Congratulations on your successful application to attend the Australian Vaccinology Course 2026.

The Australian Vaccinology Course team will be in contact with you via email with important updates in the lead up to the course to help ensure your experience is as enjoyable as possible.

This course attendee webpage will be continually updated with the latest course information, and attendees are encouraged to check this page regularly.  

We look forward to welcoming you to the Australian Vaccinology Course 2026 in October. 
 

  • Draft program
    Day 1 
     

    Monday 
    19 October 2026

    8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 

    Day 2 
     

    Tuesday 
    20 October 2026

    8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. followed by optional evening activity 5:30–7:00 p.m. 

    Day 3 
     

    Wednesday 
    21 October 2026

    8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 

    • How do vaccines work?
       
    • How are vaccines developed?
       
    • How do we know vaccines are effective? 
       

    Followed by course networking reception 5:30–7:30 p.m. 

    • How are vaccination programs developed?
       
    • How do we know that vaccines are safe?
       
    • How do we communicate effectively to the public about vaccination? 
    • How do we monitor and increase vaccination uptake?
       
    • How do we tailor vaccination for priority populations and those who are medically at risk?
       
    • What are the challenges and opportunities for immunisation in a changing world? 
  • Presenters

    Professor Kristine Macartney 
    Director, NCIRS  

    Professor Nicholas Wood 
    Associate Director, Clinical Research and Services, NCIRS

    Professor Peter McIntyre 
    Head, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago

    Professor Chris Blyth 
    Centre Head, Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases  

    Professor Allen Cheng  
    Director, Infectious Diseases, Monash Health

    Ms Katrina Clark  
    Aboriginal Immunisation Manager, Health Protection,  
    Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District

    Professor Katie Flanagan 
    Senior Staff Specialist, Westmead Hospital  

    Professor Julie Leask AO 
    Professor and Social Scientist, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney  

    Professor Julia Brotherton
    Professor of Cancer Prevention Policy and Implementation, The University of Melbourne

    Associate Professor Aditi Dey
    Senior Research Fellow/Manager, Surveillance, NCIRS

    Professor Michelle Giles 
    Lead Clinical and Health Systems Research, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity  

    Professor Michael Gold
    Professor, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide  

    Professor Paul Kelly  
    PK Public Health Advisory
    Honorary Professor Australian National University College of Law, Governance and Policy

    Professor Bette Liu
    Associate Director, Population Health, NCIRS

    Professor Helen Marshall
    Consultant and Professor in Vaccinology, The University of Adelaide

    Professor Meru Sheel 
    Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney

  • Accommodation

    A reminder that accommodation is not included in the course fee. Suggested accommodation options are provided below:

    *The discount rate is only valid for Australian Vaccinology Course 2026 attendees. Accommodation at Q Station is handled by the Q Station team. Bookings are subject to availability and will be confirmed in the order they are received. For questions about Q Station accommodation, please contact Q Station directly online or call +612 9466 1500. 

    Q Station is located outside the Manly town centre, approximately a 10‑minute bus ride from Manly Wharf. For participants not staying on-site, complimentary shuttle buses will operate daily between Manly Wharf and Q Station. If you prefer not to drive, we recommend booking accommodation within walking distance of Manly Wharf for convenient access to the shuttle service.

    For any questions about accommodation locations or daily travel to Q Station, please reach out to the Australian Vaccinology Course team at SCHN-NCIRS-AVC@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Course learning outcomes

    By the end of this course, participants should be able to:  

    1. Describe how vaccines create immunity in patients across the life span  
    2. Outline the process of vaccine development, from research to implementation, in high- and low-/middle-income settings  
    3. Measure the impact of vaccination on disease burden and vaccine effectiveness using surveillance data and coverage assessments  
    4. Describe evidence-based approaches to vaccination program decision-making processes  
    5. Explain the principles of vaccine safety, including reporting of adverse events following immunisation    
    6. Apply the principles of public risk communication to a vaccine safety issue  
    7. Critique the main explanatory models and frameworks used to explain low vaccination coverage  
    8. Describe strategies to increase vaccination coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other priority populations  
    9. Apply evidence on the strategies that increase uptake to a real-world scenario  
    10. Analyse challenges and opportunities facing vaccination programs in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region  
    11. Describe vaccine characteristics, program recommendations and conversation approaches for medically at-risk patients  
  • Enquiries
  • Refund policy

    We appreciate that circumstances can change. Cancellation of your course place must be done in writing via email to SCHN-NCIRS-AVC@health.nsw.gov.au. The following refund policy will be applied to course place cancellations:

    • full refund of your course fee if you cancel your course place before 11:59 p.m. (AEST) on 29 July 2026  
    • 50% refund of your course fee if you cancel your course place between 12:00 a.m. (AEST) 30 July and 11:59 p.m. (AEST) 16 September 2026  
    • no refund if you cancel your course place after 12:00 a.m. (AEST) on 17 September 2026.