by Rob Penfold | May 21, 2026 | Events
🖌️ Background
The Australasian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute is entering an exciting new chapter in 2026, marked by fresh leadership, an innovative learning model, and a vibrant updated identity. Reflecting the Institute’s growing reach and engagement across the Asia/Pacific region, AEBPLI has formally transitioned from the Australian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute to the Australasian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute, recognising the strong participation and collaboration from colleagues across Australasia.
In response to evolving learning needs, AEBPLI is transitioning to a fully online delivery model in 2026. The program incorporates both synchronous and asynchronous components, providing flexibility for participants to engage with content at their own pace while still benefiting from live sessions, collaborative discussions, and real-time support from tutors and peers. This approach has been carefully designed to maintain the interactive, supportive environment that AEBPLI is known for, while expanding access across Australasia.
AEBPLI 2026 is designed for a broad range of participants, from those who are new to evidence-based practice through to experienced librarians looking to refresh or strengthen their skills. The Institute is ideal for health librarians wanting to build confidence in evidence-based practice concepts, searching, critical appraisal, and teaching, as well as those seeking a contemporary update on current approaches and best practice. The new online format also creates opportunities for people who may previously have been unable to attend due to travel costs, time away from their workplace, or other commitments, making AEBPLI more accessible than ever before.
At the same time, AEBPLI has a refreshed look and feel. This updated identity reflects a modern, engaging aesthetic while preserving the Institute’s core spirit—its sense of community, collaboration, and commitment to excellence in evidence-based practice. The result is a contemporary learning experience that remains true to what participants have always valued about AEBPLI.
We are delighted to introduce our new Convenor team, led by Co-Convenors Nikki May (SA Health Library Service) and Janene Batten (Yale University), supported by Kathryn Ritchie (Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service), Rosie Glynn (Queensland University of Technology), and Tony Courtenay (Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service). Bringing a wealth of experience and a shared passion for evidence-based practice, this team is committed to building on AEBPLI’s strong foundations while guiding the Institute into its next phase.
Working alongside them is an exceptional team of tutors, Blair Kelly (Deakin University), Mina Nichols-Boyd (Austin Health), Kathryn Rough (Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine/Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists), Jeph Ko (Flinders University), Mario Sos (Monash University), and Dawn Carlisle (University of Auckland), who are central to the AEBPLI experience. Their expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment to participant learning ensure that the Institute continues to deliver high-quality, practical, and engaging education.
✍️ Register
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for AEBPLI 2026 are now open and will close on 30 June 2026. Registration offers will be sent to the first 24 participants on the EOI list. Successful applicants will have six weeks to complete their registration and submit payment. Any remaining places will then be offered to those on the waiting list, with all remaining waitlisted participants receiving first offer for the 2027 Institute.
đź•’ Time
The Institute will be held every Thursday from the week commencing 19 October through to the week ending 23 November 2026.
Sessions will commence at 12:00 pm AEST, 9:00 am WA time, and 2:00 pm NZ time, with each session running for 3 hours for each session, with approx. 2 hours prep time for each session”.
đź’¸ Cost
Registration costs are:
- ALIA Members: AUD $500
- Non-ALIA Members: AUD $650 (yet another reason – along with 13 others – to consider HLA Membership)
AEBPLI 2026 represents an exciting evolution—honouring its legacy while embracing new opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. We look forward to welcoming participants to this next chapter.
âť“Questions
If you have any questions or would like further information on the institute, please don’t hesitate in emailing us at aebpli.convenor@gmail.com
by Rob Penfold | May 18, 2026 | News
This survey – held once every three years – is now open and closes 30th May
Visit the site for more information and to complete the survey
Doing so helps increase the visibility of health librarians …
Why it is important for health librarians to be included in a Specialist Digital Health Workforce Census
Including health librarians in a specialist digital health workforce census is critical because it makes visible a workforce that is central to safe, effective, and evidence‑informed digital health systems. Health librarians work at the intersection of clinical care, research, information governance, digital literacy, and health informatics. When we are excluded from workforce data collections, our contributions are rendered invisible to policymakers, funders, and senior health administrators.
