debate as six of Australia's premier academics argue for and against the state of Australian politics. Arguing for the affirmative are: Professor Anika Gauja, Pro-Vice Chancellor,...
Presenter: Peta Lawler Abstract: Periods can quietly push girls out of outdoor programs—through discomfort, shame, or lack of support. This session explores the real impact of menstruation in the outdoors and what we can do about it. We’ll share practical strategies,...
This event invites people to come together and reflect on what solidarity means in our world today. Drawing on ideas from Emile Durkheim, the event explores how connection, cooperation, and shared purpose can help us respond to the challenges of an increasingly...
Young people can often find themselves in the crosshairs of intersecting crises - crises that can be exacerbated by the vulnerabilities of youth and the disregard that can be present for young people’s wellbeing and needs. Not only are young people grappling with...
Bring your lunch and your curiosity to this provocative, hands-on session designed for educators, researchers, students, and policymakers. Education with Deepfakes, Hallucinations, and Smartglasses invites you to engage with real-world scenarios drawn from global...
How does GenAI imagine a child? Or an Australian? And why does it matter? Ask generative AI to show you an image of a child and you’ll get a few standard results. But dig deeper and it will reveal how harmful biases can be baked into the core of these tools. In this...
Co-creating dance research with and for dancers with Down syndrome Dancekin RMIT “Duo Piece” is a powerful collaboration between dancers, artists and researchers exploring how dance with people with Down syndrome can spark connection, creativity, and social change....
Presenter: Doug Moczynski Abstract: Have you ever paused to consider how the young people you work with perceive you? Through your words, actions, and presence, the example you set shapes what meaning they make from their experience. Are you actively creating...
Presenters: Will Dobud, PhD (Charles Sturt University) and Nevin Harper, PhD (University of Victoria, Canada) Abstract: Amid rising concerns about a so-called youth mental health crisis, this presentation challenges simplified narratives and explores the deeper...