1. Conference Aims and Themes
2. Presentation types
3. Abstract selection criteria
4. Abstract submission
5. Abstract template
6. Abstract notification

 

1. Conference Aims and Themes

NZAG is:

A multidisciplinary organisation committed to understanding ageing and promoting the interests of older people

An affiliated member of IAGG – the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Our Aims:

1. To promote study and quality research on ageing
2. To encourage research informed age-related training and continuing education
3. To stimulate impactful and informed debate and action on improving the wellbeing of older people
4. To pro-actively contribute to public discussion and policy on ageing
5. To provide a forum for networking and exchanging ideas

Conference Themes

We aim to celebrate older people and their essential contributions to society, address ageism upfront, provide new thinking, new methods, research and education that will add value to the lives of older people, their whanau and families, carers, health professionals, health and regional planners, private and public providers, artists, businesses and society interested in Ageing.

We welcome diversity in methods and approaches for this conference, and include research, development work, workshops, and we also welcome diversity in your presentation style. To assist the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference Organising Committee with their task of grouping related presentations, authors of abstracts for are required to categorise their abstract into one or two of the conference themes across the following:

• Health and wellbeing; this is a broad theme including brain health, quality of life, frailty, general physical and mental wellbeing
• Contexts of care; this includes work/research in aged care settings in the community and residential care, and work/research about care giving
• Socio-ecology of ageing; this incorporates, transport, work and retirement, housing, geography and environments of ageing
• Theoretical and methodological advances in ageing research, new methods of research and engaging with older people
• Indigenous led or indigenous focussed work, please outline how indigenous communities are involved, and how indigenous people have led and been involved in the work.

 Please choose the main theme and indicate in the abstract if relevant to other themes of the conference.

 

2. Presentation types

There will be several presentation types. There include traditional Oral and Poster format at the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference. We will also accommodate other offerings including arts based performance or exhibition. All are equally valued contributions. Different presentation formats may be best suited to different kinds of content. Authors should offer their proposal with as much information as possible so the committee can understand the requirements for time and space. However, the final presentation type will be determined by the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference Review and Programme Committee.

Please note that if your abstract is accepted, the presenting author will be expected to register as a conference delegate by the 6 August 2023. Failure to register will result in removal of your presentation from the conference programme.

• Symposia: This is up to 90 minute time slots available for each symposium and each symposium is expected to include 3-5 presentations/ performances and opportunities for audience participation.

Please present overview for the symposium, and details of each presenter including the moderator or discussant and the details of the presentations. Outline the timeline to include audience participation or discussion. Please indicate whether a flat room or a tiered lecture theatre would best suit your symposium.  

• Oral presentation (15 minutes total, comprising: 10-minute talk + 5-minute audience interaction or other presentation e.g., performance, exhibition, panel)

Typically, oral presentations will be complete stories or largely finished research projects, or creative works with clear outcomes and conclusions. They should be placed in a broad ecological context and therefore be of general interest beyond the immediate subject area. If applicable, authors should outline potential or existing collaboration(s) with industry, academia, creative industries, other research organisations in New Zealand or internationally, and also summarise the (potential) impact.

Presentations should aim to engage the audience, to create interest, seek feedback and encourage further enquiry.  Presentations are approximately 10-12 minute long, followed by 3-5 minutes for further discussion/question time, for a total of 15 minutes.

• Posters (A0 portrait display)

Poster presentations are suited for work in progress and preliminary results and are also useful for reporting new methods and techniques that might be of relatively narrow interest to researchers or industry development persons in particular fields. Studies that seem ideal for Oral presentations can also be presented very effectively as Posters.

Posters encourage direct engagement between those with interesting work to share and a wide audience, in a personal setting.  Posters will be displayed in the conference space available to attendees during breaks and there will be specific poster session opportunities.  Poster session times will be announced in the conference program. Posters presenters must register for the conference.

Authors should bring their posters to the Conference ready for display. 

 

3. Abstract selection criteria

The New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference Programme Committee will attempt to accommodate the preferred presentation type for all authors. The number of oral presentations and symposia that can be accommodated in the programme is limited, hence the number of authors requesting Oral presentations may exceed the places available. If the demand for Oral presentations exceeds the available time slots, the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference Programme Committee will review all abstracts for 15-minute presentations offering some delegates, who request Oral presentations, the option of presenting a Poster. We do not anticipate exceeding the limitation on space for Posters. We invite those symposium submitters who are unsuccessful to resubmit presentations as individual abstracts.

All submissions will be reviewed by the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference panel committee members and academics.

All submissions will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• relevance to the conference
• relevance to the conference themes and objectives of NZAG
• presents key issues to a broader interest to the general aged care community
• quality & novelty of the abstract
• scientific merit, originality and interest;
• compliance with the word count and format requirements for abstracts (as per templates).

All submitters will receive an email confirming the outcome of their abstracts.  All of these criteria are key considerations in the acceptance of all submissions.  We reserve the right to discuss your submission with you as part of the process of assembling the programme.

 

4. Abstract submission

When submitting an Abstract, you will be required to provide the following information in the Portal and in your Abstract respectively.

Portal (instructions within the Portal are clear and self-explanatory)

• Abstract title (should reflect the content of the presentation)
• Name, affiliation and contact details of the corresponding (presenting) Author
• Preferred presentation type (Symposia, Oral presentation, or Poster presentation)
• Permission to publish your Abstract in the conference handbook which will be available online
• Acknowledgement that the presenting Author will register and attend the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference
• Indication if presenting author wishes to be considered for the Māori or emerging researcher award

Abstract (details are specified in the Template)

• Abstract title (same as in the portal)
• Names, affiliations and email addresses of the presenting Author and any Co-author(s)
• Abstract Document (max. length 250 words, excluding Title, Authors and Biography)
• The completed Abstract in prescribed Template format should be uploaded as a Word file

A maximum of two abstracts are permitted per individual presenter. 

Early submission of abstracts is recommended.

The closing date for Symposia submissions is 14 April 2023 and the closing date for Oral & Poster submissions is 26 May 2023.

Once your abstract has been accepted for a presentation at the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference, you are required to register and pay to attend before Sunday 6 August 2023 to avoid being removed from the programme.

Please note: Early Bird Registrations close on 12 July 2023. Presenter Registrations close on 6 August 2023.

 

5. Abstract templates

Authors are required to download and use the New Zealand Association of Gerontology 2023 Conference Abstract Templates to format their Abstracts, please download the templates from here.

Please note: 

• The format of, and instructions for, the Template will need to be followed for the Abstract to be considered for review
• Abstracts must be submitted in Word format only.

Prizes will be awarded during the conference closing ceremony

• Best Poster presentations
• Best emerging researcher/ clinician presentation (see definition)
• People’s Choice Award for the best non keynote presentation
• Best Māori research/researcher presentation

Please indicate if you wish to be considered for the Māori or emerging researcher award

Definition of Emerging Researcher/Clinician: Current higher degree student, or current faculty, and non‐academic NZAG members within 6 years from the award of a higher degree (e.g. PhD/Masters) or advanced postdocs, allied health professionals, and clinicians are also encouraged.

Māori research/researcher are self-identified.

Symposia presentations are not eligible for prizes.

 

6. Abstract notification

Authors of symposia will be notified of the outcome on 28 April 2023.

Other authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process by or before 12 June 2023.