MDHS Indigenous Conference

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MDHS Indigenous Conference 2026 - 50 Years of Deadly

The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) invites you to the 2026 MDHS Indigenous Conference, celebrating five decades of NAIDOC in the spirit of the theme “50 Years of Deadly”. This one‑day event will celebrate Indigenous leadership, scholarship, cultural strength and the diverse successes across our faculty while strengthening connections across workforce, engagement, education and research.

Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026
Venue: The Woodward, L10, 106/185 Pelham Street, Carlton

Register: email mdhs-indigenous@unimelb.edu.au if you would like to receive an invitation to attend.

The 2026 MDHS Indigenous Conference celebrates 50 years of NAIDOC, recognising the strength, resilience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the cultural knowledge and contributions that continue to shape and advance health. Grounded in the key strategic priorities of workforce, engagement, education and research, the conference aligns with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Advancing Health Strategy 2030 and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Indigenous excellence, fostering meaningful partnerships, and advancing health outcomes for communities now and into the future.

Programme at a glance

The conference will combine invited streams, short presentations and interactive sessions.

  • 08:30 — Registration, tea and coffee
  • 09:00 — Welcome to Country and official opening
  • 9:30 - 5:00pm  — panel sessions and short presentations on education and research, engagement exercises, short presentations and celebration sessions showcasing success stories
  • Late afternoon — Reflections, feedback and standing networking with refreshments
  • Evening (same venue) — the Peeneeyt Thanampool (Strong Women) Aunty Joan Vickery and Aunty Angela Clarke MDHS Indigenous Post-doctoral Fellowship celebration and MDHS Indigenous Awards Dinner,

Note: Specific session titles and final timetable will be circulated closer to the event. All presentations will be in person.

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) — Presentations

We welcome EOIs for a limited number of presentation opportunities that respond to the theme 50 Years of Deadly and the Faculty strategic priorities (Workforce, Engagement, Education, Research).

Submission requirements

  • EOIs / abstracts should be 300–500 words (aim for ~350 words).
  • Completed submissions should be text only and outline the relevance to the conference theme and one or more Faculty priorities.
  • Presenters should be MDHS staff and authors of the work; abstracts must be presented by or endorsed by a First Nations person.
  • Accepted contributions may be scheduled as part of a themed panel or as an individual 10‑minute presentation (final allocation decided by the Abstracts Committee).
  • Presenters must be available to present in person on 11 August 2026.

Submission process

Selection and support

  • The Abstracts Committee will assess submissions against the conference guidelines and selection criteria. Assistance will be offered where small edits are required prior to acceptance.

Awards — Celebrating Our Successes

The MDHS Indigenous Awards recognise outstanding contributions across the Faculty. Awards will be announced and presented at the conference dinner on 11 August 2026.

Award recipients will receive $1,000 in professional development funding.

Award categories

  • Excellence in Early Career Research
  • Excellence in Research and/or Research Training
  • Professional Staff Excellence Award
  • Excellence in Knowledge Translation
  • Excellence in Education
  • Excellence in Community Engagement and Partnerships
  • Excellence in Supporting Indigenous Outcomes (Allyship Award)

Nomination guidelines

  • One nomination form per category; multiple nominations for a single person or team are permitted.
  • Self-nominations are accepted.
  • The Allyship Award recognises outstanding contribution by non‑Indigenous individuals/teams and must be nominated by an Indigenous person.
  • Selection considers evidence of impact, contribution to Faculty and community priorities, and alignment with Advancing Health Strategy themes (Place, Community, Education, Discovery, Global).

How to nominate

Accessibility, cultural safety and support

The Faculty is committed to ensuring the conference is a culturally safe and accessible space. If you require adjustments to participate fully, including access needs, dietary requirements for the dinner, or guidance on culturally appropriate arrangements, please advise the Indigenous Development team when you register.

Registration and further information

Registration details, final programme and logistical information will be circulated via MDHS channels. For programme enquiries, abstract assistance or award questions, email: MDHS-Indigenous@unimelb.edu.au