Annual Conference

The 29th annual conference of the Australasian Association of Writing Programs is hosted by the University of New England, Armidale (NSW). 

The following details for the 2024 AAWP Conference have been finalised: 

  • Main program: Wednesday 27 – Friday 29 November 2024 
  • Venue: University of New England, Armidale (NSW)
  • Workshops (focusing creative, critical and professional practice): Tuesday 26 November
  • Conference theme: Intersections.

The 2024 AAWP conference will be held at the Armidale campus of the University of New England, located on Anaiwan Country. Armidale is surrounded by national parks, gorges, and waterfalls. Its natural beauty has historically inspired writers, artists, and storytellers, including Judith Wright. 

Call for Papers: Abstracts are due by 31 May.

The conference theme of ‘intersections’ offers the possibility of the unexpected, as a meeting point or a place of divergence. We invite proposals for conference papers, panels, or performances that contemplate literal and figurative intersections involving writing (creative/professional/academic). Some starter points to consider include:

  • Interdisciplinarity
  • Intersectionality
  • Identities and cultures
  • Hybrid genres
  • Co-authorship and collaborations
  • History and fiction
  • Writing and place
  • Poetic forms
  • Pedagogy
  • Performance and writing
  • Technologies and writing
  • Writing and artificial intelligence
  • Curriculum design/delivery
  • Borders and boundaries
  • The publishing industry
  • Creative nonfiction and life writing
  • Writing for different audiences

We also welcome other approaches to the theme.

Submissions are due by 31 May. 

Please include the following in your proposal: Your name, institutional affiliation, email address, what you are proposing (paper, panel, or performance), title, an abstract (250 words max), and a short bio (100 words max).

Please email submissions or any questions to aawp@une.edu.au

NB: while the conference can be attended by anyone, presenters must be current AAWP members. More information about becoming a member is available here. The conference will primarily take place in Armidale, with options to participate in some parts of the program online. 

Travelling to Armidale

The conference website will be available, very soon, with comprehensive detail. In the meantime, please find (below) some information to assist you with your planning.

Travelling to Armidale

Armidale is located halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. This website is useful for information on different routes.
 
There are lots of ways to get here, including:


Drive
Armidale is on the New England Highway, which is the inland route between Sydney and Brisbane. Driving time from Sydney or Brisbane is around 5.5 to 6.5 hours (depending on your route) and less than 3 hours from the coast. If you’re coming from the coast, enjoy one of Australia’s best drives across the Waterfall Way.


Fly
Armidale Airport is located a 5-minute drive from the town centre and has several flights each day. From the airport, you can reach town by hire car, public bus (route 480), or taxi.
 
QANTAS has several flights between Sydney and Armidale each day.
Link Airways offers a few flights per week between Brisbane and Armidale.
 
Train
Countrylink provides rail travel between Sydney and Armidale once daily in each direction. The service includes the Central Coast, Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Singleton, and Tamworth. Concession fares are available for tertiary students.
 
Bus
Dorrigo Transit operates from Armidale to Coffs Harbour or Tamworth, 12 times a week. Bookings essential.
 
NSW TrainLink offers a bus between Tenterfield and Armidale.  
 
Getting Around Armidale
 
Armidale is a small town and most accommodation, restaurants, and shops are easily within walking distance. UNE is outside the town centre, but easily reached by:
 
Car
You can hire a car once you’re in Armidale, from the airport:

Hertz – Armidale Airport 02 6772 0620

Avis – Armidale Airport 02 6772 6216

Budget – 149/151 Miller St, West Armidale NSW 2350, Ph 02 6772 5872

Thrifty – Armidale Airport 02 6772 4551

 
On-campus, parking is in the Blue and Purple bays and costs $1 per hour or $15 for a 7-day ticket. Parking is paid for through the Strada app.
 
Bus
Edwards Coaches offers cheap local routes around Armidale including between town and UNE, and to/from the airport. The network map is here. The routes are:
 
480: Between Armidale and Uralla, via Armidale Airport
481: Between Armidale and the UNE campus
483: Armidale South hill loop
484: Armidale North hill loop
 
Taxi
Armidale taxis can be booked either through their website, the Armidale Taxis app, or by calling 02 6771 1455. You can pre-book a time or call when you need a taxi.
 
Cycling
There is a pleasant bike path between UNE and the town centre, which can be used to walk, bike, or scooter to the campus. Bikes can be hired from the Armidale Bicycle Centre or Bicycle Central on Marsh depending on availability.
 
If you would like to explore the region, visit the Armidale Tourism website

Previous annual conferences of the AAWP have been held at:

1996 University of Technology, Sydney

1997 Deakin University and RMIT University, Melbourne

1998 University of South Australia / University of Adelaide

1999 Edith Cowan University, Perth

2000 Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus

2001 University of Canberra

2002 University of Melbourne

2003 University of New South Wales

2004 Flinders University, Adelaide

2005 Curtin University of Technology, Perth

2006 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane

2007 University of Canberra

2008 University of Technology, Sydney

2009 Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand

2010 RMIT, Melbourne

2011 Southern Cross University, Byron Bay

2012 Deakin University, Geelong

2013 University of Canberra, Canberra

2014 Massey University, Wellington NZ

2015 Swinburne University, Melbourne

2016 University of Canberra, Canberra

2017 Flinders University, Adelaide

2018 Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia, Perth

2019 University of Technology, Sydney

2020 Griffith University, Gold Coast

2021 University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast (online symposium in lieu of conference)

2022 Central Queensland University and University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Sippy Downs

2023  University of Canberra’s Centre for Creative and Cultural Research