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Abstract submissions will close Monday, 20 July 2026, 11:59pm AEST.
The theme for DHSS 2026 is "Accelerating Human Capability for Future Readiness". In a time of heightened strategic competition and rapid technological change, this year's Defence Human Science Symposium will examine how human sciences can help accelerate the Australian Defence Force's human capability for future readiness across an integrated focused force. The symposium will seek to explore personnel preparedness, resilience, performance, and sustainment, to ensure the ADF workforce is ready to adapt and respond to an increasingly complex operating environment.
Abstracts will be evaluated on their scientific innovation, Defence relevance and practical implications as well as their overall quality. The abstract text should make clear why the research is of interest to Defence, and what Defence might change or do differently based on the findings. Abstracts that fail to articulate Defence relevance and practical implications, or are not of sufficient quality, are unlikely to be accepted.
Abstracts should be prepared according to the abstract template, following the theme and guidance displayed on the DHSS website. This year we are inviting submissions for short (~10 minute) oral presentations and printed posters. Poster presenters can also present their work to the audience in a 2-minute poster pitch. Some contributors may be invited to give longer presentations, at the discretion of the Scientific Committee.
The scientific committee will consider submissions describing theoretical and applied research, as well as discussion papers. All submissions should be classified no higher than OFFICIAL, Public Release.
If conclusions are drawn from quantitative analysis, statistical methods and power analyses should be described in sufficient detail to allow assessment of the validity of those conclusions. This does not preclude the presentation of exploratory work or pilot studies.
Research does not need to be conducted using Defence personnel as participants. Research conducted with non-Defence populations, such as elite athletes or undergraduate students, will still be considered for acceptance if the Defence relevance and practical implications of the work is clear and the work has scientific merit. DHSS encourages abstract submissions from researchers at all stages of their career. Relevant submissions by students (Honours, Masters, PhD, etc.) are welcome. DHSS also welcomes submissions from international researchers.
Abstracts should not be based on work that has been submitted to, or previously presented at, other conferences. New interpretations of previously-presented datasets or follow-up work may be accepted depending on Defence relevance and overall quality. The committee reserves the right to decline submissions they believe to be substantially similar to work presented elsewhere (including at prior DHSS events).
Abstracts must be submitted through the official submission platform. Abstracts submitted through other means (e.g. direct e-mail to committee members) will not be accepted unless previously agreed by the organising committee. Late submissions may be accepted at the committee's discretion, provided that an extension request is received via email (DSTG.DHSS@defence.gov.au) prior to the closing date. There is also no guarantee that a late submission will be accepted even with an extension.
To submit your abstract/s, please create a new account below. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your submission, please contact us via email: dhss2026@deakin.edu.au
Please note: You will need to create a new account even if you have submitted to DHSS in previous years.
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