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Submission Guidelines

The Festival of Nursing 2026 brings together nurses from across Australia to explore, share and shape the future of primary health care nursing. With a fresh new format, this year’s program offers three full days of skills-based workshops, engaging breakout sessions, dynamic rapid-fire presentations and the Nursing Futures: Poster Showcase – all designed to build knowledge, inspire practice and celebrate the nursing profession.

Applications to present at the Festival of Nursing 2026 have now CLOSED.

However, if you have purchased a sponsorship space at the Festival of Nursing 2026 there are still opportunities available to present a sponsored session.

Explore the opportunities on our sponsorship page:

 Sponsorship

Conference Themes

The program will be structured around four key themes:

1. Ahead of the Curve: Prevention, Empowerment & Chronic Care
   • Exploring proactive approaches to health, strategies to empower patients and innovative models for chronic condition management.
2. Shots that Shape the Future – Immunisation across the Life Course
   • Addressing the evolving role of immunisation in protecting populations, improving access and enhancing nurse-led care.
3. Layers of Healing: From Acute to Chronic Wound Solutions
   • Sharing the latest wound care strategies, tools and research to optimise patient outcomes across care settings.
4. Leadership in Action: Transforming Primary Health Care Through Nurse-Led Innovation
   • Driving change through visionary leadership, collaborative practice and innovative nurse-led models in primary health care.

This year’s keynote presentations will focus on the future of nursing practice and leadership. Attendees will hear insights into the opportunities and challenges of designated RN prescribing, the transformative potential of harnessing artificial intelligence in health and the essential qualities of leadership that build influence, resilience and vision for the profession.

Energising breakfast sessions will set the tone for discovery and discussion. Networking opportunities are woven throughout the program, giving delegates the chance to connect with peers, mentors and leaders. In the evenings, social events will celebrate the nursing community, offering time to relax, recharge and enjoy the company of fellow attendees.

The Festival of Nursing 2026 is your opportunity to learn, connect and inspire at a true celebration of nursing innovation, leadership and impact.

Speaker Ticket Pricing

3-day speaker ticket: $549

2-day speaker ticket: $465

1-day speaker ticket: $245

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Key dates:

Abstract/Presentation Submissions Open: 29 September 2025

Abstract/Presentation Submissions Close: Sunday, 9 Nov 2025 (11.59pm AEDT)

Program Release: 1 December 2025

Abstract/Presentation formats:

Breakout Session – 45 minutes (10-minute Q&A to close)

Rapid Fire Presentation – 10 minutes (Combined Q&A at session end with other Rapid Fire presenters in the session)

Nursing Futures: Poster Showcase – 3 minutes during breaks

Review and selection process:

Each abstract/presentation is reviewed by two reviewers.

The review process will not be blinded – reviewers will see author names and affiliations.

Submissions will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Clarity
• Originality
• Relevance
• Alignment with conference themes
• Delegate engagement