Conference Invitation
Take part in a three-day Conference Program including keynotes, concurrent workshops, interactive panels and alternative sessions with special guests.
- 3 Day In-Person Conference in Sydney
- Up to 3 days of learning, creativity, connecting and professional development
- 40 + Speakers
- Presentations from local and international experts and industry leaders
- 18 OPD Points
Key Dates
Post-Conference Masterclass
Participate in a post- conference Masterclass on AutPlay Therapy facilitated by international expert and industry leader in working with neurodivergent children, Dr Robert Jason Grant.
Call for Abstracts
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES SUMMARY
1- OVERVIEW 2026 SYDNEY CENTRE FOR CREATIVE CHANGE CONFERENCE
2- CONFERENCE THEMES
3- PRESENTATION TYPES
4- AUTHORS/ PRESENTERS BENEFITS
5- SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
6- ABSTRACT SUBMISSION TEMPLATE AND KEY DATES
7- EVALUATION AND NOTIFICATION PROCESS
8- GENERAL POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS
SHARE YOUR RESEARCH, WORK, CASE STUDIES, PROJECTS, PROGRAM INSIGHTS AND IDEAS
Are you a seasoned expert or an emerging leader in your field? Are you enthusiastic about sharing your valuable insights and expertise with creativity and inspiration? If so, we invite you to join us as presenter (or co-presenter) at the 2026 SCCC CREATIVE THERAPIES CONFERENCE, which will bring together national and international mental health professionals, researchers, and thought leaders from across the play therapy, art therapy and drama therapy sectors and beyond.
We welcome applications from counselling and psychotherapy and the broader allied health community who are working with children and young people using play therapy, art therapy and/or drama therapy. Submit your abstract now for consideration and help us create enriching experiences that will benefit the child and adolescent counselling and psychotherapy profession, bolster your visibility as a thought leader, and leave a positive impact on attendees' growth and development.
1- OVERVIEW
Location: Sydney, Australia
Venue: Novotel Sydney Darling Square
Dates: From Friday 17 – Sunday 19 July, 2026.
Post conference AutPlay Therapy Masterclass Training, Monday 20 – Tuesday 21 July, 2026
Time: 9am – 5pm
Expected Attendance: 200 mental health and allied health professionals working with children and young people including, play therapists, art therapists, drama therapists, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, school counsellors, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and others.
Expected Exhibits: 7 vendor exhibitor tables
Expected Sessions: Over 40 presentations, workshops, master classes and panels over 3 days in-person conference.
18 CPD hours: Up to 18 points/ hours for three days (includes certificate of attendance).
Format: 3- day, in person conference
Theme: Celebrating Diversity with Play, Art and Drama Therapy
The 2026 SCCC Conference will feature cutting-edge mental health research and practice in creative therapies, alongside exemplary practical applications shared by local and international experts. Anticipating an audience of approximately 200 domestic and international delegates, the event seeks to enhance the professional capabilities of frontline child therapy providers, academics, researchers, and private practitioners. Through offering insights into play therapy, art therapy and drama therapy service delivery across various sectors, the conference endeavours to enrich attendees' understanding and proficiency in the field.
2- 2026 SCCC CONFERENCE THEME
The theme for this Creative Therapies Conference is A World of Wonder: Celebrating Diversity with Play, Art and Drama Therapy
This theme celebrates the diversity of children and young people we work with and support in the counselling profession. Through the playful lens of the Alice in Wonderland story, we invite you to a World of Wonder in exploring so many ways we can use Play Therapy, Art Therapy and Drama Therapy to support inclusive, equitable and effective therapeutic practice.
This conference aims to provide valuable and innovative insights, impart practical tools to enhance your professional competencies, address complex challenges, to understand and support diversity in the child counselling profession.
Through engaging presentations, research reviews, interactive workshops, case studies, and collaborative activities, our presenters are expected to inspire, educate, and equip you to bring even more creativity to your clinical practice, expand your perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the creative therapies in the counselling of children and young people.
We invite abstract submissions to share your research, work, case studies, projects, programs, insights, lived experience and ideas that fall into the four streams below exploring the creative therapy opportunities with children and young people with a focus on promoting inclusiveness and equity.
1. Neurodiversity Stream - Curious Minds, Unique Paths
2. First Nations Stream - The Path Back Home: Story, Culture & Connection
3. Trauma & Healing Stream - Finding Safe Ground in Unfamiliar Lands: Creative Healing Journeys
4. Gender Diversity Stream - Wonderfully Ourselves: Journeys of Identity & Becoming
3- PRESENTATION TYPES
30 min Presentation (Includes 5 minutes of Q&A)
Present to the audience providing concise, focused, and valuable insights into a specific topic, allowing attendees to gain new knowledge, perspectives, and/or skills within a relatively short timeframe.
