Invitation to Submit an Abstract
EPHEA is inviting equity practitioners who work in tertiary education in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and/or the Pacific region to share their learnings, insights, and stories and to submit an abstract for consideration.
We actively welcome and encourage submissions from researchers and practitioners across all career stages, disciplines, and backgrounds, including those from First Nation communities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, regional and remote area, and those with disability EPHEA and Western Sydney University are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible conference experience for all presenters and participants.
All abstract submissions will undergo a blind peer review process by the 2026 EPHEA Conference Committee.
Click here to submit your Abstract
Submissions close : Friday 15 May 2026, 5.00pm (AEST)
Table of Contents
- Conference Theme and Streams
- Session Types
- Abstract Submission Guidelines
- Evaluation Criteria and Weightings
- Marking Criteria
- Tips for Success
- Selection Process and Notification of Acceptance
- Terms and Conditions
- Questions
- Submission Link
Conference Theme & Streams
The overall conference theme of Grounded In Place, Rising with Purpose: Equity in Action embraces a strengths-based approach to staff and student equity, celebrating the richness of knowledge, culture, lived experience, and capability that individuals and communities bring to our institutions. The theme reflects EPHEA’s commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledges, fostering inclusive leadership, and advancing systemic reform across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific region. Equity may be explored through the following streams:
- Indigenous Leadership, Knowledge and Systemic Change
Honouring the deep connections between land, community, and identity, this stream centres Indigenous (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori, and Pasifika) leadership, knowledge systems, and cultural frameworks. Submissions may explore place-based practice, community partnerships, Indigenous pedagogies, and structural transformation guided by Indigenous perspectives. - Building Capability, Collaboration and Courage
Effective equity leadership occurs at all levels, within professional and academic roles, in the Third Space, within communities, and across organisational structure. Submissions may explore how individuals and teams lead change, and navigate complexity to build fairer, more inclusive systems for both staff and students. - Transforming Systems, Policy, and Practice
This stream focuses on evidence-informed, actionable approaches that move equity beyond aspiration into embedded institutional practice. It includes policy-to-practice integration, program evaluation, longitudinal research, organisational change, and whole-of-institution models. - Digital Equity and the Inclusive Future
Focussed on the rapidly evolving digital landscape, submissions are invited on digital inclusion and inclusive AI, universal and inclusive design, remote and hybrid student support, and technology-enabled equity innovation across diverse communities. - Communities, Voices, and Equity for Diverse Learning
Centred on lived experiences, identity, belonging, and partnership, this stream welcomes work that amplifies student voice, responds to the needs of diverse cohorts, and strengthens cross-sector collaboration, pathways, and community-engaged equity practice.
Session Types
Presenters may elect to deliver in the following formats:
- Showcase Presentation
40 minutes including questions. Participants will be able to ask questions of presenters at the end of the session. - Poster Presentation
The purpose of a poster is to present information in a concise visual manner. Posters provide a talking point and an opportunity for collegial engagement for members of the EPHEA conference. Posters will be presented during morning tea break on day 2 of the event and will be on display for the duration of the 2026 EPHEA Conference.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
- All details must be completed to allow the automated system to process your submission.
- The person submitting the abstract is the person who will receive all correspondence in relation to the abstract and is responsible for passing on information to co-authors and/or co-presenters and other parties.
- You must indicate which stream the abstract relates to.
- You must include the requested information for any co-authors and/or co-presenters as their name will be included in the program if the submission is successful.
- Authors must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions for your submission to be accepted for consideration.
- If you are dependent on your employer paying for your attendance at the 2026 EPHEA Conference, please ensure you seek authorisation prior to submitting your abstract.
- The abstract must be submitted as a text format only. Graphs, tables, images etc will not be accepted.
- The abstract must be structured to include a title, main institution/organisation which the research/paper can be attributed to and author/co-authors names.
- Research based papers should be structured to include an introduction/purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
- All other papers should be structured to include an introduction, main body, and conclusion.
- The abstract title must be a maximum of 10 words in length.
- The abstract must be a maximum of 300 words in length, excluding the title, authors/co-authors and institution.
- The main body of the abstract should NOT contain any authors names or information.
- The abstract must relate to the selected stream.
- The content of the abstract must clearly reflect/link to the given title of the abstract.
- The review process follows a weighted criteria and those submissions that do not adhere to all guidelines, will be penalised.
- All abstracts must be submitted through the 2026 EPHEA Conference submission portal.
- You may review or update your submission through the online submission portal until the due date of Friday 15 May 2026, 5.00pm (AEST).
- Accepted abstracts will be published in the 2026 EPHEA Conference program and included in the conference website to support delegate planning.
Evaluation Criteria and Weightings
The scoring process requires a rating of 1-10 for each of the following criteria:
| Criteria 1 | Criteria 2 | Criteria 3 |
| Contribution to equity (Maximum weight = 60) | Overall quality (Maximum weight = 30) | Abstract format (Maximum weight =10) |
| – Overall, does the abstract contribute to the selected stream? – Does the abstract contribute to the conference theme? – Does the abstract address current issues of importance to equity in higher education?- Does the abstract present new and innovative ideas or strategies for equity practitioners to use? | – Is the quality of the abstract of a professional standard? -Does the abstract provide a brief (max 300 words) and specific outline that conveys the purpose of the presentation? – Does the abstract demonstrate sufficient expertise and knowledge of the subject matter? – Is the abstract evidence-informed, and does it outline pertinent research or other methods adopted where appropriate? | – Is the abstract structured to include a title, introductory sentence, description of pertinent research (if applicable), summary and conclusion, and a chronological flow? – Does the abstract contain text only? Diagrams, illustrations, tables, or graphs are inappropriate. – Is the abstract grammatically correct – Abstracts must not contain any author names, affiliations or information. |
Each abstract is de-identified and is marked by 3 assessors with the highest average weighted scores being invited to present. Members of the EPHEA Conference Committee will undertake the review. EPHEA reserves the right to determine which submissions will be presented.
