Call 4 Abstracts 👉 Close 30 June : HLA+HLi Conference (15-16 Oct 26 Melb)

Call 4 Abstracts 👉 Close 30 June : HLA+HLi Conference (15-16 Oct 26 Melb)

by | Mar 12, 2026 | News

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Call for Abstracts (close 30th June) | Registration | Keynote Speakers | Location, Times, Transport

A. Call for Abstracts (close 30 Jun)

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

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. 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

A. 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.

B. 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 (closes 30th June)

Details regarding submission deadlines, notification dates and submission processes will be provided shortly.

Questions or queries – please contact conference organisers on hlinccom@gmail.com

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B. Register for the Conference

Registrations are now open (prices & other details in the link below

👉 Register for the Conference

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C. Keynote Speakers

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 🐕

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D. Location, Times, Transport

Location: 

William Angliss Institute Conference Centre
Level 5, Building A,
555 La Trobe Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Time: 

Registration and Trade Show opens at 8:30am. Conference starts at 9:00am
Thursday & Friday 15 & 16 October, 2026

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Digital Health Workforce Census – Health Librarian Visibility ⬆️ (👉 closes 14 Jun)

Digital Health Workforce Census – Health Librarian Visibility ⬆️ (👉 closes 14 Jun)

by | May 18, 2026 | News

This survey – held once every three years – is now open and closes 14th June

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”.

HLA Survey 2026 – A Summary of Key Themes That Have Emerged

HLA Survey 2026 – A Summary of Key Themes That Have Emerged

by | 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) 🔽

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