ABSTRACTS
want to present at the conference?
Here is how to submit an abstract
Do you have an idea, a piece of research, or a program that others working in refugee trauma recovery need to know about? This is your opportunity to share your work at the 4th Australia and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference, 4-6 May 2026, ICC Sydney.
Whether you're a practitioner, academic, policy expert, or someone with lived experience - we welcome your voice.
Step 1: Consider what you want to share
Is there a project, insight or lived experience that you believe could benefit others working in trauma recovery? If so, we invite you to write a 300-word abstract that outlines your idea.
Step 2: Choose the right conference stream
Step 2: Choose the right conference stream
The Streams
1.
Knowledge and Innovation
Papers in this stream will highlight the work and expertise of practitioners and service providers delivering trauma-informed services to refugees and asylum seekers in a variety of settings that include detention centres, prisons, schools, primary healthcare and mainstream mental health settings. This stream will also encompass developments in research and evaluation into clinical and other client-facing work. Papers relating to cross-disciplinary projects will also be featured in this stream.
2.
Influencing the Context
This stream addresses the interplay between refugee and asylum seeker communities and service providers, and the broader context at local, state, national, and international levels. There is a particular emphasis on the way in which service providers can use strategies such as advocacy and research to shape these contexts in a way which promotes client wellbeing. Papers which focus on community capacity building, and other methods of building resilient communities in the context of resettlement would also fit within this stream.
3.
Sustaining the Work
This stream focuses on strategies to support individuals and organisations responding to torture and refugee trauma. Papers in this stream may explore approaches to clinical supervision, staff well-being, and mitigating burnout or vicarious trauma, with a particular emphasis on caring for those providing care, community leaders and bicultural workers. Submissions may also address organisational resilience, workforce development, the role of peer workers, university partnerships, and internship programmes. Contributions on training and professional development for staff, volunteers, and interpreters are also encouraged, as well as innovations in resource development. A key focus will be reinforcing the value of this work to broader society, ensuring its impact is recognised and sustained.
4.
Age-Specific Approaches
Papers in this stream may explore best practices for working with specific demographic sectors, including early childhood, children and adolescents, school-based programs, youth teams, families, and elderly clients. Submissions may also examine the transitions individuals face across different life stages, offering insights into how services can support clients as they navigate these changes. Additionally, this stream invites discussions on multi-generational approaches, recognising the interconnected experiences of refugee families and communities. Contributions on effective interventions, age-appropriate therapeutic models, and strategies for fostering resilience across generations are encouraged.
Read more about the conference streams in the Abstract Submission Guidelines.
Step 3: Prepare your abstract for double-blind review
All abstracts will undergo double-blind peer review. This means:
Do not include author names or organisational affiliations in the abstract text
You will be asked to confirm your abstract complies with ethics and conflict of interest declarations
Step 3: Prepare your abstract for double-blind review
All abstracts will undergo double-blind peer review. This means:
Do not include author names or organisational affiliations in the abstract text
You will be asked to confirm your abstract complies with ethics and conflict of interest declarations
Step 4: Submit your abstract online
Visit our Abstract Submission Portal. You’ll need to create a login to submit.
Be sure to include ALL co-authors when you submit - they cannot be added later
Select whether you prefer to present orally, as a poster, or in a pre-conference workshop
Step 4: Submit your abstract online
Visit our Abstract Submission Portal. You’ll need to create a login to submit.
Be sure to include ALL co-authors when you submit - they cannot be added later
Select whether you prefer to present orally, as a poster, or in a pre-conference workshop
Step 5: Await the outcome & register
Abstracts are due August 31st, 2025. Successful presenters are expected to be notified by October 31st, 2025. If selected, you’ll need to:
Purchase a conference ticket, OR
Apply for a scholarship by November 28, 2025 (link provided upon acceptance)
Step 5: Await the outcome & register
Abstracts are due August 31st, 2025. Successful presenters are expected to be notified by October 31st, 2025. If selected, you’ll need to:
Purchase a conference ticket, OR
Apply for a scholarship by November 28, 2025 (link provided upon acceptance)
Important Links
Important Links
4th Australia and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference
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