About
Join us in Burnie for this year's conference!
The theme is "Be the Change: We Are Better Together”, and we're so excited to bring everyone together for connecting, learning, and celebrating.
Our wonderful co-host is the Burnie Community House, with support from the Conference Advisory Group of staff, volunteers, and community members.
Tickets
Ticket sales are now live! Register via Humanitix by 28 August.
Market stall applications
On the afternoon of Thursday 17 September, we’ll be running a trade-expo style market in central Burnie for delegates and the general public. If you’re keen to come along, meet people, and share resources and information, fill in our application for a market stall. The fee for a stall is $200, but please get in touch if cost is a barrier. For local artists and craftspeople, a stall is free.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the conference, please reach out to the NHT Team. Call us on 03 6228 6515 or email nht@nht.org.au.
This page will be regularly updated as more details are locked in - stay tuned!
Speakers
Shawn Andrews
Rodney Greene
Tracy Edington-Mackay
Adam Mostogl
Christy Measham
Donovan Castelyn
Nicole Gale
Bree Sanders
Eve Rodhal
Kailey Milroy
Program
Tuesday 15th September
- 6pm-9pm Quiz night @ Communion Brewing Co
For any early arrivals - registration required (form will be sent to the email address delegates registered with), food and drinks at own cost
Trivia
• Arrive at 6pm to allow time to order/enjoy dinner before trivia starts
• Trivia will kick off at 7:00pm and wrap up by 9:00pm.
Meals
• $40 per person, including:
o Garlic bread to share as a starter
o Choice of main meal
o Shared brownie bites and fresh fruit for dessert
Main meal options:
• Fish and Chips
• Vegetarian Curry with Rice
• Chicken Parmi
• Thai Beef Salad
Day 1 - Wednesday 16 September - Burnie Arts Centre
- 9am-12pm - Pre-conference masterclasses (optional)
Free with conference ticket, but separate registration required. Registration form will be sent to delegates.
Masterclass one: With Shawn Andrews, our conference keynote. Finer details TBC!
Masterclass two: With Adam Mostogl, the van Dieman Project - Social Enterprise: A Practical Model for Stronger, More Sustainable Communities
Morning tea and lunch included for pre-conference workshop participants.
- 12pm-1pm - Lunch
- 1pm-2:30pm - Official conference opening!
MCs: Rodney Greene and Tracy Edington-Mackay
Welcome to Country: Brendan Murray
Opening statements: Tim Hankey, Acting CEO NHT and Teeny Brumby, Mayor of Burnie City Council
Keynote address: Shawn Andrews
- 2:30pm-3pm - Afternoon tea
- 3pm-4:30pm - Networking and connection breakout sessions
Facilitated networking sessions to connect with each other and discuss topics of common interest.
• Boards: with Rodney Greene, Burnie Community House board member and Practice Lead (Governance) and Collaboration for Impact
• Managers: with Shawn Andrews and John Hooper, CEO of NILS
• House staff and volunteers: with Mara (NHT) and Hayley (Department of Health)
• Gardeners: site visit to Burnie Hilltop Farm and Burnie Community House
• Special film screening (open session for all): Everyday Originators with Q&A featuring local community members featured in the film, as well as Director Bree Saunders
"Everyday Originators follows people who do not wait for change - they create it - by self, for self. Through pure grit, lives are reshaped which then reshapes the lives of others and the community from the inside out."
- 5pm-7pm - Dinner, film screenings, and penguin viewings @ The Makers Hub, UTAS
Catered by the legendary team at Burnie Community House!
Day 2 - Thursday 17th September - Burnie Arts Centre
- 9am-10:15am - Plenary session
Three Sides of the Coin - theatre by lived experience advocates sharing
stories to challenge stigma and highlight links between gambling, alcohol and drugs, mental health, and family violence
- 10:15am-10:45am - Morning tea
- 10:45am-12:15pm - Morning breakout sessions
• Three Sides of the Coin - workshop following morning plenary
• AI: Essential Skills for an Evolving Workforce - Regional Development
Australia - Tasmania
• Better Together with Nature - Venture Out Living Lab
• Create a Child Safe Action Plan to Strengthen Your Organisation - Office
of the Independent Regulator
• Belonging Lab - Collaboration for Impact
• Place-based Community Development Through Co-Design - West Coast
Financial Literacy Project, UTAS
- 12:15pm-1pm - Lunch
- 1pm-2:30pm - Afternoon breakout sessions
• Offsite visit to Murnong Wild Food Garden (registrations
required, limited numbers with preference given to gardeners)
• Resilience – More than just pushing through - Lifeline
• Canva: Your Branding, Next Level - Regional Development Australia -
Tasmania
• Interactive session with the Power People Project
• Where stories become change – a lively workshop for collaborative action
- Relationships Australia
• Recovery Together: Neighbourhood Houses After Disaster - Resilience
and Recovery Tasmania
• Becoming a Dementia-Friendly Neighbourhood House - practical steps to
create more inclusive, connected and welcoming communities - Dementia Australia
- 2:30pm - Palawa Cultural Walk with Brendan Murray
Walk and talk to our next venue, UTAS Makers Hub
- 3pm-4:30pm - Market stalls, film screenings, and performances with afternoon tea
At the UTAS Makers Hub. Afternoon tea catered by Burnie Community House!
