Abstract Submission Guidelines: Early Career Researcher (ECR) Showcase 

Abstract submission deadline: Friday 26 June 2026.

Eligibility  

Applicants must:  

• Be within five years of PhD conferral (relative to opportunity) OR be an emerging allied health academic in the early stages of research leadership (allowing for career interruptions/non-linear pathways), and
• Individuals must be employed by an ACDHS member institution. 

 Applicants must be able to attend and present in person at the 2026 Symposium, to be held at The University Club of WA (University of Western Australia), Perth on 22 October 2026.  

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Strategic Alignment 

 All submissions must demonstrate clear alignment with one or more elements of the ACDHS Strategic Plan, including:  

• Allied health workforce sustainability and growth
• Allied health research impact and translation 
• Academic leadership and scholarship 
• Innovation in allied health education 
• Clinical care model innovation 
• First Nations health and leadership 
• Rural and remote workforce challenges 
• Digital health innovation  

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Submission Requirements  

Abstracts must:  

• Be 250-300 words 
• Clearly articulate: 
• The issue, question, or challenge addressed 
• Strategic relevance to ACDHS priorities 
• Key findings or intended impact 
• any current or planned publication and/or presentation of this research (if applicable). 
• Be suitable for delivery as a 3-minute thesis-style presentation – Please also consider the format you would use for your presentation if selected as a finalist (for example, PowerPoint slides, visual materials, props, demonstrations, or other presentation elements) 
• Be presented in person at the Symposium in Perth if selected (Thursday 22 October 2026) 

Submissions may describe completed research, work in progress, or innovative conceptual or translational work, provided strategic alignment and impact are clear. 

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 Assessment Criteria  

Criterion	Weight
Alignment with ACDHS Strategic Plan priorities	40%
Potential impact on workforce, research, or sector development	25%
Methodological strength or conceptual rigour	20%
Clarity and coherence	15%

 

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 Scholarships  

Five abstracts will be selected for presentation in Perth in a 3-Minute Thesis session. Each selected abstract will be represented by one presenter, who will receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with flights and accommodation. This be paid to successful finalists as soon as practicable following the Symposium.  

Anticipated Notification Date: Thursday 13 August 2026   

(NB/ Finalist acceptance due Noon Thursday 20 August 2026 – Please note these dates in your calendar.)  

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NB/ By submitting an ECR 3-Minute Thesis presentation, presenters retain ownership of all intellectual property and presentation materials submitted and presented as part of the Symposium.  

Presenters grant the Australia Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:  

• use the presenter’s name, presentation title, abstract, biography, and submitted materials for Symposium administration and promotion;  
• record, photograph, and/or reproduce the presentation for ACDHS communication, reporting, promotional, and archival purposes; and  
• share presentation materials and/or recordings with ACDHS member representatives via secure member-only channels, unless otherwise requested in writing by the presenter prior to the Symposium.  

ACDHS will not commercially exploit presentation materials or provide them for public distribution without the presenter’s additional consent.  

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For more information please contact the ACDHS Symposium 2026 organiser, Expert Events.
Phone: +61 7 3848 2100
Email: acdhssymposium@expertevents.com.au