ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

Why This Symposium Matters?

Across Australia, many people are seeing these challenges firsthand.

You may be:

  • working directly with individuals, families, students, staff, or communities affected by these issues

  • trying to improve outcomes within your organisation, workplace, or sector

  • researching long-term wellbeing challenges and prevention approaches

  • navigating these pressures personally or within your own community

  • questioning whether current systems are addressing the deeper drivers behind these outcomes

  • searching for more practical, connected, and prevention-focused ways forward

The Australian Universal Wellbeing Symposium 2026 brings together voices from across health, education, government, research, business, social services, and community sectors to explore some of Australia’s most pressing wellbeing challenges.

This is not designed as a passive symposium.

It is intended as a space for practical discussion, cross-sector learning, critical reflection, and the sharing of research, lived realities, frontline experiences, and emerging prevention-focused approaches.

Attendees will engage with current national wellbeing indicators, explore underlying system-level drivers, and contribute perspectives that may help shape future prevention-focused thinking, collaboration, and action across sectors.

Researchers, practitioners, organisations, policymakers, educators, and community leaders are invited to contribute abstracts, presentations, discussions, and perspectives to the conversation.

Be Part of the Conversation

Australia is facing growing wellbeing challenges across health, education, workplaces, families, and communities.

Many people are now asking:

What needs to change?

The Australian Universal Wellbeing Symposium 2026 brings together people from across education, health, research, government, business, and community sectors to explore prevention-focused approaches and broader wellbeing challenges affecting Australia’s future.

This symposium provides a space for:

  • practical discussion

  • cross-sector perspectives

  • research and lived experience

  • frontline insights

  • prevention-focused thinking

Whether you are working in this space, researching it, supporting others, or trying to improve outcomes within your organisation or community, this symposium invites you to be part of the conversation.

Join researchers, practitioners, educators, leaders, and community voices from across Australia for two days of discussion, insight, networking, and shared learning

Early Bird NOW OPEN

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Early Bird NOW OPEN |

SAVE YOUR SEAT

Call for Contributions & Abstracts

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

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SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN |

We welcome contributions from researchers, practitioners, policymakers, educators, organisations, and community leaders working across wellbeing-related fields.

Submissions may include:
• research findings
• case studies
• prevention-focused initiatives
• systems and policy approaches
• community-based projects
• organisational wellbeing strategies
• evaluation and research projects
• cross-sector collaborations

DEADLINE: 3 August 2026

Submit Abstract

Key National Wellbeing Indicators in Australia

The following indicators reflect current national data and research.
They provide context for the conversations we need to have.

1. Suicide and Self-Harm

‍3,214 deaths by suicide in 2023 (approx. 9 per day)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/health-wellbeing/suicide-and-self-harm

Leading cause of death among young people (15–24)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/populations-age-groups/suicide-among-young-people

‍Significant years of life lost (159,800 annually)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/overview

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2. Mental Health Disorders

1 in 5 Australians experience a mental disorder each year
Source: National Mental Health Commission
https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/reports/national-report-card-2023

Mental health conditions are among the most common chronic conditions in Australia
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-services-in-australia


Psychological distress has increased over the past decade
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing

3. Child and Youth Wellbeing

1 in 6 children in Australia live in poverty
Source: UNICEF Australia
https://www.unicef.org.au/our-work/in-australia/child-poverty

Ongoing gaps across health, safety, education, and belonging for many children
Source: Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
https://www.aracy.org.au/publications-resources/area?command=record&id=411


Declining life satisfaction among young people globally
Source: UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/series/report-cards/

‍4. Family and Domestic Violence

‍Family and domestic violence is a major contributor to long-term trauma and intergenerational disadvantage
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/domestic-violence/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence

‍1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/personal-safety-australia

‍Family violence is a leading driver of homelessness, particularly for women and children
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/specialist-homelessness-services-annual-report

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‍5. Crime and Justice System Pressure

Higher rates of offending are consistently linked to underlying social conditions such as disadvantage, unemployment, and poor wellbeing
Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
https://www.aic.gov.au/publications

