LRHS Conference 2026: Intersections of Place, People and Health

LRHS Conference 2026: Intersections of Place, People and Health

La Trobe Rural Health School invites you to the LRHS Conference 2026, held at La Trobe University’s Albury–Wodonga campus from Wednesday 1 July to Friday 3 July 2026.

Across three days, this event will bring together rural health practitioners, researchers, educators, students and community partners to explore how local, place-based solutions can address regional health challenges.

With a focus on collaboration, innovation and community-led approaches, the conference will highlight the critical role of regional voices in shaping sustainable health outcomes.

🌿 Conference Theme

Intersections of Place, People and Health: Local Solutions for Regional Challenges

The conference will explore:

• Social determinants of health in rural settings

• Place-based service delivery models

• Cultural competency and First Nations health leadership

🤝 Who Should Attend

• Rural and regional health professionals

• Researchers and academics

• Students (undergraduate and postgraduate)

• Community organisations and partners

• Policy and health service representatives

🗓️ Event Program

🎤 Wednesday 1 July – Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

5:00pm – 8:00pm
An engaging evening of research communication as Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates present their work in just three minutes. The 3MT celebrates clarity, impact and the ability to communicate complex ideas to a broad audience.

🏥 Thursday 2 July – Main Conference

9:00am – 4:30pm (approx.)

The central day of the conference will feature keynote presentations, research showcases and facilitated discussions.

Keynote speaker: Sharon Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Beechworth Health Service, with extensive leadership experience across regional and metropolitan health services

Program highlights include:

• Research presentations across rural health disciplines

• Place-based service delivery models

• Social determinants of health in rural settings

• Cultural competency and First Nations health leadership

• Opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange

🎓 Thursday 2 July – John Richards Centre (JRC) Oration

5:15pm – 7:30pm

A keynote presentation examining contemporary topics of importance in rural ageing and aged care policy, practice and research.
Ticketing details to be released via the university platform.

📚 Friday 3 July – Graduate Research Symposium

9:00am – 1:00pm

Showcasing emerging research from HDR students, including milestone presentations. This session provides a supportive platform for academic development, peer learning and engagement with the broader research community.

📍 Location

La Trobe University – Albury–Wodonga Campus

ℹ️ Additional Information

Further program details, speakers and session information will be released closer to the event.