A digital health workforce census can be used to:
- map current workforce capability
- identify skills gaps and future needs
- inform funding, workforce planning, and training priorities
- demonstrate workforce impact on health system outcomes
If librarians are not counted, the data inevitably underrepresents the true breadth of specialist digital health expertise within hospitals and health services. This can lead to:
- underinvestment in library and knowledge services
- assumptions that digital health skills sit only with IT or clinical informatics roles
- missed opportunities to leverage librarians’ expertise in areas such as evidence synthesis, data quality, AI governance, and digital capability building
Inclusion in the census formally recognises health librarians as part of the digital health ecosystem rather than as an “optional support service”.
by Rob Penfold | Mar 12, 2026 | News
Health Libraries Inc (HLi)/Health Libraries Australia (HLA) invites submissions for its upcoming conference exploring the theme:
The fire within: Passion and purpose in health libraries
Health libraries are powered by passion – for evidence, learning, innovation, collaboration and advocacy. In an environment of rapid change and increasing demand, health librarians continue to adapt, lead and demonstrate their value across clinical care, research, education and organisational decision-making.
This conference will showcase how health libraries ignite change, sustain momentum and align purpose with impact. We invite contributions that share practice-based insights, innovations, lesson learned and future-focused ideas that reflect the vital role of health libraries today and into the future.
The program will comprise invited keynotes, 20-minute presentations, 10-minute lightning talks, 1.5-hour workshops and poster presentations, aligned to the sub-themes below.
Sub-themes
Igniting Knowledge & Fuel for Evidence: Evolving health librarian roles
This sub-theme explores how health librarians generate, manage and apply knowledge and evidence to support informed decision making across health organisations. It highlights the evolving roles of librarians as trusted partners in clinical care, research support, education and organisational practice.
Sparks of Innovation & Fanning the Flames: Advocacy and demonstrating value in health libraries
This sub-theme focuses on how health libraries innovate, adopt new technologies and advocate for their value in a rapidly changing information environment. It brings together digital transformation and impact storytelling, emphasising meaningful, ethical and sustainable change.
Community Fire and Lighting the Path: Partnerships, education and health literacy
This sub-theme highlights the relational and collaborative nature of health librarianship. It focuses on partnerships that matter, and on teaching and learning initiatives that build capability, confidence and health information literacy among staff, students, researchers, consumers and communities.
Presentation types
Full presentation: 20- minutes
We invite abstracts of 200-350 words for 20-minute presentations addressing one or more conference sub-themes. Presentations should focus on applied practice, evaluation, service innovation or research relevant to health library and information services.
Lightning Talks: 10-minutes
Lightning talks provide a fast-paced opportunity to share a single idea, initiative or insight. Lightning talks will be 10 minutes in length and may incorporate a small number of slides (5-12 at the most). Abstracts should be 150-200 words and may address one or more of the conference themes.
Call for Workshop proposals
Workshops: 1.5 hour (90 mins)
Workshops should be interactive and skills-focused, providing participants with practical tools, techniques or approaches aligned to the conference sub-themes.
Priority may be given to workshops that:
- Build capability or confidence
- Are hands-on and participatory
- Address current or emerging needs in practice
Workshop proposals must include:
- Title
- Description of the topic
- Learning outcomes
- Planned format and activities
- Duration (1.5 hours)
- Facilitator biography (name, affiliation, contact details)
- Details of any previous delivery of the workshop (if applicable)
Call for Poster Presentations
Poster presentations provide an opportunity to showcase projects, ideas and work-in-progress in a visual and conversational format. Posters are particularly suited to emerging initiatives, exploratory work and practice-based projects.
We invite poster abstracts aligned with one or more of the conference sub-themes. Poster abstracts should be 150-200 words and may address one or more of the conference themes.
Posters will be displayed throughout the conference, with dedicated viewing times included in the program.
Submission processes and Review
Abstracts and workshop proposals will be peer-reviewed by the conference committee.
Submit your abstract here
Details regarding submission deadlines, notification dates and submission processes will be provided shortly.
Questions or queries – please contact conference organisers on hlinccom@gmail.com
Keynote Speaker
Dr Ranjana Srivastava is an oncologist, Fulbright scholar, and award-winning writer. She is a long-time columnist for The Guardian newspaper where she writes on the intersection of medicine and humanity. Ranjana practices in the Victorian public hospital system and specialises in geriatric oncology, the care of older patients with cancer. She also has a deep interest in the welfare of multicultural and disadvantaged communities.
