Events

Presented by Professor Yana Sychikova and Professor Igor Lyman in collaboration with Future Campus, this lecture will share critical insights into wellbeing, resilience, and higher education leadership drawn from sustaining a Ukrainian university during occupation, displacement, and ongoing conflict.

Based on research across 40 displaced universities and their lived experience of leading without physical campuses, they argue that wellbeing is not an adjunct to educational continuity, but the central organising principle that enables teaching, research, and community life to endure under extreme conditions.

The session is introduced by reflections from Professor Marek Tesar, whose work on educational borderlands frames the university as a relational, ethical, and lived space.

A panel of Faculty of Education wellbeing experts and scholars will respond to the Ukrainian experience, exploring its implications for wellbeing, trauma-informed practice, and resilience within Australian universities.

Light refreshments will be served in the adjoining foyer to the theatre with presentations commencing at 6pm.

Panellists:

Professor Nikki Rickard, Director Research, Centre for Wellbeing Science, Faculty of Education

Associate Professor Tom Brunzell, Leader in trauma-informed education and wellbeing sciences, Faculty of Education

Associate Professor Catherine McClellan, Enterprise Fellow, Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre, Faculty of Education

Facilitators:

Dr Rachel Colla, Senior Lecturer, Teaching & Learning Innovation Lead, Centre for Wellbeing Science, Faculty of Education

Tim Winkler, Director and Publisher of Future Campus

Content Warning:
This lecture will discuss themes such as war, issues for students during war, experiences of trauma and may include other confronting themes. This lecture may not be suitable for children or all people. Attendee, viewer and parental/carer discretion is advised.

Registration is essential.

ACCESSIBILITY

If you have any support requirements in order to participate fully, please let us know via educationevents@unimelb.edu.au to ensure that we can arrange any reasonable adjustments.

Note: 
Please only register for aseatedticketif you are sure to be attending in person.There is anotherticket type available toreceive a copy of the recordingfor those who are unable to attend in person.

Join us in celebration of International Women’s Day to listen to a panel of Indigenous female leaders as they respond to the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Balance the Scales”, followed by audience Q&A.

Balance the Scales is a promise that every woman and girl – regardless of background or identity – should be safe, heard, and free to shape their own lives.

Yet in 2026, too many across Australia and the world are still denied that fair go. Discriminatory laws, policies, and practices persist. Gender-based violence remains widespread, and structural barriers block too many from seeking or receiving justice.

These barriers are not inevitable. They are built – and they can be dismantled.

Equality is not about advantage for some; it’s about dignity, safety, and fairness for all.

When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer for everyone.

This International Women’s Day let’s Balance the Scales together.

Date: Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Time: 2.30pm Afternoon tea refreshments | 3pm - 4pm Presentations

Venue: Q230 Theatre
Level 2, Kwong Lee Dow Building (Building 263)
234 Queensberry St, Carlton.

PANELLISTS:

Dr Sue Mentha, Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Education, Faculty of Education

Inala Cooper, Director, Murrup Barak, University of Melbourne

Professor Nikki Moodie, Director, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne