8th Australian Conference on Quality of Life - 30 November, 2006

Conference brochure (pdf - 50k)

Register Online

The concept of a happy life has been formally debated at least since the time of the ancient Greeks. While Philosophy continues to make an important contribution in this area, over the last three decades scientists have joined the quest to understand what is meant by the quality of human life. It is now widely recognised that life quality may be measured by either objective or subjective indicators. The objective indicators, such as wealth and physical health, constitute the traditional indicators of population wellbeing. While these remain vital statistics, they are now understood to be insufficient, of themselves, to constitute a definition of life quality. There are two reasons. The first is the developing tension between economic development and environmental degradation. The second is that, beyond some threshold level, further increases in any of the objective indicators fail to generate a matching rise in feelings of wellbeing.

Scientific understanding of subjective life quality has been slow to develop but is gaining momentum. Within Medicine, patient-reported perceptions of life quality are measured as Health Related Quality of Life. Within the Social Sciences, global perceptions of personal wellbeing are referred to as Subjective Wellbeing. Increasingly such measures are being used as indicators of outcome effectiveness for diverse programs of human intervention.

On the 30th of November the Australian Centre on Quality of Life (ACQOL) is holding its 8th Australian conference. This meeting provides the unique opportunity for students, researchers, professionals and academics to share ideas and research from the perspective of their own discipline. This multi-disciplinary conference welcomes contributions from philosophy, the physical, natural and social sciences, medicine and professions concerned with the use of life quality as a measure of outcome.

Following its success at last year’s conference, ACQOL is also offering a one day pre-conference workshop on "Contemporary Approaches to Quality of Life Measurement." This workshop will discuss Subjective Wellbeing as a robust, contemporary measure suitable for use in health care and social services. Attendees will also receive copies of test manuals for the “ Personal Wellbeing Index” - a short, cross-culturally valid instrument that measures subjective wellbeing. Versions of this instrument have been created that are suitable for use with special populations, such as children and people who are cognitively impaired.

Conference Details

Keynote Speakers

Ross Gittins, Economics Editor,
Sydney Morning Herald and Economic Columnist, The Age
"Wellbeing, money, psychology and economics"

Prof. Robert Cummins, School of Psychology, Deakin University.
"On the 5th Anniversary of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: What we have learned about subjective wellbeing"

Conference Venue

Melbourne campus at Toorak, Stonington, 336 Glenferrie Road, Malvern

Time

9am-5pm (registration from 8:30am), 30 November 2006

Deadline for Registration

Friday 27 October 2006

Registration Fee - Register Online

Students please note
The students registration fee to attend this conference is half the normal fee. In order to claim this reduced fee, evidence of your student identity must be provided. Please include a photocopy of your student card in the same envelope as the cheque and registration form.

Registration fee includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch and refreshments following the conference.

Conference Enquires - telephone 03 9244 6844

• Prof. Bob Cummins (Chair)
• DAvid Mellor/Jane McGillivray (Deputy Chair - conference)
• Anna Lau (Deputy Chair - workshop)
• Wendy Kennedy (Marketing Manager)
• Ann-Marie James (Secretary)
• Renee Bear (Social Coordinator/Sponsorship Coordinator)
• Kathryn Page (Sponsorship Coordinator/Publicity Coordinator)
• Jed Blore/Adrian Tomyn (Operations Coordinator)
• Adrian Tomyn (Program Coordinator/Publicity Coordinator)
• Yvonne MacKay (Proceedings Coordinator)
• Mary Hahn (Proceedings Coordinator)
• Danijela Mijic (Proceedings Coordinator)

Presenters please note

If you wish to give an oral presentation or present a poster (poster size approximately 841mm x 1189mm) you must include a relevant abstract with your registration form.

Paper Presentations

• Presentation of a paper is limited to 20 minutes with 10 minutes for questions
  
• Papers will be presented throughout the day with short intervals between sessions
  
• Most sessions will consist of approximately 3 paper presentations
  
• Paper sessions will have nominated chairs

Proceedings

All presenters undertake to provide a document for inclusion in the conference proceedings. This may be an annotated powerpoint presentation or a conventional manuscript.

Abstract Guidelines

Abstracts are required for both oral paper presentations and poster presentations.

The abstract should contain 200-250 words and include the following:

• The title of the paper or poster
  
• Name and affiliation of author and any co-authors
  
• The abstract

Abstract Submissions

• By email: annmarie@deakin.edu.au
  
• By mail:
  Attention: Ann-Marie James
  School of Psychology
  Deakin University (Melbourne campus at Burwood)
  221 Burwood Highway
  Burwood Victoria 3215

Deadline for abstracts: Friday 27 October 2006

Referee and Publication Process

All abstracts and papers for inclusion in the Conference will be peer reviewed and published on the Australian Centre on Quality of Life website. The conference proceedings are archived in The National Library of Australia PANDORA (Preserving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of Australia) - http://pandora.nla.gov.au.

Workshop details

Date: 29th November 2006
Venue: Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood. In LT12 (Building X)
Speakers:

Dr. Anna L.D. Lau, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Prof. Robert Cummins, School of Psychology, Deakin University.

More information on workshop

Accommodation Suggestions

Bed & breakfast - East Melbourne: http://www.georgiancourt.com.au

Hotel - Richmond: http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Rydges_Riverwalk_Hotel_Melbourne.htm

Apartments - Toorak and South Yarra: http://www.holidaycity.com/south-yarra-melbourne/index.htm

There has been much development in recent years in the technology of QOL measurement, in Australia and internationally, including the work of the speakers. Both the conference and the workshop have attracted great interest overseas, and for the first time, the speakers are offering both over two consecutive days.Come and learn the most current and first-hand information about contemporary quality of life measures, for enhancing interventions and service delivery. Both events are appropriate to ALL professionals working in Health Care and Social Services.

For more information:
Contact Ann-Marie James
Telephone: 9244 6844
annmarie@deakin.edu.au

Register early to secure a place.

Proudly sponsored by Deakin University, Australian Unity, Amps Clinic, ANS, Codman, DePuySpine and Neurologic.