Researching lifelong learning and innovation for work in times of crisis
The current era is characterised by crises associated with climate change, mass migration, social and economic transformation, aging populations, domestic violence and geopolitical tension. Consequently, nation states, communities and individuals are experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty and concern. Such a complex set of challenges inevitably generates a range of impacts at national, community and individual levels. Many of these challenges and their potential resolutions are directly or indirectly associated with work and working life. Consequently, it is incumbent upon researchers in the disciplines informing work, learning and innovation to be active, agile, and focused to generate evidence and effective practices to advance workers’ learning, development and participation in workplace innovations. It follows then that as social scientists, the Researching Work and Learning research community needs to engage with and address these challenges.
Conference themes
- Promoting innovations at work
- Digitalisation and artificial intelligence
- Migration, ethnicity & intersectionality
- Organisational change
- Well-being and working life
- Vocational education and learning
- Professional education and learning
- Learning in work
- Research methods
- Professional work and learning
- Learning for sustainability and green transition
- Policy and social inclusion
- Theorising work and learning
Meet our invited keynotes
Professor Raija Hämäläinen
Raija Hämäläinen is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Her work focuses on digitalisation in and for learning and interaction, particularly in adult learning and workplace contexts. She leads the Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) research group, which investigates how increasingly technological societies reshape learning demands, participation, and social equity, and how digital technologies can meaningfully support the development of new competences.
Professor Rola Ajjawi
Rola Ajjawi is Professor of Medical Education in the Department of Surgery and Scientist and Associate Director (Research) at the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, following a long career at Deakin University, Australia. She studied physiotherapy and became a clinical teacher before completing a PhD in health professions education examining how clinical reasoning is learned and communicated in practice.
Professor Sharon Parker
Professor Sharon K. Parker is an ARC Laureate Fellow, John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Curtin University and Director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design at the Future of Work Institute in Perth, Western Australia. She specialises in work and job design, proactivity, performance, mental health and organisational change. She is the creator of the SMART Work Design model and co-creator of the Thrive at Work mental health framework.
Key dates and details
Key dates
| Dates | Details |
|---|---|
| 30 January 2026 | Call for abstracts opens |
| 5 June 2026 | Registration opens |
| 8 June 2026 | Draft Program |
| 30 June 2026 | Deadline for abstract submissions |
| 28 August 2026 | Early bird registration closes |
| 23 October 2026 | Full Program released |
| 8 December 2026 | Conference starts |
Conference details
When: 8 - 11 December 2026
Where: Brisbane
Pre-conference
A pre-conference workshop for doctoral students and early career researchers will be organized on Tuesday December 8th 2026.
Conference sessions
The main conference will progress from 9.00 AM on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th December until 5.00 PM and on Friday 11th December from 9.00 AM to 2.00 PM.
Venue
South Bank Brisbane
Embedded within Brisbane’s beating cultural heart, South Bank supports more than 3,500 students across a range of disciplines, including acting, animation, contemporary Australian Indigenous Art, film, games design, musical theatre and photography.
RWL14 Conference is held at Queensland Conservatorium (S01) - the venue entrance from the Parkland
Handy hints
Local transport
Brisbane has a great public transport system and a $0.50 fare, which makes it highly affordable and this works on trains, buses and CityCats (i.e. ferry services)
You can get around, manage and schedule your trips using the Translink site and app. Highly recommended.
Stephen’s recommendation – if you’ve got some time take a CityCat up and down the river to get to see the city during the day or at night, all for $0.50
Weather
Weather is an issue everywhere and Brisbane is no exception. So, to monitor it and even look out for occasional summer storms when making plans for your attendance at the conference, social or sightseeing events this can be done by using the Bureau of Metrology (BOM) website.
Abstract submissions
There are three kinds of submissions: i) individual papers, ii) symposia, and iii) posters.
Individual papers
Paper presentations usually last 15 – 20 minutes, plus some time for questions within a 30-minute slot. Papers will be scheduled in 90-minute session (i.e., 3x 3 papers on similar themes), in exceptional cases, 4 papers may be combined. A paper is submitted by one author plus up to 5 co-authors; 2 of the 6 authors can be listed as presenting authors. The submission consists of an abstract (up to 600 words).
