As the weather gets cooler, we write to you with some 'warming' news about upcoming Engagement Australia activities. First and foremost, our annual conference returns with the University of Melbourne hosting on July 23 & 24. The conference theme is "Universities Engaging all of Us: Committing to Trust, Purpose, and Impact" which is a timely theme given the public rhetoric on the purpose of universities in modern Australia, a newly minted ATEC, the outcomes of the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD), and as we enter the next cycle of the Carnegie Classification. An exciting list of speakers is developing, and we hope to see you in Melbourne. The call for papers is open until April 30 and do take advantage of the early bird tickets (by June 5). 

Transform: The Journal of Engaged Scholarship continues to go from strength to strength with the next call for papers closing June 7. We are grateful to our journal sponsors GivePulse for making this opportunity to share engaged work in a scholarly forum possible.

We are excited that the second round of Australian Carnegie Community Engagement Classifications are underway with an exciting group of universities that have committed to undertaking the rigorous self-study and commitment to continuous improvement. Our Carnegie Network continues to put on engaging webinars, and we hope to see you at some of these soon (see summary below).

Finally, at the end of 2025 we responded to the Senate Inquiry into the quality of governance at Australian Higher Education Providers. Please see the summary and link to the full piece below as we fulfil our role advocating for impactful university engagement with community, industry, and government across the sector. We hope that this piece stimulates thought as we continue to champion connected, impactful institutions for the public good.

We hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year, wherever you are, and a warmer beverage can support your reading of the newsletter.

Verity Firth and Matthew Pink, Autumn, 2026

Engagement Australia's Annual Conference in coming up in July!

📅 When: 23-24 July 2026
📍 Location: Melbourne Connect, The University of Melbourne
🎟️ Early Bird Tickets Available Until 5th June

In 2026, we’re inviting the sector to lean into a bold, necessary conversation: what does it take for universities to genuinely engage all of us? This year’s theme explores the foundations of trust, the clarity of shared purpose, and the tangible, mutual benefit that emerges when universities work alongside communities, industry, government and students as true partners.

Across two days at Melbourne Connect, we’ll unpack how engagement can rebuild confidence in institutions, strengthen social cohesion, and drive solutions to the complex challenges facing our society. Expect thought‑provoking keynotes, practical sessions, and collaborative spaces that push us beyond rhetoric and into action.

Join us as we reimagine the role of universities in shaping a more connected, equitable and impactful future.

Case Study Submissions

Share your engagement successes as a Case Study at Engagement Australia’s 2026 Conference.

Abstracts are invited from university staff, students, industry and community partners on topics including:

• Impactful university–community partnerships, including engagement with community groups, industry, government, or cross‑sector collaborations.
• Evaluation approaches that demonstrate the impact of partnerships.
• Institutional strategies that embed engagement across the university.

Case studies are encouraged to be co‑presented with community partners. Each session is 40 minutes, including 15–20 minutes for Q&A.

Abstracts due: COB Thursday 30 April 2026

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

This flagship national event brings together leaders from academia, government, industry and community to explore how transformational partnerships can build trust, strengthen shared purpose and create lasting impact.

As a sponsor, you’ll gain premium visibility, strategic networking access and brand recognition among key decision‑makers driving engagement across the sector. Secure your sponsorship today and align your brand with a conference committed to trust, purpose and impact.

Transform: the journal of Engaged Scholarship
Now Accepting Submissions

Transform: The Journal of Engaged Scholarship is an open‑access, peer‑reviewed, multi‑disciplinary platform dedicated to advancing engaged scholarship in Australia and around the world. The Journal provides a space for critical inquiry, reflection, and review, showcasing work that strengthens understanding and practice of university–community engagement.

Each issue features empirical research, practice‑oriented studies, and reviews that speak directly to engagement in the Higher Education sector.

As the official journal of Engagement Australia, Transform actively promotes the Australian Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and its definition of community engagement and reciprocal partnerships. All submissions whether research articles, conceptual pieces, practice insights, or case studies are encouraged to explore the engaged processes and reciprocal partnerships at the heart of their work, as well as the outcomes and impacts aligned with the Carnegie framework.

Call for Submissions

The Editorial Board welcomes manuscripts across five sections:

• Research Articles
• Theoretical and Conceptual Articles
• Practice Articles
• Case Studies (1,500–3,000 words)
• Book Reviews

We extend our sincere thanks to GivePulse for their generous sponsorship of this volume of Transform.

Submissions Due: 7 June 2026

Carnegie Community Engagement Classification – Round 2 Is Here
We’re delighted to welcome five Australian institutions commencing Round 2 of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This marks an exciting milestone for the sector, demonstrating a deepening commitment to reciprocal, mutually beneficial community engagement across higher education.

Upcoming Sessions
Our next session brings a rich, global perspective on community–university partnerships:

Roots, Recipes and Reciprocity: University–Community Partnerships Across Three Continents Join Professor Adrian Hearn as he explores how food, culture, and community knowledge shape engagement practice across Australia, Cuba, and Brazil. This session highlights how culinary traditions, local food systems, and cultural exchange can strengthen relationships between universities and communities — offering practical insights into reciprocity, knowledge-sharing, and place-based engagement.

📅 22 April, 1–2 pm (Melbourne time)

Carnegie Network Session Recap
February – Empowering Girls Through Physical Activity We explored Empowering Girls Through Physical Activity and Positive Father Involvement, featuring the world‑first Daughters & Dads Active & Empowered program from the University of Newcastle. With more than 7,000 participants and recognition from the World Health Organisation, the program continues to influence global practice in family‑centred physical activity.

March – Cracks in the Ice: First Nations Lived Experience Project We heard from the University of Sydney about Cracks in the Ice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Project, a community‑led initiative co‑developing culturally safe resources on crystal methamphetamine with First Nations communities. These resources have already reached over 900,000 people, challenging stigma and strengthening community‑driven responses.

Speaker EOI – Share Your Work
Do you have a project, partnership, or research initiative that others could learn from? We’re inviting practitioners, researchers, and community partners to express interest in presenting, facilitating a webinar, or running a workshop to build capability across the network.

Join the Carnegie Network
New to the Carnegie Network? Sign up to our mailing list to stay up to date with upcoming sessions, resources, and opportunities to get involved.

Engagement Australia response to the Senate Inquiry into the quality of governance at Australian Higher Education Providers

Engagement Australia supports the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry that concern the primacy of education and research for the public good. Logically, EA supports any measures that can support and improve university governance in the sector with the recognition that stability regarding funding mechanisms and government priorities are an important part of this picture. Australian universities are too often left reeling from political decisions that upend university strategy and financial management. Notwithstanding, the need for improved governance in the sector is accepted.

Engagement Australia also supports any mechanism that aims to support the rights of higher education employees, quality teaching, and the student experience. As argued by Ana Stenvenson in the recent issue of Transform, employee stability in our sector also affects our ability to partner effectively with community and industry. We will be interested to see how recommendations from the inquiry are enacted by the government through ATEC, TEQSA, and hopefully ongoing dialogue with the sector and lobby groups. However, in our response to the inquiry we wish to focus in on universities as institutions for the public good.