Conference Program Conference Costs REGISTER ONLINE Guest Speakers Sponsors and Exhibitors Accommodation Things to do in Canberra FAQs
CBCA 14th National Conference host city, Canberra
Join us to celebrate and explore Australian children’s literature and their makers.
If you are a teacher or librarian who works in schools or public libraries catering for the wide-range of needs of modern Australian families, and wanting to know how to use great literature with children of all ages – then this conference is a must for you.
Registrations are now open!
"People think dreams aren’t real just because they aren’t made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.”
The Dreamtime is the period in which life was created according to Aboriginal culture. Dreaming is the word used to explain how life came to be; it is the stories and beliefs behind creation.
The Dreaming also commands the rules and ways of being in Aboriginal culture.
Reasons to attend this year’s conference
- Attending a conference is a professionally rewarding experience and a great opportunity to connect with people in our teaching and creatives industry and learn new insights
- Be inspired by talented authors, illustrators, publishers, and educators
- Opportunities to network with other delegates
- Support the Children’s Book Council of Australia
We look forward to welcoming you to Canberra for The National CBCA Conference 2022 for this major biennial event, 10 - 12 June, 2022.
Our event this year will be a hybrid event, with the opportunity to attend in person or online. You can make this selection when registering online.
COVID-19 and Health and Well-being policy
The National CBCA Conference 2022 will follow the requirements of local, State and Federal COVID-19 policies.
While registrants are not required to show proof of vaccination status under ACT law, we ask all our registrants to have completed double vaccination.
Conference Costs
Registration information
Thanks to the pandemic, this is first CBCA Conference since 2018. We have managed to bring together some amazing speakers, fantastic entertainment and a chance to mingle with the amazing creators and readers of Australian children’s literature.
- Final Round CBCA Member tickets (after 06 May) - $600
- One Day Registration: Saturday only or Sunday only - $390
- Final Round non-Member Registration - $770.00
- Live Stream Registration - $390.00
- Conference Dinner (not included in registration) - $160
- Welcome - $40
There is an option to request an invoice during registration.
Insurance for COVID-19 illness and travel is not included in registration fees. CBCA advise delegates take out appropriare travel insurances prior to travelling. CBCA holds public liability and volunteer insurance for the event.
All membership will be checked with CBCA Branches, if a registration is found to be a non-member, an additional fee will be charged to reflect the correct non-member rate to attend
Need to register extra tickets to the Conference Dinner and Welcome Ceremony?
| Time (AEST) | EVENT | In-person/Live Stream | |
| Teacher/Librarian Program | Creators Program | ||
| Friday, 10 June | |||
| 4.00 pm |
2022 CBCA "Dreaming with eyes open..." Conference Welcome |
||
| 4.15 pm |
Welcome to CountryWiradjuri Echoes |
Both | |
| 4.35 pm |
Welcome to ACT AuthorsJulie Long and Shelley Unwin |
Both | |
| 4.40 pm |
Dreaming and reading with local Authors and IllustratorsSmall group Sessions led by Shelley Unwin, Tania McCartney, Susannah Crispe, Harry Laing |
||
| 5.40 pm |
Introduction to the conference theme |
||
| 6.30 pm |
Welcome ReceptionMeet and greet at the bar |
SCBWI ShowcaseThis is an opportunity for SCBWI members to pitch their PAL book published in 2021/22 to conference attendees. SCBWI Australia will send out an email with the details to enter this pitch opportunity shortly. There will also be some fireside readings by some local authors and illustrators which has been organised by CBCA. |
In person |
| Saturday, 11 June | |||
| 7.45 - 8.45 am | Registrations | In-person | |
| 8.45 am |
Welcome and housekeeping |
Both | |
| 9.00 - 9.45 am |
Hearing our First Nations voices and sharing their dreaming
|
What do First Nations want today?
