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 collaborative models that challenge deficit-based frameworks and instead focus on how to strengthen and elevate these professional fields using community-led approaches that honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being.
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 will call for Papers, Panels, Performances and Posters. Themes, sub-themes and submission guidelines will be available for download shortly.
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. Registration will open shortly.
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