Ranjana’s two Fulbright awards allowed her to obtain a fellowship in medical ethics at the University of Chicago and a Master in Public Administration at Harvard University.
Among her many awards, Ranjana is the recipient of a Human Rights Literature Prize for her book, Dying for a Chat. She recently won the Kennedy Award for Outstanding Columnist for her writing on compassion in medicine. Her TEDx Talk The Art of Medicine is a thoughtful reflection on the importance of honesty in medicine. Her commitment to ethical medicine saw her receive a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to doctor-patient communication.
Ranjana is the mother of 3 children and one dog
by Rob Penfold | May 4, 2026 | News
Dear HLA members,
Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the recent HLA member survey. We received 55 responses, and the feedback clearly demonstrates strong engagement, generosity of insight, and deep commitment to the health librarianship profession.
Below is a summary of the key themes that emerged across the survey responses (image followed by text further below) đź”˝
Strong overall support for HLA
Members consistently expressed high satisfaction with HLA’s role and value, particularly recognising the impact of a volunteer‑run organisation that delivers far more than might be expected with limited resources. Many responses highlighted the collegiality, responsiveness and expertise within HLA, with several noting that HLA is a significant reason they maintain ALIA membership.
Professional development is HLA’s strongest offering
Professional development was clearly identified as HLA’s standout strength. Members value the accessibility of online and lunchtime sessions, consistency across the year, and the peer‑led, practice‑focused approach. There is strong interest in continued PD relating to AI in health librarianship, searching and databases, technical skills, teaching roles, and research, along with support for short, practical formats and clearer progression from beginner to advanced levels.
Advocacy matters, visibility matters more
There is strong support for HLA’s advocacy role, especially in the context of funding constraints, restructuring and technological change. At the same time, respondents would welcome clearer communication about advocacy activity and outcomes, as well as practical, evidence‑based messages that can be used locally with senior decision‑makers.
Communications, publishing and the website
Email was consistently identified as the most effective communication channel. JoHILA is highly valued as both an advocacy and evidence‑building publication, though concerns were raised about publication consistency and visibility. Website content is seen as relevant and high quality, but members noted ongoing challenges with findability and navigation.
Inclusion, connection and future focus
Across the 55 responses, there was a strong desire for greater connection beyond formal PD, particularly for early‑career librarians and those working in solo or changing roles. Members also expressed clear appetite for HLA leadership in research and future‑focused work, especially around AI, integrity, and workforce change.
What you can expect next – early actions in response to your feedback
In response to what you told us, the HLA Executive has identified several immediate, practical actions to improve consistency, visibility and access to what already works well:
Communications, publishing and the website
JoHILA will move to a clearer and more consistent publishing schedule, with a target of three issues per year.
Publication timeframes and submission deadlines will be clearly published on the HLA website to improve transparency and planning.
A Google search box has now been added to the HLA website to support better findability of existing content, resources and advocacy materials.
Professional development
We will investigate a broader range of PD formats and topics, with an emphasis on practical, skills‑based sessions.
This will include clearer differentiation between beginner and advanced sessions, as well as options that support librarians at different career stages and in diverse roles.
Advocacy and visibility
We will more actively share advocacy activity and wins on the HLA website, including examples that members can use locally.
Advocacy updates will also be regularly incorporated into HLA member emails, so this work is more visible and easier to follow.
The overarching message from the survey was clear: members do not want HLA to do more. they want clearer signals, better visibility, greater consistency, and easier pathways into what already works well.
The HLA Executive will use this feedback to guide priorities and practical next steps, and we will continue to update members on actions taken in response to what you told us.
Thank you again for your time, honesty, and continued support of HLA.
Regards, HLA Executive
by Rob Penfold | Apr 30, 2026 | News
View the latest articles published in JoHILA (Vol 6(1) 2026) – Journal of Health Information and Libraries Australasia
Have a half thought about publishing something of interest / you or your library has done / reflections?
Just send an email to Daniel – he will guide you through the straightforward process
