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 |
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| 4.15 pm |
Welcome to ACT AuthorsJulie Long OAM and Shelly Unwin |
In Person | |
| 4.20 pm |
Dreaming and reading with local Authors and IllustratorsSmall group Sessions led by Shelly Unwin, Tania McCartney, Susannah Crispe, Harry Laing, Garth Nix and Amelia McInerney |
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Welcome to CountryWiradjuri Echoes Including Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin introducing “We are Australians” |
In Person | ||
| 5.50 pm |
Introduction to the conference theme |
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| 6.30 pm |
Welcome Reception & Friday Night Book FestMuch like speed dating, this is an exciting opportunity for librarians and delegates to hear Aussie kids’ book creators show off their recent books in short, sharp and sometimes hilarious ways! Be prepared to have some fun and fall in love with some brand new books! Introduced by Deb Abela |
In person | |
| Saturday, 11 June | |||
| 8.30 am | Registrations | In-person | |
| 8.45 am |
Welcome and housekeeping |
Both | |
| 9.00 - 9.45 am |
Hearing and Telling First Nations stories and sharing Their DreamingSue Lawson and Aunty Fay Muir in conversation answering all your questions about using First Nations in libraries and classrooms |
Both | |
| 9.45 am | Morning Tea | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 10.30 am |
Dreaming of sharing the wonders of the animal kingdomJoin 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. Moderator: Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder Featuring guest lineup:
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Illustrations - Why illustrating your own books isn't enoughEnjoy a robust discussion on the power of illustration in telling the dream story with an engaging panel of illustrators. Moderator: Ruth Nitschke Featuring:
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Both |
| 11.15 am |
Dreaming of better worlds using environmental advocacy messages in literatureModerator: Deb Abela Featuring guest lineup:
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Authors – Getting the dream team, what publishers are dreaming of and how to pitch itModerator: Sue Whiting Featuring guest lineup:
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Both |
| 12.00 pm |
Lunch Book Launch by Text Publishing Lauren Draper's The Museum of Broken Things |
In-person (no live-stream activities) | |
| 1.00 pm |
Getting your students dreaming about their own creativityWriting hosted by Lian Tanner Illustrations hosted by ZART |
Pitch SessionsA panel of Australian publishers will explain what they want in a pitch and what makes a great one. A limited number of selected SCBWI members will have three minutes to pitch their projects followed by LIVE feedback from the panel. Nerve-wracking and exciting! Hosted by SCBWI Deb Abela Featuring publishers from:
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Both |
| 2.00 pm |
Opening up the big conversations through booksModerator: Samantha Tidy Featuring guest lineup:
|
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| 3.00 pm |
Truth in History can inspire dreamingHosted byDeb Abela Featuring: Jackie French and Susanne Gervay |
Dreaming of sharing the wonders of natureJoin 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. Moderator: Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder Featuring guest lineup:
|
Both |
| 3.45 pm | Afternoon Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 4.30 pm |
Dreaming of students immersed in literature and learning something at the same timeFeaturing Kate and Jol Temple . |
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| 7.00 - 11.00 pm |
Conference DinnerAnnouncement of CBCA Lifetime Achievement Award Announcement of the 2022 Royal Australian Mint Author/Illustrator coin 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 | |||
| 9.20 am |
Welcome and thank you to Conference Sponsors |
Both | |
| 9.30 am |
Why children deserve high quality literary booksPresented by Sofie Laguna |
Both | |
| 10.10 am |
Dreaming of finding, celebrating and preserving Australian Children's LiteraturePresentation by Professor Belle Alderman |
Both | |
| 10.40 am |
Our DreamingPresented by Dub Leffler |
Both | |
| 11.10 am | Morning Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 11.55 am |
The Great DebateFantasy verses Reality - what is the best way to tell a story? Moderator: Deb Abela Panellists:
|
Both | |
| 12.55 pm | Lunch - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 1.30 pm |
Dreaming about opening your heart to CountryPresented by Jasmine Seymour |
Both | |
| 2.00 pm |
Sharing our First Nations dreaming with all studentsPresented by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing |
Both | |
| 2.45 pm | Afternoon Tea - Book Launches and Book Signings | In-person (no virtual activities) | |
| 2:00 pm |
CBCA Awards Foundation PresentationFind out who has won the amazing silent auction items |
Both | |
| 3.30 pm |
Dreaming of creating across art formsPresented by Maura Pierlot and Jade Breen |
Both | |
| 4.15 pm |
Lucky Door Prizes, and Awards Foundation Panel |
Both | |
| 4.30 pm |
Farewell and 2022 Conference Close |
Both | |
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This program remains subject to change. |
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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 • ALS Library Services • Book Cow Bookshop • EK Books / Little Pink • Hachette Children's Books • Hardie Grant Books • HarperCollins Publishers Australia • Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network • Larrikin House • PETAA • Sound Text Media STM • Story Box Library • Text Publishing • Walker Books Classroom • Zart Education