Oceania Chapter: 2026 Systems Thinking & Modelling Symposium​

HYBRID EVENT

6 February 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm – Deakin Downtown (near Melbourne CBD) and online

We invite you to join us for the 2026 Oceania Chapter Symposium to learn about current work applying systems thinking and system dynamics modelling within industry, government, and academia.

Cost

Registration is free.

Location

In person: Deakin Downtown, Deakin University

Tower 2, Level 12/727, Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3008, Australia

Online: Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Hybrid Protocols

The symposium will have an in-person and online presence, with presentations and participants in both formats (hybrid). Volunteers will be managing the in-person and online presence, and please be kind as we balance the needs of the different audiences.

For online participants, we encourage you to share your video so that we can see participants, but to mute your microphone unless requested by the chair.

We will have an in-person volunteer on Zoom to check chat messages and answer questions – please use the ‘raise your hand’ or ‘chat’ features to interact.

Facilities

The venue is a modern teaching building with amenities, accessible access, and study pods. The venue is a short walk from Southern Cross Station and Collins Street trams. Parking near Deakin Downtown is expensive, and so public transportation or taxis are recommended.

Food & Drink

Lunch will be provided. Deakin Downtown has several places nearby for coffee and food.

Health & Safety 

If you are feeling sick or unwell, please join the Symposium online to reduce the risk of spreading illness. 

Symposium Photo

We’ll schedule a photo for the symposium to share on our social media platforms. Please notify us if you do not want to be photographed during the event.

Organising Committee

The Symposium is organised by the Policy Council of the Oceania Chapter of the System Dynamics Society: The Symposium is organised by the Policy Council of the Oceania Chapter of the System Dynamics Society: Andrew Brown (symposium chair), with the support of the Oceania Policy Council and Kate Engel. Policy council members can be contacted at their institution’s email address listed on the Chapter page, or via [email protected] .

Timeline

• Abstract Submissions open: 30 August 2025
• Abstract Submissions close: 14 November 2025
• Author Notifications: 19 December 2025
• In-person registrations close: 21 January 2026
• Symposium: Friday 6 February 2026, 10:00 am–5:00 pm at Deakin Downtown and online.

Abstract submissions for the 2026 Symposium is open now! The template for the structured abstract and the submission form could be accessed HERE.

Program

The Symposium program and presentations will be available later HERE.

The Oceania Chapter is also pleased to offer a free roundtable on group model building and participatory system dynamics by Dr Andrew Brown. This interactive event will bring people together to learn about and discuss different approaches to involving communities, organisations, and interest holders in modelling processes. Lunch will be provided and it will take place at Deakin Downtown on Thursday, 5 February, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. More details to follow.

NOTE: The roundtable on participatory systems thinking on 5 February is in person only.

If you have a great idea on how we can better support System Dynamics/Systems Thinking in the region, please consider volunteering for the Chapter or joining the Policy Council.