JOIN US AT THE 2026 COMCARE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
14 - 16 September 2026
National Convention Centre, Canberra
You’re warmly invited to join more than 900 delegates from across the work health and safety sector at the 2026 Comcare National Conference. Hear the latest in research and innovation, strengthen your industry connections, and discuss critical emerging issues at our biennial flagship event.
A people-first approach to workplace health and safety
In a time of rapid change, the conference takes a people-first approach to workplace health and safety. Through engaging sessions and discussion, we’ll explore how wellbeing, inclusion and empowerment create the foundation for safe and thriving workplaces.
Conference highlights
Workshops, exhibition sessions and interactive demonstrations from leading industry experts
Welcome Reception with partners and delegates on Monday 14 September
Gala Dinner at the iconic National Museum of Australia on Tuesday 15 September
CONFERENCE COUNTDOWN
Comcare is pleased to welcome our 2026 Keynote and Panel Speakers
Dr Ben Hamer
Dr Ben Hamer is an accredited and globally awarded futurist, ranked in the Top 20 Global Futurists and the #1 thought leader for the Future of Work in the Asia-Pacific.
Formerly the Head of Future of Work at PwC Australia, Ben has undertaken work and research around the world, including time spent leading critical projects at the World Economic Forum as well as being a Visiting Scholar at Yale University. He is an Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University, a Board Member for the Australian HR Institute and Netball NSW, and a LEGO Serious Play certified trainer.
As the Founder and Chief Futurist of leading trend intelligence agency, ThinkerTank, Ben works with organisations to help them think big, see around corners and stay ahead of the game.
Dr Ben Hamer
Dr Ben Hamer is an accredited and globally awarded futurist, ranked in the Top 20 Global Futurists and the #1 thought leader for the Future of Work in the Asia-Pacific.
Formerly the Head of Future of Work at PwC Australia, Ben has undertaken work and research around the world, including time spent leading critical projects at the World Economic Forum as well as being a Visiting Scholar at Yale University. He is an Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University, a Board Member for the Australian HR Institute and Netball NSW, and a LEGO Serious Play certified trainer.
As the Founder and Chief Futurist of leading trend intelligence agency, ThinkerTank, Ben works with organisations to help them think big, see around corners and stay ahead of the game.
Dr Ben Hamer
In 2007, Amanda Rishworth was elected as the Member for Kingston at 29 years of age.
Amanda is the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
She previously held the positions of Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development, Shadow Minister for Youth, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Minister for Social Services, and Minister for the NDIS.
Amanda was educated at state schools in Adelaide and was a volunteer swimming instructor and surf life saver.
During her university studies, Amanda worked as a sales assistant and developed a strong interest in workplace fairness. Amanda followed this passion to work in the trade union movement, both as a union representative and an occupational health and safety trainer.
Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology Honours from
Flinders University and a Masters Degree in Psychology from Adelaide University. After graduating, Amanda practiced as a psychologist working with General Practitioners in the delivery of mental health care to the community.
Amanda is a strong advocate for helping Australians have
dignity in work and creating and protecting secure, well-paid jobs. She is also passionate about broader issues such as bringing down the cost of high-quality early learning for families, ensuring healthcare is affordable and accessible for all.
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Dr Nate Zettna is a Lecturer in Leadership within the School of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School. Nate's research focuses on team effectiveness and employee well-being across the lifespan. His projects explore key areas such as leadership, age diversity, frontline service teams, and team well-being and performance.
His work spans multiple sectors, including banking, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and education, where he has collaborated with organisations in various countries to drive impactful research and practice.
He has published his research in various high-impact journals and has co-authored multiple major industry reports.
Dr Nate Zettna
Milly Rose Bannister is a Gen Z specialist, branding consultant, and award-winning founder of the youth mental health charity ALLKND, currently thriving in the digital and social impact space. Dubbed the internet’s ‘Gen Z boss’ by Fortune Magazine, she is future-proofing social impact with creativity and compassion.
