PHA conference 2025

WHEN: 25-26 October 2025

WHERE: Darwin - Larrakia Country

THEME: Hot Histories
Abstract submissions are now closed.

The PHA conference is a great way to share all aspects of our work as professional historians, showcasing the diversity of the work we undertake and exploring the challenges we face. The conference will be held in collaboration with the annual history colloquium History Talks in Darwin on Larrakia Country, on 25 and 26 October 2025.

Join us to hear papers and presentations along the theme of Hot Histories as members share insights from their work on passion projects, hot topics, controversial histories, stories from the ‘steamy’ north (of Capricorn), professional challenges, love in the archives and any history-related work that has raised the temperature.

The PHA conference is a great way to share all aspects of our work as professional historians, showcasing the diversity of the work we undertake and explore the challenges we face. From contract negotiations, media appearances, large commissions, heritage work, oral history, exhibitions, walking tours, websites, films/documentaries, workshops/teaching and beyond.

We are looking forward to welcoming lively audiences, with the invaluable chance to network in Darwin. However we will also offer an online stream throughout the conference for those unable to attend in person. We are unfortunately not accepting any remote or online presentations.

EMAIL ENQUIRIES TO: conference@historians.org.au

Conference attendees in Adelaide, 2023.

 

  • To assist our smaller associations in hosting a national conference, Professional Historians Australia will be covering the cost of conference registration, as well as morning and afternoon teas on both the Saturday and Sunday of the conference.

    Catered lunch will be provided for those who want it, for a small fee (around $25 per day/TBD).

    Local associations will also provide bursaries to assist their members to attend the conference.

  • For those interested in spending a bit more time in Darwin, the conference will include the following events and activities, which may include additional costs:

    PHA-organised extra-curricular, professional development activities:

    THURSDAY 23 October

    • Day Tour of historic downtown Darwin and surrounds

    • Day Visit to the Defence of Darwin Experience

    • Evening Mindil Beach Sunset Market

      FRIDAY 24 October

    • Morning Tour of the Chung Wah Society

    • Afternoon Curator-lead tour of MAGNT (Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory)

    • Evening Conference welcome drinks

      SATURDAY 25 October

    • Evening Conference Dinner

    Professional Historians Australia AGM will also be held around the conference and PHA members are all warmly invited to attend. Date/time TBD.

    Conference program details will be available mid-year when conference registrations open.

Circa

When you are considering the subject of your paper, please keep in mind that the conference is also a springboard to the next issue of Circa, the PHA's biennial peer-reviewed journal. Issue nine will be published in 2026. Submissions are already open and close in October 2025.  The guidelines set out submission requirements. If you prefer to write a review of an exhibition, conference or other projects, please contact the editors to propose a review: circa@historians.org.au 

TESTIMONIALS from 2023

I was thrilled to attend the PHA Conference in Adelaide. Not only was it a chance to catch up with other PHA folk and see the local sites with local guides, the papers presented were really very interesting! 

I was very fortunate to be the recipient of a bursary that assisted me to attend the conference, something I really appreciated. I didn’t present as I wasn’t quite sure what to talk about or the format but hope to do so next time in a really welcoming space.

A wonderful outcome from the conference was hearing the work of a fellow PHA member that resonated with work I was doing and led to a collaborative project. I can’t recommend attending the PHA conference enough!

My first PHA conference in 2023 was a fabulous experience. I got to know fellow PHA members from all over Australia and developed deeper relationships with those in my state branch. It was wonderful to hear what everyone was working on and due to the single stream, it was easy to absorb their discussions about their wonderful work. The single stream also makes it very relaxed and collegial, allowing you to really engage with people and ideas.