Disease prevention and service models in rural and regional communities
About this Event
Join us for the QRHIRC 2026 Symposium!
Hosted by the , our annual symposium is a dynamic day of learning, collaboration and innovation.
This free in-person event will be held on Thursday 6 August 2026 at The Annex, Toowoomba.
The symposium brings together health researchers, clinicians, health service staff, students and community members to connect, share ideas, explore current health research, and help shape future projects that will benefit rural and regional Queensland.
Why Attend?
- Network with researchers, clinicians and community members
- Take part in an interactive co-design workshop
- Hear presentations on health research relevant to our region
- Contribute to new project ideas and funding opportunities
- Learn how research can create real impact in rural and regional communities
Morning Session: Building Co-Design Confidence: Rapid Design Sprint Workshop
Join Dr Adrienne Young and Anja Christoffersen, co-leads of the Metro North Co-Design Framework, for an interactive workshop focused on building capability, confidence and practical skills in co-design.
This hands-on session will introduce core co-design principles, mindsets and ways of working, before participants step into a fast-paced design sprint to collaboratively tackle real-world problems using practical design tools and methods. The workshop will conclude with group reflections and discussion on applying co-design approaches in practice.
What the workshop will cover:
- Introduction to co-design principles and ways of working
- A practical co-design sprint tackling real-world problems
- Experience using design tools, methods and mindsets in action
- Reflections, learnings and discussion following the sprint
The real world problems that will be investigated as part of this workshop are:
- Developing a Community/Consumer Network for Regional and Rural Health Research and Implementation
- Seizing My Sexual Health Story: Improving Health Literacy and Harm Prevention for Rural and Regional Young People
- Implementing Arts-Based Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease in Rural Queensland: Barriers, Enablers and Service Models
- Birthing Beyond the Binary: Experiences of Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary Parents and Their Midwives in South-Western Queensland
- Co-designing a Mosquito-Borne Disease Prevention Toolkit with Frontline Healthcare Workers in Rural and Regional Queensland
Afternoon Session: Presentations & Idea Elevators
The afternoon will feature presentations and practical insights aligned with this year’s theme:
Disease Prevention & Service Models in Rural and Regional Communities
Keynote Speakers:
- Dr Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive Officer of Health and Wellbeing Queensland
- Professor Lauren Ball, Community Health and Wellbeing at The University of Queensland
Dr Robyn Littlewood will present: Prevention 2.0 – regional approach
Professor Lauren Ball will present: A New Wave of Research and Practice for Disease Prevention in Rural and Regional Communities: Lessons from the Springfield Living Laboratory
Drawing on experience from Australia’s largest master-planned community, Professor Ball will explore how health professionals and researchers can create measurable community impact through partnership, prevention and innovation. Topics include:
- Improving long-term community health outcomes
- Reducing demand on healthcare systems
- Measuring real-world research impact
- Building multidisciplinary research teams
- Working collaboratively with communities
If you're interested in community-based practice and research, impact tracking, and cross-sector collaboration, this session will provide valuable takeaways to help you maximise the real-world influence of your work in your local area.
Emerging Researcher Presentations
Hear short presentations from emerging local researchers showcasing new and innovative work taking place across our region.
Idea Elevators
Projects developed during the morning workshop will be presented to friendly Idea Elevator panels for feedback to strengthen future grant applications and project plans.
Funding Opportunity
A funding pool of up to $15,000 is available, with up to $7,500 awarded to each successful project developed through the symposium process.
If you have a project idea you would like considered for the workshop, please download the application form or email [email protected]. Applications close Monday 22nd June 2026.
Registration
Registration is free and includes catering.
You are welcome to register for:
- Full Day
- Morning Session only (8:30 am – 1:00 pm) OR
- Afternoon Session only (12:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Please register for one session option only.
Community members are warmly encouraged to attend, learn about local health projects and build confidence in contributing to health projects and research through co-design.
Please note: By attending this event, you acknowledge that photographs and video recordings may be taken for promotional, reporting, educational and communication purposes. These images or recordings may be used by QRHIRC and affiliated organisations in print, digital, social media and other publications. Your attendance indicates consent to be photographed or filmed unless you complete an opt-out photo consent form on the day of the event.
We also invite you to attend the 2026 Health Symposium Welcome Event from 5:30pm on the 5th of August. This networking event hosted in partnerships with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) will bring together regional leaders, healthcare professionals, researchers, government representatives and the broader business community, to showcase the exciting opportunities shaping the future of the region’s health sector.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
AUD 0.00