Over 40% of prisoners in Australia have previously been incarcerated, indicating ongoing cycles rather than resolution
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/corrective-services-australia

Justice systems are increasingly responding to issues such as mental health, substance use, and social disadvantage that are preventable
Source: Productivity Commission
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services 

‍6. Alcohol and Drug Use

Alcohol and other drug use continues to impact millions of Australians, affecting individuals, families, and communities
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia

‍Substance use is strongly linked to mental health conditions, family violence, and broader social harm
Source: National Mental Health Commission
https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au

‍Alcohol and drug use contributes to lost productivity, workplace harm, and increased economic burden
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-risk-factors/alcohol

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7. Chronic Illness

Chronic conditions are the leading contributors to Australia’s total disease burden (around 85%)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/chronic-conditions

Conditions such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, musculoskeletal conditions, and mental health disorders are among the leading contributors to disease burden
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/chronic-conditions

Strong links exist between chronic illness and modifiable risk factors such as lifestyle behaviours, stress, and socio-economic conditions
Source: The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
https://preventioncentre.org.au/about-prevention/what-is-the-burden-of-chronic-disease/

8.Workplace Wellbeing and Productivity

‍Work-related stress and mental health conditions are a leading cause of lost productivity, costing Australian businesses billions annually
Source: Productivity Commission
https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/mental-health/report

‍Psychological injury claims are increasing and are among the most costly workplace claims
Source: Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/statistics-and-research

‍Poor workplace wellbeing is directly linked to reduced performance, higher turnover, and lower employee engagement
Source: Australian Human Rights Commission
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/employers/workplace

9.Educational Engagement and Achievement

Persistent disparities in student engagement and educational outcomes remain across Australia, particularly by socio-economic background and location
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/education

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are significantly more likely to have lower academic achievement and reduced engagement
Source: Australian Council for Educational Research
https://research.acer.edu.au

Inequities in access to quality education continue to impact children’s wellbeing, development, and future outcomes
Source: UNICEF Australia
https://www.unicef.org.au/our-work/in-australia

10.Housing and Home Ownership

Home ownership rates have declined, particularly among younger Australians, while housing stress continues to increase
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-occupancy-and-costs

Around 1 in 3 low-income households experience housing stress (spending more than 30% of income on housing)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/housing-affordability

People experiencing homelessness have significantly higher mortality rates compared to the general population
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/specialist-homelessness-services-annual-report

11.Social Cohesion and Connection

‍Declining sense of belonging and trust is being observed across Australian communities, impacting overall wellbeing and participation
Source: Scanlon Foundation Research Institute
https://scanloninstitute.org.au/research

‍Increasing social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer mental and physical health outcomes
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/social-isolation-and-loneliness

‍Low social connection is associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction
Source: World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-isolation

12.Inequality and Disadvantage

Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is around 8 years lower than for non-Indigenous Australians
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-19-life-expectancy-at-birth

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are imprisoned at around 18 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/indigenous-community-safety

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience higher rates of chronic illness and mental health conditions compared to non-Indigenous Australians
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/indigenous-health-and-wellbeing

13.Access to Care and Services

Barriers such as cost, availability, and long wait times continue to limit access to mental health support across Australia
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Only around 46% of people with a mental disorder accessed professional support in a 12-month period
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Access gaps remain a key national challenge despite increased investment in mental health services
Source: National Mental Health Commission
https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/reports

14.Declining Overall Wellbeing

National data shows fluctuations and recent declines in life satisfaction and subjective wellbeing across Australia
Source: Australian Centre on Quality of Life
https://www.acqol.com.au/indicators/subjective-wellbeing/

Average life satisfaction scores declined during and after COVID-19 and have not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels for many groups
Source: Australian Centre on Quality of Life
https://www.acqol.com.au/uploads/surveys/survey-041-summary-report.pdf

Australia’s wellbeing trends show uneven recovery, with ongoing pressures linked to cost of living, housing, and mental health
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/measuring-what-matters/measuring-what-matters-australia-progress-dashboard

Current systems remain largely focused on responding to outcomes rather than preventing underlying drivers of poor wellbeing
Source: Productivity Commission
https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services

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