It is my great pleasure to invite you to the 16th Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia. We hope that under the theme of "Asia Reconstructed: from critiques of development to postcolonial studies", we will be able to assemble a diverse and multi-disciplinary set of panels and papers. There are a number of panels proposed under the headings of 'Post-colonialism', 'Transnational studies' and 'World History', as well as in more conventional areas of Asian Studies. I hope that there will be proposals for poster and internet or multi-media presentations as well as the traditional conference papers. For this conference we want to show-case the natural beauty of Wollongong, which invites such pleasures as whale watching off the spectacular beaches and bush-walking through its beautiful hinterland. Thus we intend to combine the regional experience of Australia with our cosmopolitan understanding of Asia's global environment.

Professor Adrian Vickers
Conference Convenor

Date and Venue

The 16th Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia will be held at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, NSW, Australia from 26th June to the 29th June 2006.

The University of Wollongong has an international standing with an enviable record of achievement in teaching and research, and is located just an hour's drive south of Australia's largest city, Sydney. The university is located at the foot of Mt Keira and only 5 minutes drive from the centre of the city and the beaches. Wollongong is a city of innovation and diversity and is the gateway to the south coast of NSW. Wollongong has a diverse range of recreational opportunities, has cultivated cultural attractions and is home to wonderful natural scenery and bushland. It is also home to Australia 's largest coal and steel industry.

Registration

The conference is open to all who pay the required registration fee. We welcome both members and non-members of the ASAA, academic staff, students, professionals and members of the public from overseas and Australia.

Please note that retired or unemployed people who wish to participate in the conference may apply to the conference organisers for special consideration at student registration rates. This will apply to early registrations only. Any retired or unemployed person registering after the 28th April 2006 will pay full conference fee rates.

Conference Theme

The conference is titled Asia Reconstructed: from critiques of development to postcolonial studies and aims to examine governance, society, culture, history, education, language, law, technology, and the arts. The themes of the conference are:

• The Critique of Development
• Governance and Citizenship
• Labour and Social Transformation
• Forms of Knowledge
• Language and Interculturality
• The Clash of Fundamentalisms
• National and Transnational Legal Issues
• The Role of Technology
• New and Old Arts
• Asia and World History
• Postcolonialism
• Australia-South Asia Links: History and Culture
• The Neo-Liberal Challenge

We hope to use this event to bring awareness of the importance of Asia to Australia, and also of the connections between regional Australia and Asia.

Important Dates

Child Care Facilities

For conference participants who may need Child Care facilities for children under school age, please contact the University of Wollongong Kids Uni at kids_uni@uow.edu.au who may be able to assist with occasional care. Kids Uni is located on the campus grounds. The cost of Child Care is not included in any registration fee.

Conference Organising Committee

With support from the Wollongong University academic community and the key centre for research on the Asia-Pacific, CAPSTRANS. We also acknowledge the support and generous assistance of academic and administrative staff in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wollongong.

Conference Secretariat

Wollongong UniCentre has been appointed as the Secretariat for the 2006 ASAA Conference. They can be contacted at:

Wollongong UniCentre
Conference Management Team
PO Box U100
University of Wollongong
NSW 2500
Contact: Peter Vrahas
Phone: 61 2 4221 8173
Fax: 61 2 4221 8001
Email: vrahas@uow.edu.au