World Congress

ALARA World Congresses are held every 2-3 years to provide a global forum for people to meet to develop concepts, ideas and possibilities, exchange of experiences, ideas, and reflection on where we are 'at' in our thinking and practice, and to get to know each other and subsequently further develop networks and collaboration.

The 12th World Congress will take place in Australia in 2010. To manage the past risks of World Congresses the ALARA Management Committee has produced a legally robust Memorandum of Understanding as the basis for negotiating the agreement. This generic document was produced as a pro bono service by Queensland legal firm Allens, Arthur, Robinson who remain available to us to support the use of this document into the future. It was identified by the Management Committee as needed due to recurring financial difficulties and loss with past congresses. We remain very appreciative of AAR for their significant contribution of some 8 months work. This document is uploaded here as a resource. It will represent something of a cultural change in the way we think about setting up Word Congresses. It is a starting point in the spirit of transparency and equity. The MOU is tied into the World Congress Policy which is also uploaded on this page. These two documents support the Global Vice President establish the World Congress Committee and any networked groups to support the committee's work. If you are interested to play a role in our next World Congress Committee it will be important that you are familiar with and actively support these documents.

The 11th World Congress 2006 in the Netherlands focused on standards and ethics in participatory research practices. The Congress was hosted by the University of Groningen.

Congresses are usually presented in alliance with a related Institution or network and also, since 1997, with the international PAR community network.

2006 - Groningen, Netherlands - "Participatory Research Standards and Ethics" August 21-25

2003 - Pretoria, South Africa - 'Learning Partners in Action'
In conjunction with the 10th PAR World Congress, 21-24 September 2003, at the University of Pretoria, Tshwane
Visit the website with photos and peer-reviewed papers online

2000 - Ballarat, Australia 'Reconciliation and Renewal - Through Collaborative Learning, Research and Action,' in conjunction with the 9th PAR World Congress, 10 - 13 September, at the University of Ballarat, Victoria
Congress site with papers

1997 - Cartagena, Colombia - 'Convergence in Space and Time'
in conjunction with the 8th PAR World Congress

1994 - Bath, United Kingdom - 'Accounting for Ourselves'

1992 - Brisbane, Australia - 'Transforming Tomorrow Today'

1990 - Brisbane, Australia - 'Action Learning for Improved Performance'

If your group or organisation would like to consider holding a world congress, please read the preliminary Expressions of interest.