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Conference Program

The 2026 UniSport National Conference was held in the Melbourne CBD, at RMIT University’s Storey Hall, from 26-28 May.

This year’s Conference theme was “Evolving university sport to create thriving campus communities.”

Pre Conference Workshops – Tuesday 26 May

The following workshops were delivered concurrently and repeated, providing opportunity for delegates to attend both.

Workshop 1: FISU Healthy Campus Community of Practice – risk behaviour domain

Workshop 2: Leading Change to Prevent GBV – prevention training session for executives, delivered by Our Watch

12.00pm – 2.00pm: Workshop Timeslot 1

2.00pm – 2.30pm: Afternoon Tea

2.30pm – 4.30pm: Workshop Timeslot 2

Day 1 – Wednesday 27 May

9.00am – 10.00am: Networking Brunch & Accreditation collection
Foyer – Level 5

Opportunity for delegates to network and share brunch upon arrival.

10.00am – 10.30am: Official Opening
Keynote Speaker – Alec Cameron, RMIT Vice Chancellor
Auditorium – Level 5

10.30am – 11.30am: UniSport Annual General Meeting
Auditorium – Level 5

The UniSport AGM was held in the Auditorium at RMIT Storey Hall.

Click here for further information.

Coordinators Stream
10.30am – 11.30am: Networking
Green Brain – Level 7

Opportunity for Coordinators to network and discuss current areas of work.

Students Stream
10.30am – 1.00pm: Topic 1 – Leadership and Team Culture
Seminar Rooms 3 & 4 – Level 7

Renowned presenter Carol Fox delivered an engaging workshop that draws from her ‘Clear. Calm. Confident.’ communication framework.

Carol’s workshop covered building rapport fast, presence and influence, communication styles under pressure, self-talk and mindset reframing, managing difficult personalities and differing opinions and above and below the line behaviours.

By the end of the session, student leaders were able to:

Set clear behaviour standards and address poor behaviour on and off the field with confidence;

Recognise their own leadership style and communication preferences, and adjust to lead a wider mix of personalities;

Build rapport and trust quickly to improve team cohesion and performance;

Use reframing and self-talk tools to stay calm and make better decisions under pressure; and

Apply practical strategies to manage conflict, difficult personalities, and differing opinions.

CEO Stream
11.30am – 1.00pm: Topic 1 – Vibrant Campus Communities
Auditorium – Level 5
Panel discussion – Directors of Student Experience/Engagement
Panel discussion with Directors of Student Experience/Engagement to explore their perspectives on building vibrant campus communities.

Panel members:
Dene Cicci (Executive Director of Students, RMIT University and President, Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association)
Naomi Dempsey (Pro Vice Chancellor Student Experience and Employability, La Trobe University)
Sarah McDonald (Deputy Vice Chancellor – Student Experience, Monash University)

The panel answered questions including:
-What does a vibrant campus community look and feel like?
-What are the underlying principles? 
-What will it look like in the future?
-What role does sport and physical activity play in this?
Member Case Study – UNSW Village Green
Matthew Corso (Sport Manager, UNSW Sydney) presented on how they transformed a low student-usage cricket oval into a Village Green that created a vibrant campus community.
Member Case Study – UWA Sport & UWA Student Guild partnership
Jake Wilkins (General Manager, UWA Sport) presented on how UWA Sport’s strong relationship with its Student Guild helps to create a vibrant campus community.
Coordinators Stream
11.30am – 1.00pm: Topic 1 – Getting organised for Nationals
Green Brain – Level 7

This session covered a range of topics related to getting organised for Nationals.

1.00pm – 1.30pm: Lunch
Foyer – Level 5

CEO Stream
1.30pm – 3.00pm: Topic 2 – University Sport Financial Sustainability
Auditorium – Level 5
1.30pm – 2.00pm: Philanthropy
Ben Durance (Sports Fundraising & Commercial Manager, Australian Sports Foundation) presented on how philanthropy can deliver funds annually into university sport.
The presentation covered:
Understand the frameworks and governance that build donor and government confidence.
Understand how leaders can attract, convert, and sustain this new wave of giving.
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Panel discussion
Panel discussion on university sport financial sustainability.

Panel members:
James Morgan (Chief Financial Officer, RMIT University)
Fabio Serpiello (Director Sport Strategy, Central Queensland University)
Michelle Wilson (General Manager, Adelaide University Sport & Fitness)

The panel answered questions including:
-From a finance perspective, what are your biggest challenges at the moment?
-What do you see are the biggest financial risks facing university sport over the next decade? 
-What do you see as the crucial elements of success to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of university sport?
2.30pm – 3.00pm: Round Table discussion
An opportunity for delegates to discuss a series of university sport financial sustainability questions with others on their table.
Combined Coordinators and Students Stream
1.30pm – 3.00pm: Topic 2 – Student Engagement
Green Brain room – Level 7
This session provided delegates with tips and strategies on how to get more students engaged in sport and physical activity on campus.
1.30pm – 2.00pm: How to Increase Student Engagement on Campus
Stefanie Maccar (Volunteer Coordinator / Department Manager, Monash Student Association) presented on ways to get more students engaged on campus in sport and physical activity.
2.00pm – 2.20pm: Member case studies
Deakin University – Joe Pitt and Thewin Robertson presented on how Deakin increased student engagement through the use of social media.
Edith Cowan University – Jarrod Evans presented on various student engagement strategies ECU has implemented on campus, including student sport and recreation engagement lifecycle, digital engagement, Western Invitational event, netball club case study and development of student leaders.
2.20pm – 2.40pm: Student Leader Panel
Student leaders provided their thoughts on increasing student engagement on campus and for Nationals.