600-word abstract for individual papers would be: i) a title, ii) an introduction (approx 250 words), iii) method/procedures (approx 150 words) and iv) findings/results (approx 150-200), with a Reference list that can be outside of the 600 words.
A chairperson for each 90-minute session (usually the last presenter) who will take care of time and manage discussion.
Please note: Individual papers can opt for submitting for student award and/or a special issue of Studies in Continuing Education. The means of nominating for this option are found within the abstract submission portal. For this nomination, in addition to an abstract, there will be requirements for methods, conclusions and references to be included in the submissions.
Symposia
Symposia consist of one (or exceptionally) two 90-minute conference sessions promoted by organisers. They include a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 papers (each paper has a maximum of 4 authors) per session plus a Chair and Discussant.
The symposium needs to be submitted as one submission - description of symposium (up to 600 words) and abstracts for all papers linked to it (up to 400-word abstract per paper). For the papers in the symposium and for the symposium descriptor references of up to 200 words each should be given. Symposia are usually scheduled on the last two conference sessions each day. A Chairperson and a Discussant, who can offer a critique of the symposium, need to be named on the proposal.
Please note: Papers submitted as part of symposia can opt for submitting for student award and/or a special issue of Studies in Continuing Education. The means of nominating for this option are found within the abstract submission portal. For this nomination, in addition to an abstract, there will be requirements for methods, conclusions and references to be included in the submissions.
Poster sessions
A poster is submitted by one author plus up to 5 co-authors; 2 of the 6 authors can be listed as presenting authors.
The submission consists of an abstract (600 words), a methods section (400 words), conclusions (300 words) plus references (400 words)
Posters are graphical presentations which are submitted by one author plus up to 5 co-authors. Posters must be printed in A1 size (594 x841 mm/ 23.3 x33.1 in) in portrait/upright format. Within RWL14, posters are presented/displayed in the General Poster Session/Poster Exhibition.
General Poster Session/Poster Exhibition
The Poster Exhibition is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon between end of conference and Welcome Reception Presenters are asked to hang their poster in the Poster Exhibition Area by 3:00 pm Wednesday morning.
Please note that we have limited places available to accommodate speakers. All abstract submissions will be peer-reviewed by a scientific committee.
Registration
Registration includes:
- Attendance for one person to the 2026 Researching Work & Learning International Conference at South Bank Brisbane from 9 - 11 December 2026.
- Voucher to the networking event on the evening of 9 December 2026.
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on 9 and 10; and morning tea and lunch on 11 December 2026 at the South Bank Brisbane.
Please note:
- Registration costs are in Australian Dollars (AUD).
- Students must provide a valid student card/ID.
- Credit card and merchant fees apply.
- ECR/Student pre-conference workshop includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
- Early Bird registration is ON or BEFORE 28th August 2026.
| Registration type | Early Bird on or before 28 August | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | AU$700.00 (incl. GST) | AU$825.00 (incl. GST) |
| Student | AU$450.00 (incl. GST) | AU$550.00 (incl. GST) |
| ECR/Student pre-conference workshop ONLY | AU$100.00 (incl. GST) | AU$100.00 (incl. GST) |
| Individual + Pre-conference workshop | AU$750.00 (incl. GST) | AU$875.00 (incl. GST) |
| Student + Pre-conference workshop | AU$500.00 (incl. GST) | AU$600.00 (incl. GST) |
About this Conference
The Researching Work & Learning (RWL) International Conference Series is the world's longest, continuously running international research conference series serving the field of workplace learning. It was initiated in 1999 by researchers at the University of Leeds (UK). As of 2026 it has visited eleven countries in five continents.
The conference series as a whole is organized through the work of the RWL International Advisory Committee. This committee is composed of leading international scholars in the diverse field of workplace learning.
RWL14 local organising committee: Stephen Billett, Paula Brough, Steven Hodge, Ashlea Troth, Sarojni Choy and Carys Chan