|
Both |
| 9.45 - 10.30 am | Morning Tea | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 10.30 - 11.00 am |
Dreaming of sharing the wonders of the animal kingdomModerator: Stephanie Owen Reeder Join our panel of experts as they share their insights of unusual factual characters brought to life through books and find out what new characters are coming soon.
|
Illustrations - Why illustrating your own books isn't enoughEnjoy a robust discussion on the power of illustration in telling the dream story with an engaing panel of illustrators. |
Both |
| 11.00 - 12.00 pm |
Dreaming of better worlds using environmental advocacy messages in literatureModerator: Deb Abela
|
Authors – Getting the dream team, what publishers are dreaming of and how to pitch itModerator: Sue Whiting |
Both |
| 12.00 - 1.00 pm | Lunch - Book launches and Book Signings | In-person (no live-stream activities) | |
| 1.00 - 1.30 pm |
Getting your students dreaming about their own creativityHosted by Lian Tanner |
Pitch SessionsHosted by Susanne Gervay, Briana Melideo |
Both |
| 1.30 - 3.00 pm |
Opening up the big conversations through booksINTRODUCTION NEURODIVERSITY EMPATHY AND RESILIENCE RACISM |
Both | |
| 3.00 - 3.45 pm |
Opening up the big conversations through booksCONCLUSION |
Dreaming of sharing the wonders of the environmentModerator: Stephanie Owen Reeder
|
Both |
| 3.45 - 4.30 pm | Afternoon Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 7.00 - 11.00 pm |
Conference DinnerAnnouncement of CBCA Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Margaret Hamilton. This special event is the only opportunity to hear the Lifetime Achievement Awardee. Tables will be hosted by a variety of authors and illustrators with a chance to get insights into the creative process. NB: This event is NOT included in the standard registration. Make sure to include the optional dinner when you register. |
In person | |
| Sunday, 12 June | |||
| 8.50 am |
Welcome and thank you to Conference Sponsors |
Both | |
| 9.00 am |
Why children deserve high quality literary books |
Both | |
| 9.30 am |
Dreaming of a vibrant Australian children’s literature community |
Both | |
| 10.00 am |
Dreaming of... |
Both | |
| 10.30 am | Morning Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 11.00 am |
The Great DebateFantasy verses Reality Hosted by: Lian Tanner and Jane Godwin |
Both | |
| 12.00 pm |
Sharing our First Nations dreaming with all students |
Both | |
| 12.50 pm |
CBCA Awards Foundation PresentationFind out about a new initiative by the CBCA Awards Foundation. Find out who has won the amazing silent auction items. |
Both | |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 2.00 pm |
Dreaming through a different lens in literatureKeynote Presentation |
Both | |
| 2.40 pm |
Realising your own dream – five years of working on a project |
Both | |
| 3.10 pm | Afternoon Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 3.45 pm |
Dreaming of books that change their form - Book Adaptions
|
Both | |
| 4.30 pm |
Dreaming of finding, celebrating and preserving Australian Children's LiteraturePresentation by Belle Alderman |
Both | |
| 5.00 pm |
Farewell and 2022 Conference Close |
Both | |
|
Finer details still to come, including specific virtual attendance information. |
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Professional Development accreditation is currently being applied for NSW (NESA) and ACT (TQI) all other jurisdictions can use the conference for non-accredited PD hours.
Access to the bookshop will be available for all delegates both on-line and in-person.
On-line delegates will receive a conference satchel, however there is no guarantee that the satchel will arrive prior to the commencement of the conference on Friday, 10 June 2022.
Where permitted, session recordings will be made available in the weeks after the conference for attending and on-line delegates only. Viewing a pre-recorded conference session will count towards your non-verifiable PD hours.
Curation Partners
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Session Sponsors
Exhibitors
Affirm Press • Allen & Unwin • Allen & Unwin • EK Books / Little Pink • Hachette Children's Books • Hardie Grant Books • HarperCollins Publishers Australia • Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network • PETAA • Raising Literacy Australia • Sound Text Media STM • Story Box Library • Text Publishing • Walker Books Classroom • Zart Education