- 6pm-10pm - Conference closing and dinner celebration
Lands, Seas, and Skies themed - get your costumes ready!!
Day 3 - Friday 18th September - Burnie Community House
- 9:30am-11:30am - Goodbye breakfast @ Burnie Community House
Come and visit the Host House and grab some fuel for your journey home -
think egg and bacon muffins, coffee, and sandwiches for the road!
Need to know details
When do registrations open and close?
Registrations are now open! Book via Humanitix.
We have an early bird special until 31 July, or until sold out. Get in quick!
Ticket sales will close 3 weeks before the event on 28 August.
Discounted accommodation for delegates
Conference delegates can access discounted accommodation with the below providers:
- 5-minute walk from Burnie Arts Centre
- Special rate of $140 per night for 2 people (2-night minimum stay), additional ~$15 per night for each additional person
- Currently only have availability from 16-18 September (no availability Tuesday 15 September)
- Bookings via email only - enquiries@ikonhotel.com.au - quote "Neighbourhood Houses Conference"
- 12-minute walk from Burnie Arts Centre
- 20% discount on total stay
- Bookings via phone call only - 03 6431 4455 - quote "Neighbourhood Houses Conference"
- 10-20-minute walk from Burnie Arts Centre
- 7 Apartments located around Burnie, offering from one to four bedrooms
- 10% discount on advertised rate if booked with them directly.
- Bookings via email or phone only - 0439 340 982 or info@Burniecityapartments.com.au quote "Neighbourhood Houses Conference"
Where are the venues located this year?
Our main venue is the Burnie Arts Centre at 77-79 Wilmot Street. We will also be having the conference dinner at Burnie Arts.
The Arts Centre is in the centre of Burnie, and within walking distances of hotels, restaurants, and shops.
We will visit other venues around Burnie, including the Burnie Community House and the UTAS Makers Hub.
Can external delegates come to the conference?
Yes! This year's venue is big enough to open registration to more external delegates, and we have a number of external registrations available for people from other organisations. Book your tickets via Humanitix.
Access and inclusion
NHT is committed to making our conference accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable to all.
If you have any accessibility or dietary requirements, please let us know when purchasing your ticket. We will then make plans to provide what is needed, or where this is not possible, inform you of such. If you do not advise of accessibility or dietary requirements at the time of booking, we cannot guarantee it can be accommodated but will certainly try our best to make it happen.
Reach out to the NHT team if you have any specific questions or requests regarding accessibility - we are happy to help! This could include around signing and interpreting, sensory considerations, prayer room availability, or anything else that removes barriers for attending the conference.
Below is some general accessibility information for our venues. Please reach out if you need any further information and we will follow up for you.
During the conference, if you encounter any barriers, please let an NHT staff member know and we will be happy to assist.
Venue-specific accessibility
Burnie Arts Centre
- Accessible toilet onsite
- 3 disabled parking spaces directly outside the Burnie Arts Centre, and 2 outside the Burnie Regional Museum
- Level access to all rooms and spaces
- Internal lifts to lower floors
Burnie Community House
- Accessible toilet onsite
- Level access to the building
Terms and conditions
By registering for the NHT State Conference, you agree to the following terms and conditions.
If you are registering on behalf of someone else, it is your responsibility to ensure they are aware of these terms and accept them.
Registration, tickets and refunds
Refunds are available up to three weeks before the conference and/or in the event the Conference is cancelled (minus fees outlined by Humanitix and any bank/card fees incurred). Refunds can be requested via Humanitix.
Refunds within 3 weeks of the conference can be applied for in cases of compassionate or exceptional circumstances via email to nht@nht.org.au.
No refunds will be provided if you are asked to leave the event due to serious misconduct or being in breach of NHT policies regarding Code of Conduct, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment, or Health and Safety.
Registrations/tickets can be transferred to another person – please email your request to nht@nht.org.au
Payment via invoice must be received three weeks before the conference.
Travel and accommodation
All conference attendees are responsible for their own accommodation and transportation arrangements and costs.
Event changes
NHT may update the event as required, however we will use reasonable efforts to provide a program and content of equivalent standard.
NHT reserves the right to at any time:
- Change the event and program, including but not limited to content, speakers, location, timing, or any other aspect of an event.
- Postpone the event.
- Cancel any part of the Conference program. NHT is under no obligation to you for any damages, costs, losses, or expenses incurred in the event that NHT cancels the conference. Except as mutually agreed to by NHT and the attendee.
Communication
As a registered delegate of the NHT conference, NHT will send you conference updates and information. This will be distributed electronically to the email address provided on your registration.
Conference attendee rights and obligations
NHT is committed to facilitating a safe and inclusive space for all conference attendees, in line with our core values and policies and procedures. By registering to attend the NHT conference, you agree to behave in a professional and appropriate manner during the event/s, consistent with the law and NHT policies and procedures.
Dietary and accessibility requirements
Please read our 'Access and inclusion' FAQ for further information about dietary and accessibility requirements.
Intention to photograph/record
By registering to attend this event, you grant NHT permission to photograph/video record you during the conference to support promotion, publicity, and reporting of the conference and future NHT activities. However, if you have any objection to being photographed or filmed, please speak to a NHT staff member prior to or at the conference.
Copyright
All material presented and shared at the NHT Conference 2026 is subject to copyright, and you must obtain prior written permission from the author/presenter if you would like to use, copy, or reproduce it.
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