Propose a Session.

FAQs

The application form opens on 1 April 2025 and closes on Monday 9 June at 11.59pm. We will let you know if your proposal was sucessful by the end of July.

If your application is successful, you will have approximately a fortnight to making minor changes to your session title and description by completing the form we email to you in July. Completing this form secures your place in the program. A link to this form with a due date will be sent when you are offered a place in the program.

Note that your session may not be included in the conference program if you do not accept your offer by the due date.

All co-presenters’ and panel members’ names and email addresses must be included in your initial application to be eligible for a spot in the Better Together program. Proposals will remain open for 10 weeks, to ensure sufficient time to put together a panel of speakers.

Insufficient information in your application will affect your eligibility to be offered a spot in the conference.

You can choose one of three session types:

• Panel Q&A - This session includes 2-4 panelists and a moderator. The aim of this format is to explore a specific topic with 2-4 people who share differing perspectives. The moderator poses questions to the panel to discuss the topic, share stories or information and provide insight. The audience may be invited to ask questions. Up to 50 minutes.

• Workshop - This format involves interaction from participants that may include activites like writing, artmaking, storytelling, brainstorming as well as physical or verbal group exercises or games. A workshop must be substantially interactive to be considered. Standard duration 45 minutes, but duration may vary.

• BetterThink - This session (talk) is for a 20-minute TED Talk-style presentation. This format is best suited for a lecture-driven presentation with the aim of delivering information, stories of lived experience and great new ideas in a short impactful way.
  
  Based on your feedback, one change we are making in 2025 is removing Q&A from BetterThink Sessions. Instead, there will be a dedicated space for speakers to meet with attendees after their talk to answer any questions and connect. This allows you to deliver a full 20 minutes of content, and still have time for connection.

BetterThink is a new presentation format for Better Together®. The aim of this session is to encourage speakers to prepare short impactful presentations and deliver a great idea that can inform, inspire, surprise and delight in under 20 minutes!

When preparing your BetterThink talk, consider the following:

• Choose one great idea…

• Think about your audience. What do you want them to take away from your talk?

• What is your key message?

• Teach us something new.

We will strictly enforce the time limit of 20 minutes for all BetterThink speakers. This is the place to condense your ideas into a compelling 18-minute talk that communicates your message. A carefully prepared presentation of this length can have a powerful impact.

Remember, you don’t have to convey every detail of your project, idea or experience - if you provide your contact details, audience members will be able to follow up with you for more information or further discussion if your talk has resonated with them.

The term “abstract” is normally used for an application to present at an academic-type of conference where a brief summary of a research paper or report is required as part of the submission.

Better Together® is not an academic conference and we want this event to be accessible to the wider community who can submit an idea and take part in the conference. We prefer to use the phrase “propose a session” instead of “submit an abstract” to run a workshop, host a panel or deliver a talk at Better Together®.

We invite you to use our online form to submit your idea. Submissions close 11.59pm [insert date].

Yes, but please be aware that all co-presenters’ names and contact details must be included in your session proposal. We are unable to add co-presenters to your sessions after it has been accepted and added to the program.

Yes. If your proposal is accepted, as part of accepting your spot in the conference program you must purchase a ticket to Better Together. You will receive a code to access a reduced-cost presenter ticket. If you need assistance with the fee, please let us know.

Yes you can. Conference scholarships will open in February, with some reduced-cost tickets available before that time. To accept your spot in the conference program, you must hold a ticket to the conference. This can be any type of ticket.

If you have a question about your proposal please get in touch at mail@equality.org.au.