| CRITERIA 1 (Maximum weighting = 60) | |||
| IMPACT | SCORE | DESCRIPTOR | ASSESSMENT |
| High | 9-10 | Exceptional | Exceptionally strong, criterion fully addressed |
| 7-8 | Good | Very strong with weakness in one area of the criterion | |
| Medium | 5-6 | Satisfactory | Some strengths but with moderate weaknesses in one or more areas of the criterion |
| 3-4 | Fair | Some strengths but with at least one major weakness | |
| Low | 1-2 | Unacceptable | Not for presentation |
| CRITERIA 2 (Maximum weighting = 30) | |||
| IMPACT | SCORE | DESCRIPTOR | ASSESSMENT |
| High | 9-10 | Exceptional | Exceptionally strong, criterion fully addressed |
| 7-8 | Good | Very strong with weakness in one area of the criterion | |
| Medium | 5-6 | Satisfactory | Some strengths but with moderate weaknesses in one or more areas of the criterion |
| 3-4 | Fair | Some strengths but with at least one major weakness | |
| Low | 1-2 | Unacceptable | Not for presentation |
| CRITERIA 3 (Maximum weighting = 10) | |||
| IMPACT | SCORE | DESCRIPTOR | ASSESSMENT |
| High | 9-10 | Exceptional | Exceptionally strong, criterion fully addressed |
| 7-8 | Good | Very strong with weakness in one area of the criterion | |
| Medium | 5-6 | Satisfactory | Some strengths but with moderate weaknesses in one or more areas of the criterion |
| 3-4 | Fair | Some strengths but with at least one major weakness | |
| Low | 1-2 | Unacceptable | Not for presentation |
- Successful presentations must be delivered in-person at the 2026 EPHEA Conference at Western Sydney University Parramatta South Campus in Sydney, NSW. No virtual presentations will be permitted.
- Abstract presentations will be 40 minutes, including five minutes for questions and discussion.
- The room will be equipped with a data projector, screen, Western Sydney University desktop (that will be logged in)
- EPHEA is committed to continuous quality improvement and encourages presenters to ensure their presentation reflects the content of the abstract as we wish to provide our delegates with an exceptional experience. If your abstract is successful, your presentation must remain true to the content in the submitted and accepted abstract.
- Posters should be to an academic research poster standard.
- Posters will be displayed for the duration of the 2026 EPHEA Conference on display boards.
- Dedicated poster presentations will be held on Tuesday 24 November 2026 where the author(s) must be present to share their work and ideas and to answer any questions.
- Each stream will have a ‘best poster’ prize as well as a ‘most popular’ prize awarded.
- Posters will be judged by conference delegates.
- Posters must be displayed at the 2026 EPHEA Conference to be eligible for voting and the prizes.
- The successful author/co-authors must bring their poster with them and contact a member of the Conference Event Team on day one of the conference. Details will be provided.
Selection Process and Notification of Acceptance
Abstracts are subjected to blind peer review by members of the 2026 EPHEA Conference
Committee.
Abstracts will be reviewed on their contribution to equity, relevance to the conference streams,
adherence to the submission guidelines, overall quality and abstract content link to given
abstract title.
Abstracts submitted for presentation may be offered a poster presentation at the discretion of
the 2026 EPHEA Conference Committee.
Notification of whether the abstract has been accepted for presentation will be sent to the submitting author via email on or before Friday 10 July 2026.
Presenters whose abstracts are accepted will be eligible for 2026 EPHEA Conference Early Bird registration rates. The notification of acceptance will include further information on how to
access discounted registration.
Successful presenters will be asked for their audio-visual requirements at this time and
instructed to confirm their attendance via paid registration by no later than 01 October 2026.
Please note, Presenters must be paid registrants of the conference in order to present a paper.
Terms and Conditions
In order to submit an abstract for 2026 EPHEA Conference, the abstract submitter/main author
must agree to the following terms and conditions that will apply if the abstract is accepted.
These will be displayed during the online submission process and will require agreement.
- I agree should my abstract be accepted that my presentation will be delivered in person at the 2026 EPHEA Conference at Western Sydney University Parramatta South Campus in Sydney, NSW.
- I agree that I and any co-presenters will register for the 2026 EPHEA Conference and pay the required registration fee by 01 October 2026, noting that we must meet our own travel and accommodation costs.
- If my paper is selected as a poster, I agree that I or a co-author/co-presenter must be a registrant at the conference for the abstract to appear in the program and to be displayed at the conference.
- I give permission for my abstract to be published in the 2026 EPHEA Conference program, and on the EPHEA website, social handles, and the internet.
- I give permission for my provided biography and any co-presenters’ biographies to be condensed at the discretion of the 2026 EPHEA Conference Committee and to be provided to the session facilitator for introductory purposes. I also give permission for any biographies to be available in the program.
- I give permission for a photographer to be present during my presentation and agree to those photos being used on the EPHEA website, in publications and on social media for promotional purposes.
- I understand that the allocation of the presentation day and time of successful abstracts is at the discretion of the 2026 EPHEA Conference Committee.
- I agree that my presentation will be made available to registered delegates of the 2026 EPHEA Conference.
- EPHEA may engage a videographer to film presentations throughout the conference. If I do not want my presentation to be filmed, I will advise EPHEA via EMAIL.
For further information or queries, contact us here.