ISHCA News
ISHCA26 - Implementation Science Health Conference Australia
Innovate | Implement | Impact
Dates : 26–27 November 2026
- Venue : Translation Research Institute (TRI) Auditorium, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland
- Host organisation : Health Translation Queensland (HTQ)
- Major partner : Co-presented by HTQ and TAAHC
- Event organiser : HTQ and JC Events
- Combined program? : No - standalone ISHCA26 conference (not combined with EIS)
- Abstract submissions : Opening April 2026
Registration opens : June 2026
#TBC #ishca #TRI #ISHCA2026
Full Program Now Available
200+ speakers, 30+ countries, 60+ hours of programming
The full program for the combined ISHCA and Evidence and Implementation Summit, 26–27 November 2026, Brisbane, has now been released.
We encourage you to join this global meeting of minds, including 200+ speakers from 30+ countries, and more than 60 hours of programming.
ISHCA has a dedicated presentation stream of health-focused presentations, including oral and lightning talks, panel discussions, poster sessions and the launch of a new health implementation science network.
You’ll also gain access to specialist half-day skill-building workshops, sponsored by Sydney Health Partners.
Invited speakers include:
- distinguished leader in First Nations health, Professor Sandra Eades AO (University of Melbourne)
- renowned speaker on implementation science, adaptation and equity, Associate Professor Ana Baumann (Washington University, USA)
- global evidence innovator Professor Julian Elliott (Future Evidence Foundation)
- leading voice for implementation science in clinical trials, Associate Professor Ingrid Hickman (University of Queensland)
Early bird pricing and group discounts are available. Find out more HERE
Early bird registrations are now open for ISHCA26
29 June 2026
Join us at the Implementation Science Health Conference Australia (ISHCA26), taking place on 26–27 November 2026 at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane.
Under the theme INNOVATE – IMPLEMENT – IMPACT, ISHCA26 will bring together researchers, clinicians, implementation practitioners, policymakers and health service leaders from across Australia to share the latest advances in implementation science and research translation.
Register now via www.ishca.au to secure discounted rates. Early bird registrations close 31 August.
Reminder to submit your abstract for ISHCA26
29 June 2026
A friendly reminder that you can still submit your abstract for ISHCA26. This is an opportunity to showcase your innovative research, implementation science methodologies, or implementation practice projects that demonstrate the application of evidence in health-related settings.
Submit your abstract via the abstract submission portal by midnight AEST on 30 June 2026.
More details including abstract submission guidelines, template, publication consent and selection criteria can be downloaded here.
Travel bursaries available for ISHCA26
18 May 2026
A limited number of travel bursaries will be available to support attendance at ISHCA26. Bursary amounts and number of awards will be determined based on available funding and applicant need.
Eligibility criteria:
- Live and work in regional, rural, or remote locations
- Are clinicians new to implementation science and/or practice
- Are higher degree research students or early career researchers (<5 years post-PhD,
excluding periods of career interruption)
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Demonstrate financial or institutional barriers to attendance
- Can articulate how attending/contributing will benefit their work, community, or field.
Apply for a travel bursary as part of your abstract submission.
Abstracts must be submitted via the abstract submission portal by midnight AEST on 30 June 2026.
Submit your abstract for ISHCA26
18 May 2026
The ISHCA26 Program Committee is now calling for abstract submissions that align with ISHCA’s conference theme: INNOVATE – IMPLEMENT – IMPACT.
We invite submissions from a broad range of health-related disciplines that describe high-quality methodological research that progresses the field of implementation science and research translation, as well as implementation practice projects that showcase application of research evidence in health-related settings. We also encourage submissions from early career researchers and clinicians new to implementation.
Hot topics
Abstracts are particularly encouraged to align with, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Designing digital health or AI for implementation in complex systems
- Implementation practice workforce capacity within health services
- Research translation in regional, rural or remote Australia
- When implementation doesn’t go to plan: failures, adaptations, and lessons learned
- Co-design and engagement
- Implementation trials: Integrating implementation science into clinical trial design
- De-implementation and value-based healthcare
Key dates
- Submissions open: Monday 18 May 2026
- Submissions close: Tuesday 30 June 2026
- Notification distribution from: August 2026
Abstracts must be submitted via the abstract submission portal by midnight AEST on 30 June 2026.
For more details including abstract submission guidelines, template, publication consent and selection criteria download here.
Implementation Science Health Conference Australia 2026 copresented by HTQ and TAAHC
10 April 2026
Health Translation Queensland (HTQ) and the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) are proud to announce they will co-present the Implementation Science Health Conference Australia 2026 (ISHCA26), taking place this year at the Translational Research Institute in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, on 26–27 November 2026.
Under the theme INNOVATE – IMPLEMENT – IMPACT, ISHCA26 will bring together researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and health leaders to explore the latest advances in evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.
Attendees will gain expert insights through engaging case studies and real-world results on topics such as digital health; AI; research translation in regional, rural or remote Australia; co-design and engagement and implementation trials.
As Australia’s premier implementation science conference for the health sector, ISHCA is dedicated to embedding high-quality evidence into clinical practice.
