OCHRe Convocation 2026

October 2026

In October 2026, Professor Kerry Arabena was Master of Ceremonies for the OCHRe Convocation 2026, held over two days at ZINC at Federation Square in Naarm (Melbourne). The venue sits on the banks of the Birrarung, on the Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. The OCHRe network is hosted by the First Nations Cancer and Wellbeing Research Program at the University of Queensland, and its Convocation brought together researchers, community partners, sector leaders and stakeholders from across Australia to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and strengthen the partnerships behind Indigenous research.

Kerry opened the Convocation with remarks that drew on the Birrarung, under the theme ‘Empowering Voices and Deadly Futures’. Across the two days she held the program together, from discussion of the network’s draft Cultural Safety Framework and Indigenous Knowledge Framework to the Three Minute Thesis presentations from researchers.

The 2026 OCHRe Convocation highlights the importance of self-determination, cultural strength and collaborative action to create futures that are not only healthy and sustainable, but deadly, strong, vibrant and led by communities.

Key words

Indigenous research, cancer and wellbeing research, cultural safety framework, Indigenous knowledge, facilitation and Master of Ceremonies, research partnerships, self-determination, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country