Choosing the right presentation format

WATLF offers three presentation formats: Showcase presentations, Interactive Workshops, and Nuts & Bolts presentations. 

Each format serves a different purpose, so please review the format descriptions carefully and select the one format that best suits your proposal.

Each idea, project or piece of work may be submitted in one presentation format only. Please do not submit the same or a substantially similar proposal across multiple formats—for example, as both a Showcase presentation and an Interactive Workshop.

You are welcome to submit more than one proposal, provided each submission has a clearly different focus and content. Changing the title, wording or proposed format does not make an otherwise similar proposal a separate submission. Duplicate or substantially overlapping proposals may be removed from consideration.

Multiple submissions and presenter selection

WATLF receives a high number of strong submissions and has a limited number of places in the program. To create a balanced program and provide presenting opportunities across participating institutions, disciplines and perspectives, the Program Committee may limit the number of accepted presentations involving the same presenter or presenting team.

If you submit multiple proposals, each will be reviewed on its merits. However, even where more than one proposal is assessed positively, you should expect that you are likely to be selected to present only once.

Where a presenter is involved in multiple proposals, including as a co-presenter, the Program Committee may consider their overall involvement when developing the final program.

Before submitting

Please make sure that:

• you have selected the single presentation format best suited to your proposal

• the proposal has not been submitted in another presentation format

• any additional proposal you submit has a clearly different focus and content

• all named co-presenters have agreed to be included; and

• you understand that submitting multiple proposals does not mean you will be offered multiple places in the program

As part of your submission, you’ll select one of the categories below. To help you prepare, you can preview a PDF copy of submission questions for each category by clicking the titles below. 

• Showcase Presentation – A presentation of up to 20 minutes, followed by five minutes of audience questions, sharing an evidence-informed learning and teaching initiative with findings, insights or lessons ready for dissemination. 

• Interactive Workshop – A 90-minute participatory session in which attendees actively explore, discuss or apply a learning and teaching idea, practice or approach relevant across contexts. 

• Nuts and Bolts – A focused 5–10-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute facilitated discussion, offering a practical strategy or emerging idea for audience feedback, shared problem-solving and consideration of next steps.
  
  

Additional Requirements:

• Clearly indicate which stream and presentation category your proposal aligns with.
  
  

• You’ll be asked to respond to a set of category-specific questions in the online form. Please review the preview link for details before submitting.
  
  

• Use clear, accessible language — accepted abstracts will be published in the program.

19 August — Call for Proposals opens

16 November — Early-bird registration opens for 2-day tickets

25 November — Call for Proposals closes

15 December — Presenter notifications

21 December — Early-bird registration closes for 2-day ticket

27 January 2027 — Registration closes

4 — 5 February 2027 — WATLF 2027 Forum

Outcome notifications will be emailed by COB 15 December, and successful authors will be invited to accept their offer to present by 18 December. Please ensure you check your inbox during this time.

The WA Teaching and Learning Forum (WATLF) is a face-to-face event held in Western Australia. Please note that WATLF is not an online or hybrid event, and all presentations must be delivered in person.

To be eligible to present, you must be currently employed or enrolled at a Western Australian campus of the following institutions:

• Curtin University

• The University of Notre Dame

• Murdoch University

• Edith Cowan University

• The University of West Australia

We welcome proposals from all staff working in teaching and learning across the participating WA universities — both academic and professional, postgraduate students, and cross-institutional teams. Collaboration is strongly encouraged. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept submissions from colleagues located at global campuses outside WA. While colleagues from our global campuses are not able to submit and present, we warmly welcome and encourage their attendance at the Forum. If you're unsure about your eligibility, feel free to contact us for clarification.

First-time presenters are especially encouraged to submit. WATLF is a collaborative, supportive space — a chance to share ideas, trial new approaches, and learn together. Every contribution helps shape the conversation and inspire the community. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of learning and teaching across WA and beyond.

WATLF strongly encourages submissions from early-career educators, Indigenous colleagues, people with disability, neurodivergent educators, and other underrepresented voices.

