Call for Abstracts: Joint HLA / HLi Conference (15-16th Oct 2026 in Melbourne)

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