The Australian Fairy Tale Society has held conferences since 2014, and we look forward to running more in the future.
Members can access details of our previous conferences, including programs, keynote addresses and sound recordings or videos by visiting the member’s conference index page.
2026 AFTS Melbourne
Title: Witches in Fairy Tales: Wise Women or Evil Enchanters
Date: August 15-16, 2026
Location: Arrow on Swanston
Keynote:
Call for Presentations to be advised
Registrations to be advised
Bursary applications (current members) to be advised.
Original artwork
2025 AFTS Sydney
Title: Over Water, Under Water, Magical Waters of Fairy Tales
Date: June 14-15, 2025
Location: Prince Henry Centre, Little Bay, Sydney
Keynote: Demelza Carlton
Call for Presentations closed Feb 28, 2025.
Registrations now open!
Bursary applications (current members) close May 8.
More details here!
Original artwork by Helen McCosker
2024 AFTS Melbourne
Title: Once and Future Tales: What was, what is…, what if?
Date: August 3-4, 2024
Location: Melbourne (Suburb of Newport)
Keynote: Michael Earp
Full conference details here.
2023 AFTS Sydney
Title: Cottage, Cauldron, Castle: Power and Place in Fairy Tales
We’ll also be celebrating our 10th anniversary!
Date: June 24-25, 2023
Location: Sydney (Suburb of Campsie)
Keynote: Dr Michelle Smith
2022 AFTS Brisbane
Title: Australian Fairy Tales: Flesh or Fossil?
Date: October 1-2, 2022
Location: Brisbane’s South Bank precinct
Keynote panel: Bettina Nissen (MC) will converse with Uncle Alan Parsons, Johanna Henwood, and Kathleen Jennings
General Call for Presentations (now closed)
Invitation to Griffith University students closed August 29, 2022
2021 AFTS Online
Title: Enchanting: Music, Magic, Spells
Date: June 12-13, 2021 online
Location: Online via Zoom
Keynote speaker: Wendy Blaxland
Program: 2021 Online Conference Program
2021 AFTS Sydney
Title: Enchanting: Music, Magic, Spells
Date: June 14, 2021 live
Location: Newtown Town Hall, Newtown, NSW
Keynote speaker: Frank Oakes
Program: 2021 Sydney Conference Program
2020 AFTS Online
Title: Magic Mirrors: The Seen and The Unseen
Date: June 5-8, 2021
Location: Online via Zoom and Facebook
Keynote speaker: Kathleen Jennings
Program: 2020 AFTS Conference Program
2018 AFTS Sydney
Title: Gardens of Good and Evil: Growing Life, Plucking Death
Date: June 10, 2018
Location: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, NSW
Keynote speaker: Kate Forsyth
Program: 2018 AFTS Conference Program
2017 AFTS Glen Eira
Title: So Many Mattresses: Truth, Reality, Fiction On A European Bed
Date: June 24, 2017
Location: Glen Eira Town Hall, Caulfield, VIC
Keynote speaker: Durgah Devi (Dee) Palanisamy
Program: 2017 AFTS Conference Program
2016 AFTS Glen Eira
Title: Into the Bush: Its Beauty and Its Terror
Date: June 26, 2016
Location: Glen Eira Town Hall, Caulfield, VIC
Keynote speaker: Jackie Kerin
Program: 2016 AFTS Conference Program
2015 AFTS Sydney
Title: Transformations: Spinning Straw into Green and Gold
Date: June 21, 2015
Location: NSW Writers’ Centre, Rozelle, NSW
Keynote speaker: Sophie Masson
Program: 2015 AFTS Conference Program
2014 Inaugural Conference
Title: The Fairy Tale in Australia
Date: June 9, 2014
Location: Paddington Uniting Church, Paddington, NSW
Keynote speaker: Carmel Bird
Program: 2014 AFTS Conference Program
Australian Fairy Tale Society 
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