90 min Workshop (includes 10 minutes of Q&A)
As a workshop presenter, you are an accomplished and authoritative figure within your field, possessing extensive expertise and practical experience in your area of focus. You are a native public speaker, you know how to keep attendees' attention through engaging, interactive, and in-depth instructional sessions that offer participants a unique opportunity for immersive learning and skill development.
3-hour Masterclass
Expert in your field, you excel at delivering engaging, interactive sessions that facilitate active learning and skill development. Your presentation should cover the topic comprehensively, offering practical and hands-on exercises for the attendees. We encourage all masterclass presenters to create a collaborative learning environment and provide personalised guidance and support to attendees as they explore new concepts and techniques. Ultimately, your presentation should equip participants with actionable takeaways that they can effectively apply in their professional lives.
4- PRESENTERS BENEFITS
Be recognised as an expert in your field
Being accepted into the conference program affirms your status as a thought leader, subject matter expert and presenter of high quality within your sector.
Increase visibility
Through conference marketing efforts, showcase your professionalism to a broad audience, gaining exposure and engagement with attendees.
Opens doors to opportunities
Presenting can serve as a catalyst for other opportunities, such as attracting investors, and buyers or enhancing your standing within your organisation, or securing new projects.
Contribute to professional advancement
Contributing to the advancement and support of the profession by sharing your findings and insights.
Cultivate creativity
Presenting offers an opportunity to unleash your creativity, allowing you to communicate your findings in a dynamic and engaging manner.
Networking
Engage with fellow experts and like-minded local and international individuals in a stimulating intellectual environment, fostering new connections, building relationships, and sharing insights.
Presenters are eligible for a discount on their registration fee, however, are still responsible for arranging and paying for their registration, travel and accommodation.
5 - ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Abstract Template Guidelines Steps and Key Dates:
STEP1: Carefully read this guideline and policy document.
STEP2: Download and complete the abstract submission document.
STEP3: Submit your 2-part abstract via email to info@sydneycentreforcreativechange.com.au before the closing date of 6 February 2026. You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your abstract submission.
STEP4: You will receive notification by 20 February 2026 whether your presentation is accepted, on the waitlist or declined.
STEP5: You will have until 20 March 2026 to accept or decline the offer by returning the signed contract.
STEP6: Register to the conference as a presenter via the event website from February 2026 at special discount rate.
STEP7: Send your PowerPoint presentation by 30 April 2026.
Abstract submission key dates
- Launch for call of abstracts 21 December 2025
- Abstract deadline 6 February 2026
- Abstract submitters notified of acceptance 20 February 2026
- Super early bird registrations close 6 March 2026
- Author registration deadline 6 April 2026
- Preliminary program available February 2026
6- EVALUATION PROCESS
· After the call for submissions closes, a panel of reviewers, will access all submissions.
· Once all the abstracts have been reviewed, the panel will select presenters for the program.
· Authors will receive notification of their abstract status: accepted, waitlisted, or declined.
· Notification of acceptance will be sent via email to the submitting author by 20 February 2026. Acceptance or otherwise is at the discretion of the committee whose decision is final. All presenting authors must register and pay to attend the Conference. If presenting author registration isn’t completed by the due date, then the presentation may be removed from the program.
· We will have a waitlist available should there be a cancellation. You may qualify for the waitlist and potentially be invited to present in a second round of submission notification.
7- GENERAL POLICIES and REQUIREMENTS
- The submitter must be an author of the abstract.
- Abstracts must be submitted with 2-part form via email to info@sydneycentreforcreativechange.com.au by 6 February 2026.
- The official language is English. No translation will be provided.
- All required fields on the online abstract submission form must be completed.
- Acceptance of abstracts for presentation at the Conference will be on the basis of committee selection.
- All presenting authors will be required to register and pay for the Conference by the author registration deadline of 6 April 2026 to ensure that their abstract(s) are included in the final program.
- It is the responsibility of the submitting author to ensure that the abstract is submitted correctly and has been approved by all authors.
- Prior to emailing abstract submission, the author must check their submission to ensure the final document is being forwarded.
- The Conference Managers will not be held responsible for abstract submissions not received or for submission errors caused by internet services outages or other unforeseen events.