Sign up on this website to be kept up-to-date on conference news.
Early Bird and Group Registration Now Available
Registration is now open for 2026’s biggest event in implementation science – as ISHCA combines forces with the Evidence and Implementation Summit, in Melbourne in October.
This first ever combined program will look across healthcare and the social sector. You’ll hear from global experts, and gain knowledge, inspiration and new insights from 60+ hours of face-to-face content.
Early bird registration is now open. Find out more HERE
Group discounts are available. Please email our event organisers eis@abercrombiemanagement.com.au to secure your group rate.
With inequity and misinformation growing worldwide, bridging the gap between what we know and what we do has never been more important or urgent.
Submit Your Abstract Before 18 May
In 2026, ISHCA26 is combining with the biennial Evidence and Implementation Summit (EIS), for a global event across health and the social sector. Together, EIS and ISHCA will present the latest advances, expert insights, case studies and results across evidence synthesis, knowledge translation and implementation science.
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to grow your knowledge, expand your professional networks and gain real-world insights at the nexus of research, practice and policy.
We are calling for abstracts for oral presentations, panels, debates, and lightning talks. Submissions for oral and lightning talks can opt to be considered by the ISHCA Scientific Committee for inclusion in the health stream – encompassing health, healthcare and public health.
Your abstract can consider the six Summit themes, the context of current local and global challenges, and impact in your context and field.
ISHCA Delivers Pre-Summit Workshops with Long-Standing Partner Sydney Health Partners
This year, ISHCA continues its long-standing partnership with Sydney Health Partners to deliver pre-summit workshops to kick off the Evidence and Implementation Summit 2026.
Sydney Health Partners is an Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre working tirelessly to translate research into better health outcomes through the successful implementing and scale-up of evidence-based health interventions in large and diverse health systems.
Workshop details
The 2.5-hour pre-summit workshops provide summit attendees with the exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in a range of topics of broad interest to the evidence and implementation science community.
A limited number of workshops will be held on Monday 26–27 November 2026, Brisbane. Submit an expression of interest to suggest a workshop topic.
Submit an EOI
Expressions of interest for the pre-summit workshops close 26–27 November 2026, Brisbane (this is separate to the abstract submission deadline). You can submit both a workshop EOI and an abstract for consideration.
Your EOI should be a maximum of two pages and must identify the following:
- proposed workshop topic and title
- a description of why this workshop is needed
- learning objectives for the session
- expert speakers, who can lead participants on an interactive learning journey (at least 2 speakers should be identified,
from different organisations)
- proposed workshop content and activities
If you are considering submitting an EOI for the pre-summit workshops, please email the Event Organiser for further instructions:
eis@abercrombiemanagement.com.au
ISCHA Partners with EIS 2026
We are excited to announce that in 2025, ISHCA is partnering with the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to present a combined program at the Evidence and Implementation Summit (EIS), in 26–27 November 2026, Brisbane.
EIS is a major gathering of the evidence and implementation sector, bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners – with the aim of improving lives globally.
We are very excited to present these two events together on the one stage in October 2025.
EIS and ISHCA together will present the latest advances, expert insights, case studies and results across evidence synthesis, knowledge translation and implementation science.
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to grow your knowledge, expand your professional networks and gain real-world insights at the nexus of policy, research and practice.
ISHCA 23 HIGHLIGHTS
ISHCA Grows in 2023
More than 300 people attended the second annual Implementation Science Health Conference Australia
(ISHCA 23) in Sydney.
With the theme “Scale, sustain, success,” ISHCA 23 was headlined by international leaders in the fast-developing discipline of implementation science.
Associate Professor Rachel Shelton from Columbia University in New York presented on the importance of sustaining evidence-based interventions after they have been implemented in health service settings.
Professor Jeremy Grimshaw from the University of Ottowa, Canada described the establishment of implementation “laboratories” which use new audit and feedback methods to enhance quality improvement activities in hospitals.
ISHCA 23 also featured a dozen invited speakers from around Australia, 30 abstract presentations, 18 rapid-fire presentations and 43 posters.
Organisation of the two-day conference was led by Sydney Health Partners, with support from Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE, the National Centre Of Implementation Science, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, Health Translation South Australia, NSW Regional Health Partners, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Melbourne Academic Centre for Health and Monash Partners.
INTERVIEW
Rachel Shelton Previews ISHCA 23
Columbia University Associate Professor, Rachel Shelton has called for sustainability to be given greater consideration when investing in the implementation of health and medical research.
In an interview previewing her presentation at ISHCA 23, Associate Professor Shelton makes the case for investment in the research, the science and the practice of how to sustain interventions.
“I love the fact that the focus of the ISHCA conference is sustainability and scale-up. There are people in Australia doing great work on this, and at an amazing scale. So, I feel like sustainability is the next frontier of implementation and there’s a real opportunity to advance some of the science. I’m excited!”
INTERVIEW: PROFESSOR RACHEL SHELTON
- What will be the focus of your keynote presentation at ISHCA 23?
I am really going to focus on all the reasons why we should think about investing in sustainability of evidence-based interventions, programs and practices, why that investment matters and why we can’t really wait to think about that until the end of our invention or implementation efforts. I will make the case as to why we have to invest in the research, the science and the practice of how to sustain our interventions if we really want to have impact.
