NAGCAS 2026 National Conference theme announced:
Beyond Disruption: Designing Career Futures in an Era of Permanent Change
The theme for our upcoming conference (30 Nov – 1 Dec, Melbourne Connect, Narrm) has officially been announced, setting the stage for what promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking event.
Higher education, the labour market, and the student experience are no longer moving through cycles of disruption and recovery. Change is now the permanent operating condition.
The 2026 NAGCAS National Conference invites career practitioners, leaders, researchers and partners to move beyond disruption and explore how careers work is actively designed, led and re‑imagined in conditions of ongoing uncertainty.
This year’s conference positions career services not as responders to change, but as active shapers of agency, capability and choice — shaping career futures for students, institutions and communities in a world without stable maps.
Day 1 Theme - Repositioning Careers Work in a World of Permanent Change
Impact, identity and professional practice beyond disruption
Focus:
Where careers work sits now, its value, role and contribution in a changing environment.
Includes:
- Repositioning careers services within institutional strategy
- Measuring impact and demonstrating value in complex environments
- Professional identity, expertise and the human value of careers work
- Careers practice in an AI-enabled context (human judgement, trust, ethics)
- Student expectations and engagement with employability
- Bridging the gap between what we design and what students understand
- Equity, access and supporting diverse student cohorts
Day 2 Theme - Designing Career Futures: Capability, Systems and Practice
From insight to action in uncertain environments
Focus:
How we design and deliver careers work, translating insight into practice.
Includes:
- Embedding careers in curriculum and assessment
- Building career capability across the student lifecycle
- Supporting student decision-making, confidence and identity
- Designing scalable and sustainable careers services
- Institutional and industry partnerships
- AI-shaped work, learning and decision-making environments
Using technology to enhance (not replace) careers practice
Our call for abstracts will open in early June, stay tuned for more details on how to submit your abstract and get involved. This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to contribute your unique insights and innovation, and to be part of an inspiring line-up of presentations and discussions.
Important Dates and Information
8 June 2026 - Call for Abstracts
20 November 2026 - Registrations CLOSED
Ticket Prices
Early Bird Price - closing 30 September 2026
NAGCAS Member (2-day) Ticket $1,000.00
Non-Member Ticket (2-day) $1,300.00
*All prices include GST and Conference Dinner*
Standard Price - from 1 October 2026
NAGCAS Member (2-days) Ticket $1,250.00
Non-Member (2-days) Ticket $1,450.00
*All prices include GST and Conference Dinner*