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2026 Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference

29 November - 3 December 2026

QUT Kelvin Grove, Brisbane

Abstract Submission Information

Call for Abstracts:

Friday 1 May 2026

Abstract Submissions Close:

Friday 26 June 2026

Lead Author to be Notified:

Early August 2026

Submit Your Paper

Click below to access the submission portal to complete your submission.

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Submission Guidelines

You are invited to submit an abstract to the 2026 Australian Association for Research in Education Conference.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Please see below the following guidelines to ensure a smooth submission process:

  • Language: All abstracts must be written in English.
  • Originality and copyright: Please ensure that your submission is entirely your own work, free from any copyright infringement. Your abstract should be a concise reflection of your original research. All abstracts and presentations should adhere to the highest ethical standards and reflect the principles of research integrity expressed in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and, where relevant, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Research (2020).
  • Content specifications: To maintain clarity and focus, please refrain from including tables or figures within the abstract.        
  • References: References are not required. However, if you wish to include them, they must be included in the body of your text and included in the word count (inclusive of a reference list).
  • Conference registration and payment: Should your submission be accepted, AARE looks forward to your participation in the conference. As such, all presentations must have a presenting author registered with the necessary payment completed in order to secure their place in the program. Where payment has not been made before the deadline specified in the acceptance email, the presentation will be removed from the program. Conference registration fees are discounted for members of AARE and for those eligible for concessional fees (Please note that concessional registration is available at member and non-member rates). See the conference website for details of registration rates, and also for additional bursaries and funding opportunities available.
  • Financial considerations: Please note, the acceptance of an abstract does not include any undertakings from AARE for the provision for travel, accommodation, or other related expenses. These arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the presenter/author.
  • Review process: Each abstract will be carefully reviewed by members of the relevant Special Interest Group (SIG). The decision of the review panel is final.        
  • Publication and media consent: By submitting your abstract, you agree to its potential publication on the conference's digital platforms and in printed materials. Additionally, you consent to the filming or photographing of your presentation for conference documentation and promotion.
  • Notification of changes: It is understood that unforeseen circumstances can occur. Should you be unable to present or need to nominate a different presenting author, please inform the Conference Organisers, All Occasions Group promptly by emailing aare@aomevents.com.


We appreciate your adherence to these guidelines, which will facilitate a fair and efficient review process and enrich the conference experience for all involved.

Submission Types

When submitting your research to the 2026 AARE conference, you can choose to make a submission under any of the following options:

Symposium Submissions

A symposium is a themed group of papers that is submitted as a single proposal. It usually includes a symposium chair to introduce the session and a discussant who responds to the session overall. A symposium abstract includes an overview of the symposium theme and rationale, and an abstract for each paper is also included. Symposium proposals are reviewed by the identified relevant SIG. At the 2026 conference, the standard length of a symposium will be 90 minutes for up to 4-5 papers, inclusive of an initial introduction by the chair and time at the end of the session for a discussant to respond to the papers.

Word length: 300 words for the symposium description and 400 words for each abstract.


To view the Symposium Submission guidelines, please click here.

Individual Abstract Submissions:

Individual abstracts are submitted independently by a single author or group of co-authors. If accepted, submissions will be grouped into sessions based on common themes by the relevant Special Interest Group (SIG) Convenors. 

  1. Individual Papers: In these sessions, authors present their research followed by questions and/or comments. Each paper will be allocated 20 minutes, which includes 15 minutes for the paper presentation and 5 mins for questions or discussion. Papers will be grouped into sessions according to common themes or ideas by Special Interest Group (SIG) Conference Organisers. The standard length for grouped papers will be 1 hour for 3 papers.
  2. Roundtable Papers: These sessions are designed to foster maximum dialogue and collaboration among researchers by providing an opportunity to present and discuss research, inclusive of research in progress, preliminary findings or grant proposals. Each individual will be allocated 10-15 minutes to present the key issues and questions their work is addressing at a designated ‘round table,’ which will be followed by discussion among the roundtable audience facilitated by an experienced researcher knowledgeable about the research area. Papers will be grouped into sessions according to common themes or ideas by Special Interest Group (SIG) Convenors.
  3. Workshops: These sessions allow presenters to teach or demonstrate specific methodologies, tools, or concepts in an interactive environment. Workshops can be particularly effective for sharing practical skills or engaging in hands-on activities. Workshops can be scheduled for 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes.
  4. Posters: Poster presentations offer a visual summary of research findings, allowing for direct interaction with conference attendees who can ask questions and discuss the research with the poster author in a more informal setting. This format is especially useful for early-stage researchers. The program will include scheduled 60-minute poster sessions to promote interactive discussions of the research documented in the posters.

Word length: 400 words.

To view the Abstract Submission guidelines, please click here.

Special Interest Groups

AARE Special Interest Groups (SIGs) host the conference program streams. All submissions should align with the SIG that bests meets the focus of the paper.

Considerations around Research Involving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Peoples

AARE has committed to ensuring that its activities support and/or contribute to the transformative processes of decolonisation, emancipation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. Please ensure you are aware of the potential effects of research on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities by reading the Considerations Around Research Involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples document. Please also consult the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Research (2020) where relevant.

Abstract Review Process

All abstracts are subject to a peer review process by members of the Association, facilitated by SIG Convenors. Abstracts will be reviewed using the following criteria:

  • Focus and relevance: is the focus of the paper clear and relevant to the SIG and/or conference theme?
  • Context and contribution: is the focus of the paper positioned within a research field and does it provide a contribution to knowledge and understanding of this area?
  • Design and methods: are the research methods clear and appropriate?
  • Results and findings: are results or findings supported by evidence and logical reasoning?
  • Clarity and composition: is the written expression clear and concise?


Reviewers will make one of the following decisions:

  • Accept in current form (The submission meets the review criteria, and no changes are required).
  • Accept with minor revisions (The submission requires small adjustments, such as the correction of typographical errors, formatting amendments, and/or the clarification of information. These changes, while important do not alter the core content of the submission or its overall argument).
  • Major revisions (The submission requires substantial changes to meet the review criteria. These changes are necessary to ensure the quality and integrity of the research).
  • Reject as unsuitable (The submission does not meet any of the review criteria, is of poor quality, and/or falls outside the vision and scope of AARE).

Where there is a discrepancy between the reviewers, the Conferences Standing Committee Chair will adjudicate for a final decision.


Withdrawing an Abstract 

If you want to withdraw an abstract, please contact the Conference Organisers in writing via email to aare@aomevents.com. Please note that withdrawals need to be communicated in writing by the author who originally submitted the abstract, and in doing so, the Conference Office assumes that all other authors/presenters have been informed of the withdrawal.

Conference

Information

Australian Association for Research in Education

(AARE) Conference

Conference

Organisers

All Occasions Group

12 Stirling Street

Thebarton SA 5031

29 November - 3 December 2026

Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove

aare@aomevents.com

(08) 8125 2200