abstract applications
Abstract submissions are now open for The Collab 2026. We are seeking presentations on the specialist practice of mental health nursing across the breadth of service settings: public, private, clinical, community and non-traditional. Under the conference theme Our Wisdom. Our Voices. Our Future., we invite abstracts aligned to the following streams:
The Collab 2026: Our Wisdom. Our Voices. Our Future.
The Collab 2026: Our Wisdom.
Our Voices.
Our Future.
Stream 1 – Our Future: Growing the Early Career Workforce
Stream 2 – Our Wisdom: Developing and Sustaining Our People
Stream 3 – Our Future: Innovating Care and Practice
Stream 4 – Our Voices: Leading with Influence and Purpose
Stream 5 – Our Voices: Working with Communities
- Early career MHN and lived experience workforce contributions and needs
- Emerging and new early career roles
- First Nations early career MHNs and LE workers
- Early career MHN and LE workers stepping into leadership
Stream 2 – Our Wisdom: Developing and Sustaining Our People
- Clinical supervision and reflective practice
- Supporting workforce wellbeing and sustainability
- Enabling meaningful career pathways
Stream 3 – Our Future: Innovating Care and Practice
- Future models of care & environments
- Creative responses to local policy & challenges
- Access, technology and digital health
- Co-production with Lived Experience Workforce
- Interdisciplinary strength
- Exploring new NP models of care
- Growing MHN research
- Supporting LE led models
- Practice upholding MHA 2022 & Human Rights
Stream 4 – Our Voices: Leading with Influence and Purpose
- Collaborative leadership across professions
- First Nations MHN and lived experience leadership
- Celebrating innovators, champions, and change-makers
- Recognising lifelong contributions to mental health care
Stream 5 – Our Voices: Working with Communities
- Innovating care with children and families
- Innovating care with elders
- Innovating care across neurodiversity
- Abstracts are not to exceed 200 words
- Presentations are expected to be 20 minutes (incl. questions)
- Group presentations are allowed
Dates: Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Location: Marvel Stadium
Thinking about an uplifting experience at the Collab 2026
We are all aware that there are intense issues of disaster and conflict in our world and the many ways these are impacting us. Upholding health, including mental health, is a human right, and disasters and conflicts can impact access to healthcare. We thank every presenter for bringing to this event an intention to contribute well to humanity and specifically for the mental health and wellbeing of our society. At the Collab we are a diverse community gathered, and we ask also that as each person prepares a presentation, we all consider with compassion how the important ideas and perspectives we share might land in the sight and hearing of others, aiming for a safe conference experience.
submission guidelines
First-time presenters are strongly encouraged to apply and will be eligible for the First Time Presenter Award.
Presentations co-produced with consumers and lived experience partners will also be considered for the Collab Co-Production Prize.
**Note: Use of AI**
Be careful to review accuracy of any abstract material where you have used AI.
Presentations co-produced with consumers and lived experience partners will also be considered for the Collab Co-Production Prize.
**Note: Use of AI**
Be careful to review accuracy of any abstract material where you have used AI.