Thanks to her strong background and training in media, journalism, positive psychology, and human research, her digital storytelling reaches more than 5 million Australians each year. Her relatable and articulate delivery, coupled with energy and passion, is backed by evidence-based research and a deep commitment to making a difference. She has pitched and delivered creative projects for value-aligned partners like Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, AFLW, Instagram, Frank Body, Grill’d, and Lululemon.
In 2020, after moving home from the U.S. and drawing from her own and her peers’ lived experiences, Milly founded ALLKND—a Gen Z-led charity on a mission to train at least one young person in every Australian classroom, sports team, workplace, and group chat in peer-to-peer mental health first aid, also known as Good Mate Training. Instead of avoiding tough topics, ALLKND empowers young people with the knowledge and skills to support one another—because being a good mate is something they’ve always been great at. This is the #knowmoredomore effect.
Milly Bannister
Comcare is pleased to welcome our 2026 Keynote and Panel Speakers
A testament to the power of human spirit, Kath Koschel is a survivor who has overcome incredible odds and unimaginable tragedy to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things. A former cricketer and Ironman competitor, Kath is an internationally sought after speaker and author of best-selling book Kindness. She partners with the biggest and most well-known companies and brands across the world to help them achieve perspective, good culture, wellbeing and of course, kindness.
Driven by a passion to spread gratitude and kindness in the world, her journey led her to found Kindness FactoryTM with the goal of encouraging one million acts of kindness all over the world. To date, Kindness Factory has recorded over 8 million acts of kindness and is now a registered not-for-profit in three countries.
Kath’s work has been celebrated globally, most recently being named the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year and recipient of the Australia Medal for courage in overcoming extreme adversity.
Kath Koschel
Former World Number 4 tennis player, Jelena Dokic embodies resilience and triumph. Her awe-inspiring journey on the court includes making the semi-finals of Wimbledon at 17 years of age and being a doubles Grand Slam finalist at 18. Yet, beyond the spotlight, she endured adversity, including abuse from her father for 15 years. This trauma shadowed her success, affecting her mental health. At 22, she faced a breaking point but chose resilience. Dokic emerged as a survivor, determined not just to survive but to thrive.
Her story, shared in bestselling books Unbreakable and Fearless, and her number 1 documentary The Jelena Dokic Story, which was named 2025 Feature Documentary Production of the Year at the Screen Producers Australia Awards, and the 2025 Logies Best Factual or Documentary Program, showcases her journey from victim, survivor to thrive. Today, she inspires as a TEDx presenter and commentator, 2-time bestselling author, a living testament to the human spirit's resilience.
Jelena Dokic
Tony Armstrong, a proud Gamilaroi man from rural NSW, has become one of Australia’s most engaging and recognisable media figures. After an AFL career with Adelaide, Collingwood and Sydney, including the opportunity to play alongside his childhood hero Adam Goodes, Tony transitioned into broadcasting, where his natural warmth and sharp wit quickly set him apart.
In 2019, he broke new ground as the first Indigenous commentator to call live commercial AFL on radio, before becoming a regular on Marngrook Footy Show and The Colour of Your Jumper. His profile continued to grow in 2020 as co-host of Yokayi Footy across NITV and SBS, alongside his role on ABC Melbourne Breakfast radio.
Later that year, Tony joined the ABC, appearing across ABC News and Grandstand AFL before being announced as full-time sports presenter on News Breakfast in 2021. He soon became one of the network’s most trusted and popular faces.
Beyond news and sport, Tony has hosted a range of programs including Always Was Tonight, Eat the Invaders and the acclaimed documentary series End Game. He is also a Logie Award winner, Gold Logie nominee, award-winning podcast host, children’s author and highly sought-after MC. Known for his humour, authenticity and ease with any audience, Tony brings a unique blend of intelligence, heart and charisma to every stage and screen.
