Western Alliance Annual Symposium

 The call for abstracts is now OPEN.

Western Alliance’s Fifth Annual Symposium will highlight efforts to improve and promote health and wellbeing in western Victoria through evidence-based interventions and research. It is an opportunity to showcase research results and studies currently underway in western Victoria. Health-service based research is of particular interest.

This year, Western Alliance is collaborating with the National Centre for Farmer Health, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a one-day conference to be in conjunction with the Symposium.

Abstracts to both events are invited from researchers, health professionals, rural professionals and associates from all disciplines and sectors, with a focus on rural, regional and farmer health. The call for abstracts is now OPEN and will close at midnight on 31 May.

Symposium theme and topics

Good health and wellbeing: It matters to rural and regional communities.

Abstract submissions must address the theme and any of the following topics:

• Ageing in place: Dream or reality?
• Service delivery models in rural and regional health
• Innovations in overcoming accessibility and remoteness
• Equity and equality in rural health and health care
• Indigenous health in rural Australia

Click here to submit an abstract.

The National Centre for Farmer Health’s conference program is designed to encourage and continue relationships across sectors, to reflect the true diversity of health, wellbeing and safety outcomes in farming communities across Australia.

Conference theme and topics

Good health, wellbeing and safety: Making a difference to farmers’ lives.

Abstract submissions must address the theme and any of the following topics:

• Occupational health and safety
• Climate change and health in rural communities
• Supporting mental health in farming communities
• Innovative engagement
• Service delivery models in farming communities.

Presentation formats (both days)

• Invited keynotes
• Long presentations (20 minutes)
• Short presentations (12 minutes)
• Poster presentations – with lightning presentations during lunch breaks.

At least one author must register and attend the conference to present the work submitted.

Abstracts with no presenting author will not be accepted.

Submitting your abstract (both days)

We welcome submission of abstracts for high-quality evidence and/or presentations relevant to the themes and topics.

All abstracts are to be submitted electronically, using the online facility: Click here to submit your abstract.

Abstract submissions will close at midnight on Thursday, 31 May.

Invitations for oral and poster presentations will be forwarded by email to the presenting author by late June.

Each submission must include:

• Presenting author’s title, name, position & affiliation, email address and phone number (Note: if there is to be more than one presenter, all correspondence will be sent to the presenting author.)
• A title – no more than 13 words
• Abstract text, clearly outlining the topic to be presented – a maximum of 300 words in simple text paragraphs that follow the format of the subheadings. For research abstracts these are Background/aim (60 words), Methods (90 words), Results (100 words) and Conclusion (50 words); for Policy/practice abstracts the subheadings are Context (60 words), Process (90 words), Analysis (100 words) and Outcomes (50 words).
• Up to three keywords for indexing
• Name and primary/main affiliation of each author
• Indication of which conference day you wish to present.

Oral presentations

• Presentation rooms will be equipped for electronic presentation, including slideshow, video and audio presentations.
• Presentations must be provided in advance – details will be provided in the invitation email.

Poster presentations

• Presenters will be invited to attend their posters for a facilitated lightning presentation during the lunch break.
• Details of poster size and other requirements will be provided in the invitation email.
• Presenters will need to set up their posters at the venue no later than 9:30 am and remove them by 4:00 pm.
• We are unable to arrange for printing and/or transportation of posters.

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Contacts

Conference Convenor, National Centre for Farmer Health: Prof Susan Brumby

Symposium Convenor: Dr Renee Otmar, tel. 03 4215 2896/ Mobile 0448 246 415

Administrative Officer: Ms Cassandra Hamilton, tel. 03 4215 2900