Centring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices leading collaborative, and culturally grounded practices in social work and education.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Led Initiatives in Social Work and Education Conference brings together practitioners, educators, students, and community leaders to promote practice through the guidance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, sovereignty, and lived experiences. This gathering is more than a conference; it is a platform for truth-telling and shared learning that centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in shaping the future of both social work and education in Australia and aims to foster collaborative and culturally responsive approaches across these professions.
With keynote addresses from respected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, academics, and community allies, the program highlights innovative, culturally grounded approaches to teaching, learning, practice, policy, and research. Workshops and panel sessions will explore strength-based models that challenge deficit discourse and dense frameworks; and instead, focus on strong cultural leadership and partnerships that elevate these professional fields using Community-led approaches that honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing.
Participants will be invited to reflect critically on the legacy of social work and education in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, while also engaging with practices of accountability, respect, and partnership. By foregrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, the conference seeks to transform not only how social work and education engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but also how these professions themselves are defined and practised more broadly.
The conference calls for Papers, Panels, Workshops, Yarning Circles and Posters. Streams, sub-streams and submission guidelines are available at: Submission Guidelines (pdf. 180KB)
Abstract submission deadline: Friday 27 February 2026
You must complete a separate registration and payment for each event you wish to attend. Do not add multiple items to the shopping cart as payment will not be correctly recorded.
| 3-day conference attendance 22–24 June 2026 at The University of Sydney | ||
|---|---|---|
| General admission rate | $880 | Register |
| General admission rate for students and community representatives | $550 | Register |
| Conference Dinner - Tuesday 23 June, 6.30pm to 9.30pm | Venue and registration to be announced | ||
All conference registration fees listed on this page are per person and include 10% GST.
To be eligible for the student rate you must be currently completing a PhD, Master of Philosophy, or master's degree by coursework.
To be eligible for the community rate you must be currently contributing/employed in a community based program or not-for profit agency.
If you are interested in attending only one or two days of the conference, you should register using the relevant link/s below.
| Single-day registrations (no discounts available) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday 22 June | $300 | Register |
| Tuesday 23 June | $300 | Register |
| Wednesday 24 June | $300 | Register |
Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, a Bardi woman from Western Australia, is a psychologist and professor at the Poche Centre for Aboriginal Health and the School of Indigenous Studies at The University of Western Australia. Her research focuses on Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention. She is the Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, and the lead Chief Investigator for the national Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project. Professor Dudgeon has served on numerous boards, including the National Suicide Prevention Office Advisory Board, NACCHO Culture Care Connect, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit Australia) and AIPA, and was a National Mental Health Commissioner for five years. A leading voice in Indigenous mental health, her significant publications include the Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice (2014) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project Report – What the Evidence and Our People Tell Us (2016).
While there are no “official conference hotels” we can certainly suggest the following hotels as starting points:
Located at: 9 Missenden Road, Camperdown
Recently refurbished rooms include ensuite bathroom, LCD TV, FREE wireless Internet access, tea and coffee-making facilities. Walk to Newtown’s lively King Street for restaurants and night life. 15-20-minute walk to the University of Sydney conference location. Visit their website.
Located at: Goulburn Street, Surry Hills
One, two and three bedroom apartments. Apartments include a balcony or courtyard, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry, air conditioning, wifi and modern appliances throughout. Stylish cultural and café scene at your doorstep. Short 20-minute bus ride to the University of Sydney conference location. Visit their website.
Located at: 74-80 Ivy Street, Chippendale
Recently refurbished rooms with a contemporary interior design and fit out. Features include a kitchen and laundry with plenty of room to make you feel comfortable in the space. Situated amongst Chippendale’s cool cafes and eateries, galleries and close to local retail outlets. 20-minute walk to the University of Sydney conference location. Visit their website.
Located at: 52-60 Enmore Road, Newtown NSW 2042
Boutique studios rooms based in Newtown, you’ll be a block from the Enmore Theatre and a hop, skip and jump away from the vibrant and entertaining King Street. Situated a 25-minute walk from the conference location or a short bus ride departing from King Street to City Road.
More generally, the University of Sydney is centrally located within Greater Sydney, and there will be plenty of hotel, Airbnb and Stayz options in nearby suburbs.
If you want to stay in a location a bit further away, the closest train station is Redfern station (between 10-15 minutes’ walk to the conference location). The conference location is also close to many bus routes. For travel planning, we recommend these official apps:
Some travel and tourism starting points
Project Coordinator
Rachel Payne
Phone +61 2 9351 8520
Email rachel.payne@sydney.edu.au
Academic Convenor
Lesli Kirwan
Email lesli.kirwan@sydney.edu.au