Dinner Speaker
Tony Armstrong
Mitch Brown is an advocate, speaker and leader working at the intersection of safety, inclusion, men’s wellbeing and social change.
In August 2025, Mitch became the first openly bisexual past or present male AFL player in the game’s 130-year history. That moment wasn’t about visibility alone - it was a line in the sand for safer cultures, healthier masculinities, and environments where people can show up fully as themselves.
Mitch now focuses his work on advocacy in inclusion, mental health, and men’s behavioural change, particularly within high-performance, hyper-masculine and community settings. His work centres on courage, accountability and care - challenging harmful norms while offering practical pathways for men to grow, reflect and lead differently.
Alongside this advocacy, Mitch brings deep experience from the social impact space, including leadership roles as a Board Director, social enterprise CEO, startup founder and commercial leader. He has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, Traditional Owners and governments, guided by principles of trust, cultural safety and self-determination.
A former elite athlete, Mitch draws on lived experience, humility and resilience to build genuine connection. Whether speaking, advising or collaborating, his focus is the same: creating safer systems, stronger communities, and a version of manhood that makes room for honesty, softness and strength - all at once.
Mitch Brown
Comcare is pleased to welcome our 2026 Keynote and Panel Speakers
Tanya Hosch AM is a nationally respected leader and advocate with a long and distinguished history in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, social inclusion, governance and public advocacy, awarded South Australian of the Year in 2021.
Her current roles include Chairperson on the Advisory Board Centre for Indigenous People and Work, UTS, Director of First Nations education-focused GO Foundation, part of The Goodes O’Loughlin Foundation, and Director of the National Library of Australia. Tanya was the inaugural Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the AFL for almost 9 years, maintaining her commitment to working towards social good through a range of institutions and organisations. Before joining the AFL, she was Joint Campaign Director of the Recognise movement for constitutional recognition. In May 2017, her contribution as a member of the Referendum Council resulted in The Statement from the Heart. This year she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her significant service to social policy and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion.
Tanya Hosch AM
Georgie Harman is one of Australia’s most influential and trusted figures in the mental health sector. As the CEO of Beyond Blue, she believes passionately in doing better for people and communities affected by mental health issues and suicide. Like for most of us, it’s personal. Georgie has steered Beyond Blue through significant change –
expanding its services and supports, strengthening advocacy and community connection, and harnessing digital innovation.
She is Deputy Chair of the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs, serves as a member of the National Mental Health Commission Advisory Council and on the Board of mentoring organisation, Kilfinan Australia. She is a Patron of Out for Australia and was an inaugural Board member of the Victorian Pride Centre, the first purpose-built place for Australia's LGBTIQ+ communities. Previously Georgie served on the Board of Mental Health Australia.
Georgie Harman AO
Alan Newey is a survivor of a workplace accident and the Director of Chat Safety. Having lost his right dominant arm to a conveyor belt accident, and spent many years in recovery and rehabilitation, he now presents to groups on the effects of his workplace accident and the impact on him and his family. Alan speaks from the point of view of an injured worker and gives a real insight into what happens to you during and after such a life-changing experience.
Alan is extremely confronting on the issues and effects of a workplace accident, and his presentation not only addresses the sequence of events leading up to his accident, the flow on affect, but the issues surrounding OHS today and how “OHS is not just another thing I have to do.”
Alan Newey
Liam O’Brien
Former World Number 4 tennis player, Jelena Dokic embodies resilience and triumph. Her awe-inspiring journey on the court includes making the semi-finals of Wimbledon at 17 years of age and being a doubles Grand Slam finalist at 18. Yet, beyond the spotlight, she endured adversity, including abuse from her father for 15 years. This trauma shadowed her success, affecting her mental health. At 22, she faced a breaking point but chose resilience. Dokic emerged as a survivor, determined not just to survive but to thrive.
