Australian Public Health Conference 2026

​Abstract Submission​​ Requirements

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Presentations require the submission of an abstract and will be peer reviewed. We welcome submission of abstracts for presentations relevant to one or more of the Conference sub-themes (outlined below).

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• A maximum of three (3) abstracts may be submitted per presenting author. The platform automatically limits the number of submissions per contact to three (3).

• All abstracts must be in original work and submitted in English and have a 300-word maximum.

• Abstracts submitted for presentation, if accepted, will be published exactly as received and should be checked for spelling and grammar prior to submission.

• It is the submitting author’s responsibility to ensure that the abstract uploaded to the server is the correct version.

• If the person submitting the abstract isn't the presenter or if there is more than one presenter, all correspondence will be sent to the person who submitted the abstract.

 

⚠️ All presenters must register at the time of receiving their abstract acceptance

and pay the Conference registration fee. ⚠️

 

Presentations on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health are particularly welcome.

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• We encourage abstract submissions on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health. For these abstracts, first priority will be given to abstracts presented by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, followed by abstracts co-presented with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Lower priority will be given to abstracts with no Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander authors. 

• For these abstract submissions, up to an additional 300 words will be permitted to outline the Aboriginal Governance structures used to ensure that Indigenous data sovereignty principles were adhered to in the research or program development and that the processes were culturally appropriate. 

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Conference Objectives

 

The objectives of the conference are to:​

• Create a safe environment for knowledge sharing, collaboration and relationship building

• Promote and celebrate public health

• To create an understanding of the past, present and future public health issues

• Create an inclusive and culturally safe environment with opportunities to discuss issues of diversity, disability and accessibility, and provide an equal opportunity to be part of the program and public health discussion

• Deliver latest research, program implementations and workforce developments

• Showcase new developments in advocacy in public health through keynote speakers

• Showcase leadership in public health from established and emerging leaders

• Highlight the activities of the PHAA, including state and territory branches and special interest groups, and encourage delegates to work together to achieve better health outcomes for Australians

• Invest in the next generation of public health leaders through dedicated early career and student mentorship, visibility, and professional growth

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Target Audience

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The conference will aim to facilitate conversations on improving effectiveness and efficiencies of public health through knowledge sharing and relationship building. The program must consider the needs and interests of the public health audience to ensure attraction and participation to the conference.

The conference brings together professionals and students working across educational institutions, health agencies, associations, organisations and clinical health settings, including health administration and promotion officers, public health peak bodies, educators, planners, researchers, policy makers, scientists, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals operating locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Students and early careerprofessionals are also actively encouraged to participate and present, recognising their vital role in shaping the future of public health.

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Conference Sub-themes​

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The program will provide lively and productive discussions and contributions from professionals engaged in Public Health. We invite abstracts under the following topics:

• Climate, One Health and sustainable futures

• Healthy places and cities: redesigning environments for wellbeing

• Mental health, wellbeing and resilience

• Equity, diversity, inclusion and empowerment in public health

• Indigenous leadership and self-determination in health

• Turning evidence into action: epidemiology, policy reform and implementation at scale

• Digital health, AI and governing emerging technologies

• Trust, communication and countering misinformation

• Strengthening the public health workforce for the future

• Solidarity in action: cross-sector and global collaboration for health

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Presentation Types

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Long Oral Presentation (Face-to-face and Pre-recorded)​:

These presentations provide an opportunity to explore research, policy initiatives, or practice innovations in depth, with clear relevance to the conference theme. Presenters have a total of 10 minutes to present the challenge, the evidence, and the implications for real-world action. Submissions must articulate clear learning objectives and outcomes, and demonstrate how the work advances understanding, informs policy or practice, and contributes to system-level change. If time allows, Q&A will occur at the conclusion of all presentations.

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Ideas In Action Presentations (Face-to-face and Pre-recorded)​:

This fast-paced session invites presenters to share a compelling idea, solution, or provocation shaping the future of public health. Presenters are encouraged to open with a clear solution, bold proposal, or future-focused insight that addresses a pressing public health challenge, before briefly outlining the evidence, research, or experience that underpins it. The format is designed to move beyond traditional “background–methods–results” presentations and instead foreground impact, application and action. Each presenter has 5 minutes and a maximum of six slides (including all slides). Submissions from researchers, practitioners, policy makers, students and community partners are all welcome. Collective discussion will follow at the end of the session, where time allows.

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Whilst every effort will be made to accept an abstract for the nominated presentation format, the Scientific Advisory Committee reserves the right to allocate a different presentation type if appropriate.

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Abstract review, selection and notification

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• All abstracts are submitted for peer-review. 

• Every effort is made to accept abstracts for the presentation type submitted. However, due to limited space a different abstract type may be offered than what was submitted.

• The contact person (who submitted the abstract) for each abstract will be notified of the outcome of their abstract submission via email in July 2026.

• Please note, concurrent sessions will only be available to delegates attending face-to-face at the venue.​

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Abstract submissions close on Monday 25 May 2026 at 11.59pm AEST​​​​​