Melbourne Convention Bureau collaborated with the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) and the Australian Childhood Foundation to secure the International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect for August 2026 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The congress received funding from Australia’s subvention initiative, the Business Events Bid Fund, managed by Tourism Australia.
“Now more than ever the protection and safety of our children and young people must be firmly on both government and community agendas,” said the Australian Childhood Foundation chief executive Janise Mitchell.
“In these increasingly complex times children’s rights and needs must be central to decision-making, solutions must be co-designed with them, and we must continue to critically examine what works. We look forward to the opportunity to showcase local, regional and global efforts to address child abuse and neglect in all its forms as part of the conversation at the congress next year.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, will host the ICCE Global Coach Conference in 2027.
The coming Wellington iteration will be the first time the event has been held anywhere in Oceania since 1999.
The event will be held at Wellington’s young convention centre Tākina in November 2027. It is expected to draw around 750 delegates and have an NZ$1.8 million economic impact.
The event bid was led by Sport NZ and had support from both Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
“New Zealand will bring a unique perspective to the ICCE Global Coach Conference 2027 with our world-leading coach development systems, which include Sport NZ’s Balance is Better philosophy, and the integration of Te Ao Māori and indigenous knowledge into the coaching conversation,” said the conference’s chair, Andy Rogers.
“Some of the key challenges facing Sport NZ are the retention and development of coaches in what is a rapidly evolving sporting landscape.
“We believe hosting the ICCE GCC 2027 will provide an opportunity to collaborate with international experts to explore these challenges, share innovations and co-create solutions.
“It will also allow us to showcase Sport NZ’s work, learn from others and strengthen global partnerships that can support the ongoing evolution of coaching in Aotearoa and beyond.”
Tourism New Zealand’s global business events manager, Penelope Ryan, believes the event will boost New Zealand’s status in the coaching world.
“Hosting the ICCE Global Coach Conference will enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a leader in coaching and offer fresh perspectives for visiting delegates through the incorporation of indigenous knowledge,” said Ryan.
“We look forward to showcasing all that Wellington and Aotearoa New Zealand have to offer.”
