Symposium

Over two hundred people across two days gathered in Ballarat in November for our Annual Symposium; to reconnect with colleagues and forge new collaborations, and to showcase some of the fantastic research from across western Victoria.

The event kicked off with the Deakin Rural Health Mental Health Showcase: Taking action on rural and regional mental health, featuring keynote speaker Anna Love, Victoria’s Chief Mental Health Nurse, followed by oral presentations and a panel discussion.

The  DELIVER Showcase followed, featuring keynote speaker Prof Gill Harvey, Deputy Director Knowledge Translation, Flinders University, rapid fire research presentations and a panel discussion on how to use evidence in business cases in a budget-constrained environment.  

Day one wrapped up with the STaRR Emerging Researcher Showcase, which featured presentations from an exciting new generation of clinical researchers.

The Western Alliance Symposium on day two commenced with a beautiful Welcome to Country from Kellie Phillips, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation followed by keynote speakers Dr Jill Gallagher AO, CEO, VACCHO and A/Prof Gustavo Machado, University of Sydney. Drew Aras announced the recipients of the 2025 Western Alliance Rapid Research Translation Grants – read more here.

Concurrent sessions from over 50 local researchers then gave us a snapshot of the extensive and high quality research underway in our region.

The event concluded with keynote speakers A/Prof Ecushla Linedale, SAHMRI and A/Prof Anna Wong Shee, Co-Director, CARA, before we bid farewell to beautiful Ballarat.

Sincere thanks to all of our wonderful keynote speakers, panel members and researchers for making this year’s Symposium bigger and better than ever.

 

The 2024 Symposium in Lorne was a great success – we thank all who participated and attended.

  • View the 2024 Western Alliance Symposium Program, featuring presentation abstracts and speaker information here.
  • Watch Dr Lawrence Gray’s keynote speech: Expertise, Equity and Access-Multidisciplinary, shared-care, public paediatric outpatient
    clinics in Geelong and Colac here.
  • Watch Prof Susan Hiller’s keynote speech:  Statewide reforms in South Australian stroke
    care: lessons learnt and gains made here.

The 2023 Western Alliance Annual Symposium, with the DELIVER Program showcase, was held on in November 2023 at the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool. 

  • For a rundown and photos of the 2023 event, please click here.
  • For a day 1 and 2 program, including presenter schedule, please click here.
  • For the full day 1 and 2 program, including presenter schedule, keynote speaker information and presentation abstracts, please click here.

It was wonderful to connect with over 100 research translation leaders, partners and consumers in person at the 2022 Western Alliance Symposium. 

The theme of Reconnecting Through Rural and Regional Research was evident throughout the program.

We departed the beautiful town of Dunkeld with a strong sense of pride at what our community is achieving an will continue to achieve, and motivation to continue to grow and develop into the future.

  • Click here for the full 2022 program, including keynote speaker details & abstracts
  • Click here for a summary of the 2022 Symposium, featuring photos of presenters and recording of keynote speeches