HDR Mid-Year Conference

Date: Friday 26 June 2026

Venue: Swinburne University of Technology and online

Type: Hybrid

Location: Swinburne University of Technology

Address: John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia

We are excited to announce that registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2026 SMAANZ Mid-Year HDR Conference, held in association with the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) and the Australasian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies (ANZALS).

This year, the HDR Conference will be held in a single day. However, the event will be both In-person and Online (hybrid). The in-person event will be held on Friday, 26 June at Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria.

Here is some information about the conference, including a tentative schedule (please note that all times are approximate and subject to change based on feedback and communication):

Conference Theme: Research, Teaching and Industry in Sport, Leisure and Tourism

Conference Schedule:

RESEARCH: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm:

The session brings together three perspectives of the practical realities of HDR research: from how you gather and work with qualitative data, to navigating AI tools ethically, to what the final stretch of thesis submission actually looks like. The following presentations will be followed by Q&A.

Qualitative Research in Practice - Dr Kasey Symons explores fandom as qualitative data, with time for discussion about what rigorous qualitative data really looks like.
AI in Research: Ethics and Emerging Tech - Dr Bri Newland and Professor Thomas Aicher unpack the ethical considerations and practical realities of using AI in research.
Submitting your thesis - Olivia Bramley shares an honest, first-hand account of what the final stretch of thesis submission actually involves.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: HDR presentations

1:00 pm - 2:00pm: LUNCH

TEACHING: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pedagogy in Practice: Design Thinking, Communication and Active Learning. Presenters include:

Dr Greg Joachim – Swinburne University of Technology, website editor for the Journal of Sport for Development and host of The Knowledge Mill, a podcast featuring PhD researchers and their work
Dr Jane Connory – Swinburne University of Technology, communication design lecturer. Skilled in practice-based design research, data visualisation, design history and using design as a tool for activism.
Dr Youcef Sai – La Trobe Academy lecturer supporting staff in excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, enhancing teaching practice, engaging in educational research, and navigating career progression.

INDUSTRY: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Parks, Play and Legacy: Industry Perspectives Across Sport, Leisure and Tourism. Presenters include:

Anand Pillay, Chief Executive, Parks and Leisure Australia
Dr Will Vickery, Senior Advisor, Coaching, Coaching and Officiating, Australian Sports Commission
Dr Leonie Lockstone-Binney, Deputy Director of the Griffith Institute for Tourism and a Professor in the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management at Griffith University

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm - Social Event: Hawthorn Hotel

We would be delighted if you could join us for this free event, but please note that students must be members of SMAANZ, CAUTHE, or ANZALS to attend. We encourage you to share this invitation with your relevant HDR student groups and encourage them to attend and present their research. This is an excellent opportunity to present your research to your peers and academic community.

We are currently accepting abstracts to present at the conference. Whether you are just starting your PhD journey or are further along, we invite you to submit a short abstract or encourage your PhD students to do so. This mid-year conference provides an excellent opportunity to present and workshop your research with other HDR students and academics.

NOTE* - To attend this event for free, you must be a member of SMAANZ, CAUTHE, or ANZALS. Bursaries are only available to SMAANZ association members. To become a member, the cost is $50 head. To sign up, head to the 'BECOME A MEMBER' Page. How to apply for a bursary can be found on the website HERE

If you are interested in attending the conference, please register through the link above (and indicate if you wish to present).

Further details, such as specific locations and the finalised schedule, will be sent closer to the conference.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at s4034009@student.rmit.edu.au.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Jen Pitson
SMAANZ HDR Representative