Panel members:
Jordan Jackson (UniSC)
Lachlan Munns (UQ)
Emily Roche (MON)

Panel questions included:
-How did you first become engaged in university sport on campus? What attracted you and what kept you involved?
-What do you think entices students to come to campus and stay on campus for opportunities outside of classes?
-How can university sport departments best get the message out there about opportunities to engage in sport on campus? How do students best like to receive this information?
-How can we encourage students to champion sport & physical activity more effectively on campus?
-Representative sport and UniSport Nationals: what’s important? What would you change about the current offering?
2.40pm – 3.00pm: Round Table discussion (Coordinators only)
Opportunity for delegates to discuss learnings from the session and past / current initiatives to engage students on campus.
2.45pm – 3.15pm: Student Voice into UniSport 10 Year Vision (Students only)
Andrew Larrett, Managing Director and Founder of Strategem Holdings, facilitated a workshop on what UniSport will look like in 10 years’ time and obtain feedback from student delegates on this.

3.00pm – 3.30pm: Afternoon Tea
Level 7

CEO Stream
3.30pm – 5.00pm: Topic 3 – UniSport 10 Year Vision
Green Brain room – Level 7

Andrew Larrett, Managing Director and Founder of Strategem Holdings, facilitated a workshop on what UniSport will look like in 10 years’ time and how it will serve its members.

Coordinators Stream
3.30pm – 5.00pm: Topic 3 – Future Opportunities & Sport Integrity
Seminar Rooms 3 & 4 – Level 7

Future Opportunities
The first part of the session covered a range of topics, including:
-Future UniSport calendar with discussion on NUC hosting opportunities
-Discussion on the future of some sports at Nationals
-Current Nationals to international pathways
-Introducing Australian and New Zealand University Sport Series
-Student opportunities, including work integrated learning, looking at the Queensland University of Technology’s recent experience at the UniSport Athletics Nationals.

Sport Integrity
The second part of the session covered:
-Sport Integrity Australia – understand UniSport’s link with them and the requirements in place.
-Managing participant behaviour – challenges with respectful behaviour to officials and opposition.

Students Stream
3.30pm – 5.00pm: Topic 3 – R U OK?
Seminar Rooms 1 & 2 – Level 7

In this session, Jake Farriss and Charlie Willbridge from R U OK? delivered a workshop to student leaders covering the following:

  • About R U OK? and how it began
  • How to recognise the signs someone might be struggling
  • Preparing for, and having an R U OK? conversation
  • Snapshot of Mental Health and Suicide in Australia
  • Introduction of practical tools for use in different contexts
5.15pm – 7.00pm: UniSport Awards presentation
Auditorium – Level 5

Presentation of the annual UniSport Australia Sports Awards.
The event was a cocktail standing function, with canapes and drinks served.

7.45pm onwards: State of Origin Watch Party
Melbourne Central Lion Hotel, Level 3/211 La Trobe Street

Invite open to all delegates to attend and watch the State of Origin at the Melbourne Central Lion Hotel, a few minutes walk from the Conference venue.

Day 2 – Thursday 28 May

9.15am – 10.45am: Topic 4 – Social Impact
Auditorium – Level 5
9.15am – 10.00am: Anna Walker – Repositioning Sport as Strategic University Infrastructure
Presentation from Anna Walker on measuring what matters and leading with social impact.

What global shifts in sport measurement and accountability are we seeing that are needed to embed greater sustainability? How we move beyond ‘participation’ metrics to measurements that matter most to universities. 
– Measuring social impact of sport interventions
– Capturing DEI baselines and experience gaps to inform participation interventions and strategies
– Measuring and responding to participant experience and belonging
– Capturing and growing emphasis on retention
– Understand how these outcomes drive long-term success and sustainability
– Adapting governance mechanisms in response to new accountabilities

What is known about the social impact of sport within the university setting? How we apply social impact narrative to open doors to new audiences, investors and partnerships.
– Capturing and communicating our impact
– Positioning sport as integral to university ambitions
– Leveraging strategic storytelling to affirm sport’s vital role in campus life.
10.00am – 10.15am: Member Case Study – UTAS HYPE program
Kieran Perry and Mackensie Belbin presented on the UTAS HYPE program, designed to introduce students to new and exciting opportunities beyond traditional sports.
10.15am – 10.45am: Member Case Study – Monash Sport – Optimising Social Impact and Student Engagement
Brett Lavale, Darren McLeod and Mel Elston presented on Monash Sport’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and a range of programs they’ve successfully delivered targeting students who don’t traditionally engage in sport.

10.45am – 11.15am: Morning Tea
Foyer – Level 5

11.15am – 12.45pm: Topic 5 – Elite Student-Athletes
Auditorium – Level 5
11.15am – 12.15pm: University Elite Student-Athlete Framework
Glenn Warry, Partner at Sports Leaders Consultancy, presented on the University specific student sportsperson / performer recognition framework.
12.15pm – 12.45pm: Interview with elite student-athletes Rebecca Henderson (MELB) and Bianca Puglisi (VU).

12.45pm – 1.00pm: Closing Remarks
Auditorium – Level 5

1.00pm: Conference concludes, take-and-go lunch packs

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