Her story, shared in bestselling books Unbreakable and Fearless, and her number 1 documentary The Jelena Dokic Story, which was named 2025 Feature Documentary Production of the Year at the Screen Producers Australia Awards, and the 2025 Logies Best Factual or Documentary Program, showcases her journey from victim, survivor to thrive. Today, she inspires as a TEDx presenter and commentator, 2-time bestselling author, a living testament to the human spirit's resilience.
Jelena Dokic
Liam was re-elected as Assistant Secretary at the ACTU Congress in June 2024.
Before joining the ACTU Liam was the Victorian Assistant Secretary and National Vice-President of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU). It was there where he fought for the rights of workers across the diverse range of industries that the AWU represents. As a national official he led the AWU’s work in the aluminium, aviation, glass and construction sectors. As ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam is responsible for leading the movements policy,
industrial and campaigning work on work health and safety and workers’ compensation matters. Liam is passionate about the rights of all workers to have safe, healthy and decent work, and is a member of Safe Work Australia (SWA) and the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Council (ASSEC).
Liam is also responsible for the skills and VET portfolio at the ACTU, and is the Deputy Chair of the Jobs and Skills Australia Ministerial
Advisory Board. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, with a major in Economics. He is the proud father of two kids and lives in Melbourne’s west.
Liam O’Brien
Comcare is pleased to welcome our 2026 Keynote and Panel Speakers
Andrew was awarded a Public Service Medal for co-founding the Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice. He spearheaded a successful campaign to include a neurodiversity question in the Australian Public Service Employee Census, aiming to ensure the neurodivergent people are represented in the sector. Andrew’s TEDx talk about neurodiversity has 20,000 views. Andrew enjoys wearing novelty suits as an ice-breaker.
Andrew Pfeiffer PSM
Marie Boland has been the CEO of Safe Work Australia since 1 November 2023.
Marie’s WHS experience spans many roles, including completing the 2018 National Review of the model WHS laws (Boland Review).
Marie is a Member of Safe Work Australia and its subsidiary committees and a Commissioner of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. She is a member of the Respect@Work Council and the G20 Occupational Safety and Health Expert Network and an observer on the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities and the Heads of Workers’ Compensation Authorities.
Before joining Safe Work Australia, Marie offered independent WHS and workplace relations consultancy services. Marie was the 2021 Inaugural Thinker in Residence at the University of South Australia’s Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory. Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Arts from University College, Dublin, and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Adelaide.
Marie Boland
We are delighted to welcome Virginia Trioli back to the 2026 Comcare National Conference as our MC.
Virginia is a two-time Walkley Award winner, presenter of ‘Creative Types’ on ABC TV and iView and is one of Australia’s best-known journalists, with a formidable reputation as a television anchor, radio presenter, writer and commentator.
Virginia Trioli
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Monday
14 September
Pre-conference Workshops
Welcome Reception
Tuesday
15 September
Program sessions
Exhibition and activities
Conference Dinner
Wednesday
16 September
Program sessions
Exhibition and activities
Registration options
Early-bird registration is now open until 3 August 2026. All prices listed below are inclusive of GST.
two days
(EARLY-BIRD)
$1,685
- Two-days of conference sessions
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- A ticket to the Welcome Reception
- Access to the Exhibition Hall
two days with dinner
(EARLY-BIRD)
$1,815
- Two-days of conference sessions
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- A ticket to the Welcome Reception
- A ticket to the Conference Dinner
- Access to the Exhibition Hall
Day only
(Tuesday or wednesday)
$995
- One-day of conference sessions
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
CONFERENCE DINNER
Join industry colleagues at the iconic National Museum of Australia for the 2026 Comcare National Conference Dinner.
$230
- Arrival drinks and canapes
- 3-course meal and beverage package
- Entertainment and networking
CONFERENCE DINNER GROUPS OF 10
$2,070
- Reserve a table of 10 at the group rate
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
Monday 14 September
$75
- Practical activities, interactive engagement, and group discussions
- Refreshments
Comcare acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.