And especially equitable impact. In a lot of the work we do, we exacerbate and worsen the gaps in healthcare, because if a lot of the population is in settings where we can’t reach them with our interventions, we certainly aren’t going to be able to sustain them, especially if we haven’t been thinking about and engaging with those partners, settings and populations up front.
So having people think about sustainability early and making those connections between engagement, equity and long-term sustainability will build our programs and their impact on health.
- Can you please define “sustainability” for us in the health research implementation context?
Sustainability for me is really a multi-dimensional construct. I think a lot of times in implementation science research and practice we have focused on that early phase of “how do we get an evidence-based intervention into practice in public health and community settings?” We concentrate on what training the providers need, what is the technical assistance, how can we support and facilitate delivery in that initial phase. But we often don’t think about what happens after a year, two years or five years in terms of continued delivery of that program, and its continued impact. What are the health benefits that the intervention continues to deliver and, maybe, what are some of the unintended consequences of that over time?
What I love about the work with sustainability is that it recognises that health, and context in which we have our health, are not static. The context changes, the population needs change, the systems change, and the evidence changes. And so, we have to be thinking about sustainability in a dynamic way, really from a learning health systems model or a dynamic systems approach. So that’s why I think it’s exciting but also really challenging. It’s not like there’s this static end goal that we’re going to reach and go “oh, it’s sustained.” It is much more complex than that.
- Why is it that we sometimes find that a new evidence-based intervention is successfully implemented but a year or two later the health provider has reverted to the old way of doing things?
Oh, there are so many reasons! First of all, I think often in our systems and our settings, we work within a short-term time frame. We often have some initial leadership buy-in, some initial champions, but then there are all these unexpected and competing demands that come in. Maybe the leadership shifts or their priorities shift, maybe policies change and there’s no longer the same alignment to support that intervention. Maybe there are competing health issues. In the context of COVID-19 we saw that people had to shift priorities. So, I think it’s just the reality of the complex and changing systems that we work in.
But I think it’s important that we think about this upfront so that we can track the return on our investment in implementing research. Because if we don’t understand that, we can never make the case for why it’s important.
And it’s also important because if we are translating a piece of research over and over again, because the implementation efforts stop or discontinue, practitioners and partners will become frustrated with that. They will probably be wary about engaging with the next implementation effort – and especially community partners, which have limited resources, might become mistrustful of research institutions.
I think the other reason it can be so difficult to do is that often when we test an intervention, we test it in isolation, in our academic silos or our perfectly resourced settings, without all those other complex factors. It’s rare that we’re testing in these larger dynamic settings. So, I think that often there are a lot of unanticipated issues that arise.
- How do we decide what to implement, and how do we decide what to put our thoughts and energies and resources into in terms of sustaining that implementation?
That’s a good question. It’s not only people like us asking that question, not only funders, but it’s the public asking that question. There’s such tremendous investment that goes into developing new interventions but where is the evidence in terms of impact? As we’re deciding what we are sustaining and scaling we really need to consider which interventions are likely to be more generalizable and impactful.
Often what we try to implement and sustain might be in populations and settings which are more resourced, motivated and organizationally ready for the intervention. I think the interventions which we prioritise for implementation and sustainability should be those which are more scalable, simple and adaptable. We should prioritise those where there is some evidence that they are more likely to be implemented and sustained in populations that suffer, for example, poverty or food insecurity – because they are the ones that need better health care the most.
As researchers we really need to be consulting with stakeholders and groups from the beginning because they are the ones who are going to know what will be more sustainable. So, we should make sure we are partnering with policymakers, health administrators and practitioners in those settings, and that we are not just by ourselves, trying to do this one-way dissemination and implementation.
We should also think about interventions that might be more synergistic, that might be able to impact multiple chronic diseases, or might be able to be embedded or institutionalized in community settings like faith-based organisations or schools that already have a lot of reach at a population health level.
- The ISHCA conference is bigger and has more partners involved this year - a response to the rapidly increasing interest in the field here. Do you think implementation science having “a moment?”
In my opinion yes, and rightfully so! I think I started teaching a class in this area about ten or 12 years ago when there was a lot less interest. And now it is growing globally and so many people –researchers, health service leaders, administrators, government – see the value in it. It is not the answer to everything but it’s a set of tools and resources for approaching the challenge of bridging the evidence-to-practice gap in a way that’s systematic and that really supports thinking in terms of multi-disciplinary teams.
I love the fact that the focus of the ISHCA conference is sustainability and scale-up. I think one of the frustrations I have is that there has been so much investment in the implementation piece but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. And I think that if we are all fully investing in the science of implementation, sustainability needs to be considered as its own domain. We need to be building the science of sustainability in terms of what factors and strategies matter, how do we plan early for sustainability, and what are sustainability strategies.
The sustainability field is ready, and especially because we have done so much great work on implementation. There are these people in Australia doing great work on this and at an amazing scale. So, I feel like sustainability is the next frontier of implementation and there’s a real opportunity to advance some of the science. I’m excited!
