The RUSH Symposium took place from 17-18 August 2026 at the Mercure Hotel and Conference Centre, Ballarat, Victoria. This third Symposium organised by the RUSH Network had representation from 54 centres/hubs across the country. This marked an increase of over 150% in the number of centres/hubs since the 2022 Barossa Symposium.
The Symposium provided centre/hub staff with opportunities to meet in person and to maintain and reinforce connections, thereby strengthening this unique national RUSH community. This years' title was "RUSH Community Futures: Building a framework through knowledge and experience". It offered the chance to reflect on and consolidate where the Network stands after such rapid growth, what impact this growth has had on centres/hubs, on their various communities, including place-based, and what potential lies into the future.
The Symposium was facilitated by Phil Brown, who guided workshop sessions, roundtable discussions, and the overall program. Highlights from the day included an informative opening address by Professor Ian Li (Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success), an engaging student panel, and presentations on the release of the Quality Framework by representatives of the Department of Education. Roundtable discussions encouraged the sharing of experiences and ideas, with many common issues and messages exchanged.
Heartfelt thanks to Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Kellie Phillips for her Welcome to Country, the Mercure Hotel and Conference Centre staff for their hospitality and graphic recorder/visual facilitator Kate Baxter for creating striking visuals from discussions held throughout the day.
The day concluded with an opportunity to give feedback on the Symposium and RUSH Network activities. Such feedback will inform future Symposiums and events held by the RUSH Network team. Thank you to everyone who attended and we look forward to bringing the RUSH Network together again in 2028.
Photo: RUSH Network Symposium 2026, over 90 attendees
