2026 Forum: Healthy Colleges, Healthy Communities

Celebrating 60 Years of University Colleges Australia (1966 - 2026)

Overview

The 2026 University Colleges Australia (UCA) Forum brings together college leaders and sector experts to examine the interconnected challenges shaping residential life today. It is a leadership forum focused on the conditions that enable colleges to function well—culturally, operationally, and publicly.

The program begins with the realities of student life, addressing persistent challenges in wellbeing and safety, including alcohol use, hazing, mental health, inclusion, neurodiversity, and digital behaviours, alongside the leadership and cultural settings that shape them. It then turns to the institutional foundations that sustain these environments—governance, financial sustainability, workforce wellbeing, technology, infrastructure, and environmental responsibility. Finally, it looks outward to consider how colleges build and maintain trust beyond the gate through alumni engagement, philanthropy, civic partnerships, and social impact.

Grounded in the pillars of Healthy Students, Healthy Business, and Healthy Community Engagement, the Forum reflects the full scope of contemporary college leadership.

Logistical Details

The 2026 Forum will be held in Melbourne from Tuesday 29 September to Thursday 1 October, with an optional Melbourne college tour on Monday 28 September 2026.

Visit the designated Forum webpage for further details on the Forum: https://www.universitycollegesaustralia.org/2026-forum

Early Bird Forum Ticket Discount

Book before Friday 19 June to receive your early-bird discount.

Use the code: UCA2026

Ticket Pricing

Ticket Type	Price
Standard Member Ticket	$1,500 (excluding GST and Humanitix booking fee)
EARLY BIRD Member Ticket - Book Before Friday 19 June	$1,350 (excluding GST and Humanitix booking fee)
Non-Member Ticket	$2,400 (excluding GST and Humanitix booking fee)
Partner of UCA Member Ticket (Admission to Evening Events only)	$300 (excluding GST and Humanitix booking fee)
Life Member Ticket	Free

Venue

Park Hyatt Melbourne

1 Parliament Square, off, Parliament Pl, Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia

Accommodation

Accommodation Discount

UCA has secured a block of 80 rooms at the Park Hyatt Melbourne at a special discounted rate of $330 per night (single occupancy), including breakfast. UCA Forum delegates can access this rate by booking through the link below.

This discounted rate is available until Friday, 19 June, or until the room allocation is fully booked—whichever comes first.

We strongly recommend booking early as Melbourne will be especially busy due to major sporting events taking place immediately before and after the Forum.

Room details

1 King Bed: $330 per night (single occupancy, including breakfast) OR $370 per night (breakfast included for two people)
Maximum occupancy: 3 guests per room (rollaway beds available at $60 per night)

Guests will also have access to the hotel’s facilities, including a fitness centre, indoor pool, spa, sauna, and steam rooms. The hotel is centrally located and surrounded by parks and historic landmarks.

Additional information

Check-in: from 3:00pm | Check-out: 11:00am
Self-parking available onsite at $22 per day for UCA guests
15% discount on spa treatments for UCA guests

To access the early-bird accommodation rate, please book using the link below:
https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/MELPH/G-UCAU

Optional Melbourne Colleges Tour

Members are invited to participate in an optional Melbourne Colleges Tour, which will be held on Monday 28 September in Melbourne. Expression of interest for the tour is now open and can be submitted here.

A separate ticket must be purchased for this optional event. Those who submit an expression of interest will be contacted with further information about how to purchase tickets. At this stage, the indicative ticket cost is $35.

If you do intend to join the tour, please ensure you arrive in Melbourne by midday on Monday 28 September.

Forum Gala Dinner

We are also delighted to announce that the Gala Dinner will be held at the iconic National Gallery of Victoria. The venue has a capacity of 120 guests. Based on attendance over the past five years, this is not expected to pose an issue; however, if capacity is reached, tickets will not include the Gala Dinner.

Interested in Becoming a Sponsor?

University Colleges Australia is proud to partner with individuals and organisations who share our commitment to leadership, learning and community in the university residential college sector. Sponsorship plays a vital role in supporting our annual Forum.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like to explore partnership opportunities, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact our Executive Manager at executive.manager@universitycollegesaustralia.org.

Attendee Information and Privacy Notice

By registering for the 2026 UCA Forum, you acknowledge that your registration details (including name, email address, position, and college/organisation) may be shared with official Forum sponsors for the purpose of event engagement and related professional communications.

Sponsors may contact you with information or marketing materials relevant to their involvement in the Forum and areas of professional interest.

If you do not wish for your details to be shared with sponsors, you may opt out at any time by completing the following form here.

Your information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy obligations and used only for purposes connected to the Forum and its partners.

Contact the host of 2026 UCA Forum | Healthy Colleges, Healthy Communities