Consider what you want participants to gain from the session:

Format Best suited to

Showcase Sharing an established initiative, project, practice, evaluation or research-informed approach, including what was done, what was learned and why it matters

Interactive Workshop Facilitating an active, participatory session in which attendees explore, discuss, practise or apply an approach

Nuts & Bolts Sharing one focused, practical idea, strategy, tool or early insight that can be communicated clearly in 10 minutes

Choose the format based on the intended participant experience—not on which format you think is most likely to be accepted. 

12 August — Call for Proposals opens

25 November — Call for Proposals closes

15 December — Submission Outcomes

18 December — Individuals or teams must accept or decline their offer to present

No. Each idea, project or piece of work may be submitted in one format only: Showcase, Interactive Workshop, or Nuts & Bolts.

Please choose the format that best suits what you want participants to learn or experience. The same or a substantially similar proposal must not be submitted across multiple formats.

Duplicate or substantially overlapping proposals may be removed from consideration. The Program Committee will not select a preferred format on your behalf, so please review the format descriptions carefully before submitting. 

Yes. You may submit multiple proposals, provided each has a clearly different focus and content.

For example, two proposals about different projects, teaching strategies or stages of research may be acceptable. Submitting the same project with a different title, slightly revised abstract or different presentation format would not usually be considered a separate proposal.

It is possible, but unlikely. WATLF receives a high number of strong submissions and aims to create a balanced program with opportunities for presenters from across participating institutions, disciplines and perspectives.

Each proposal will be reviewed on its merits. However, even if several of your proposals are assessed positively, you should expect that you are likely to be invited to present only once.

You may be involved in more than one submission, including as a co-presenter. However, the Program Committee may consider your overall involvement when developing the final program.

If you are listed on several proposals, please ensure you have made a meaningful contribution to each and would be available to participate if it were accepted.

Please select the stream that feels like the closest fit. The program team may reassign if appropriate. 

Proposals will be reviewed on:

• Alignment with the forum theme and streams

• Relevance to teaching and learning in higher education

• Clarity, originality, and potential impact

• Balance across program streams and categories

See our Submissions & Selection Guidelines page for transparency on eligibility and review process 

WATLF sessions will be delivered in standard university teaching spaces, such as lecture theatres, seminar rooms or tutorial rooms, with standard AV only. 

The forum is not able to provide specialist teaching spaces, computer labs, non-standard room layouts, specialist software, participant device access, or additional technical equipment beyond the standard venue setup. Please ensure your proposed session can be delivered within these conditions. Proposals that cannot be delivered within the standard venue setup may be deemed unsuitable for the program, regardless of the quality of the submission. 

Rooms will include:

• A projector or display screen

• Power access

• 2 x USB inputs and 1 x HDMI input

• Tables and chairs that can be reconfigured for group work
  
  

If your workshop involves movement-based activities, you are welcome to adjust the furniture layout to suit your needs. Please return the room to its original setup at the end of your session.

You’re also welcome to bring your own device. If you’re using a Mac, we recommend bringing an adaptor. As a backup, we suggest saving any slides or materials to a USB drive.

If you require additional equipment or specific room setup beyond the standard provision, please let the organising team know in advance through your proposal or by contacting watlf@curtin.edu.au.

Yes. All presenters whose proposals are accepted must register and pay the applicable registration fee by the nominated deadline. WATLF is a not-for-profit forum, and registration fees contribute directly to the cost of delivering the event. Registration includes access to the forum program, keynote presentations, catering and the sundowner event.

Where a proposal has multiple presenters, each person attending and presenting must register separately.

Please see the Registration page for more details.

WATLF does not currently offer institutional or group discounts. Registration fees are already substantially subsidised to keep the forum accessible to the Western Australian higher education community.

Institutions wishing to pay for multiple registrations may coordinate payment internally, but each attendee must still complete an individual registration through Humanitix so that we have their contact, accessibility and dietary information.

Is there an Early Bird rate?

Yes! We offer an Early Bird discount on the full two-day registration, making it even more affordable for those who register early.