We are excited to invite you to join us in-person in Adelaide from 8 to 10 January for the HEIA National Conference 2024. Delegates will enjoy a conference that actively engages delegates in storytelling through a range of home economics contexts through interactions with speakers and other delegates.

Please add a date claimer to your calendar and seek support and approval to attend this amazing conference.

Home economics has a rich history and the curriculum continues to respond to the issues facing individuals, families and communities. It has retained its focus on individual and family wellbeing while expanding its focus to incorporate a more global perspective on wellbeing for all. This perspective requires the home economics profession to drive initiatives such as respectful relationships across society, sustainability, food into the future, resilience and mindfulness. As professionals, we need to be part of the conversation and advocate for wellbeing to ensure a more sustainable, healthy and happy future.

The aim of Provenance, presence, prospects: Home economics storytelling is to delve into the past as to how home economics was shaped by its early adopters and the world, review the present structure and purpose of home economics in society and to identify and shape the future of home economics.  The storytelling theme will be a key feature in every session, with each presenter asked to tell their story as it relates to the home economics profession. Keynote sessions will be formed around a home economics context, such as wellbeing, resilience and mindfulness, respectful relationships, food and nutrition in the future, health, sustainability, and the Australian Curriculum. The conference discussions will lead to the creation of a visual storytelling board that will capture the essence of the storytelling and provide something to take forward in HEIA’s advocacy work.

Major objectives of the conference 

It is intended that the conference will:

·       inspire all home economics professionals to encourage others to take personal actions that promote futures in which they will be proud to play a part

·       empower home economics professionals in the education sector to take strong and confident actions related to school
curricula and to deliver rigorous and exciting programs for the student cohort

·       enable delegates to share views about past, current and future practices through storytelling

·       promote contemporary Home Economics

·       enable networking and collaboration with like-minded individuals

·      promote the value of the work of the home economics profession and the value of the Home Economics Institute of Australia.

Who will attend?

The conference will attract approximately 250 delegates, including:

·       home economics and allied professionals

·       teachers, tertiary educators and tertiary students; and other educators in home economics, social education, food and nutrition, textiles, and families

·       individuals and representatives of organisations interested in individual, family and/or planetary wellbeing as it pertains to everyday practices

·       school administrators.