News and Events

News

News • 08 Sep 2026

Birds of an opera perform together

Telling the story of a little bird with big aspirations has inspired Associate Professor Helen English and Co-Director of Purai Global Indigenous History Centre, Professor Kate Senior, to investigate how creative arts supports the health, wellbeing and inspiration of primary school children.

News • 10 Aug 2026

Overcoming silence: a renewed effort to listen to the voices of religious sisters

Efforts to engage with the rarely heard stories of religious sisters have received a renewed pledge of support to further inform Australia’s understanding of women’s experiences in the Church.

News • 08 Jul 2026

Gift or loan? The legal grey area of the ‘bank of mum and dad’

A growing reliance on familial financial support is presenting unprecedented legal risks for Australian families, leaving both parents and adult children vulnerable to costly disputes and fractured relationships.

News • 17 Apr 2026

Community Support for the Arts

A landmark gift is helping strengthen the cultural legacy that has shaped the University of Newcastle’s long-standing commitment to Australian artists. Aaron and Samantha Sampson have generously donated 80 artworks to the University of Newcastle Art Collection.

News • 12 Mar 2026

Feminisms from/of the Souths

To celebrate International Women's Day, Purai Global Indigenous History Centre hosted a dialogue across and between feminisms and feminists from/of the South.

News • 09 Mar 2026

Globally recognised academic named 2026 Lake Mac Ambassador

Professor Tamara Blakemore honoured with Lake Macquarie’s top annual civic award for her tireless work as a global leader in community violence prevention.

News • 25 Feb 2026

Exceptional educators celebrated in national teaching awards

Two academics from the University of Newcastle have been recognised for their innovative and creative teaching styles at the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

News • 11 Feb 2026

Post‑mining research comes to life in community art exhibition

A new art exhibition has emerged from a four‑year study led by University of Newcastle researcher Associate Professor Hedda Askland, exploring how the Hunter Valley can navigate its post‑mining future.

News • 10 Feb 2026

Exciting International Opportunities for Creative Industries Students coming this year

Applications are now open for students studying Visual Communication Design or Media and Communication in 2026 as plans come together for the 2026 Singapore Study Tour and the 2026 Annecy Visual Communication Design Study Tour to France.

News • 16 Dec 2025

Translating compassion: a linguist's commitment to social inclusion

Dr Suzan Makhloof is a decorated lecturer in linguistics and cross-cultural communication, teaching English in Hunter schools to students from diverse backgrounds. Marking the completion of the PhD in linguistics, she will cross the stage at University of Newcastle graduation on Tuesday, 16 December.

News • 20 Nov 2025

We’re not going anywhere: Muswellbrook faces transition beyond coal head on

As the Hunter region of New South Wales inches toward the closure of the state’s largest coal mine, Muswellbrook community members are urging industry to leave a positive legacy in their wake.

News • 12 Nov 2025

New research reveals hidden cost of supporting adult children

A new study has uncovered the hidden burden of the financial and practical support many Australian parents are bearing for their adult children.

Events

Event

Newcastle Youth Studies Centre Seminar Series: Lived Experiences of LGBTQ+ Religious Youth in a hostile policy landscape - Digital Media, Wellbeing, and Visual Methods

Join this international seminar series featuring speakers from the University of Newcastle alongside some of the biggest international scholars in sociology, digital humanities, communications, media studies, and education, responding to key social issues of our time.

Find out more

When Wednesday 16 September 2026
3:00pm - 4:30pm

Register now

Live performance

Newcastle Young Suzuki Musicians Celebration Concert

An unforgettable evening celebrating the achievements of the Newcastle Young Suzuki Musicians through the beauty and joy of classical music.

Find out more

When Saturday 19 September 2026 from 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location  The Conservatorium

Live performance

Stories of Water & Earth: Ensemble Offspring and Nardi Simpson

First Nations storyteller and singer Nardi Simpson joins leading chamber orchestra Ensemble Offspring in this evocative and beautiful afternoon of song, ceremony and country. Nardi (one half of the Stiff Gins) draws on her Yuwaalaraay freshwater stories and brings her

Find out more

When Sunday 27 September 2026 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Location  The Conservatorium

Get your tickets now

Live performance

GILES HENDERSON WANNAN, Chamber Music for Flute Viola & Harp

Harpist Alice Giles, flautist Jonathan Henderson and violist James Wannan join forces to present a programme centred around French music and contemporary living composers.

Find out more

When Friday 2 October 2026 from 7:30pm - 8:40pm
Location  The Conservatorium

Book Now

In person

What is the Future of the Humanities? Panel presentation and networking

Join us for a chaired panel discussion exploring the current state, and possible futures, of the humanities in universities.

Find out more

When Thursday 8 October 2026
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location  NUSpace

Register your interest now

Event

Public talk: Anticipation, Hesitation and Disastrous Futures

In this talk, the HESTIA Lab engages with different, often contrasting, ways of how people prepare for and respond to looming disastrous futures.

Find out more

When Monday 12 October 2026
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Location  NUSpace

Register now

Event

Newcastle Youth Studies Centre Seminar Series: Youth Side-Hustles - Entrepreneurship and Employment in Enterprise Culture

Join this international seminar series featuring speakers from the University of Newcastle alongside some of the biggest international scholars in sociology, digital humanities, communications, media studies, and education, responding to key social issues of our time.

Find out more

When Wednesday 14 October 2026
3:00pm - 4:30pm

Register now

In person

GFF26: Acropolis Cats and Other Wondrous Animals

Exploring the lives of stray cats in Athens and beyond.

Find out more

When Tuesday 27 October 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location  Tower Cinemas Newcastle | 183 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300

Register your interest now

Live performance

Fernleigh Orchestral and Arts Network: Pink Meets Purple

Bridge the worlds of rock and classical with the iconic music of Pink Floyd and Deep Purple.

Find out more

When Saturday 31 October 2026 from 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location  The Conservatorium

Get your tickets now

Live performance

Christ Church Camerata's All that jazz!

Raise the roof in a joyous interweaving of jazz, pop and classical.

Find out more

When Sunday 8 November 2026 from 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Location  The Conservatorium

Get your tickets now

In person

Works In Practice Muster 4

A new research collective at the University of Newcastle that aims to foster a supportive and collaborative community of practice.

Find out more

When Friday 13 November 2026
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location  NUSpace

Register your interest now

Webinar

Newcastle Youth Studies Centre Seminar Series: Intergenerational Dialogues and Activism

Join this international seminar series featuring speakers from the University of Newcastle alongside some of the biggest international scholars in sociology, digital humanities, communications, media studies, and education, responding to key social issues of our time.

Find out more

When Wednesday 18 November 2026
3:00pm - 4:30pm

Register now