Call for abstract and session proposals

We invite researchers, students, injured or ill workers, community members, advocates, and policymakers to submit presentation proposals.

Conference focus

The conference will focus on policy and practice related to occupational injury and illness prevention and rehabilitation, particularly on workers in situations of vulnerability, and on the role of unions, workplaces, and human rights organizations in supporting their return-to-work. An additional focus will be on challenges in the fair application of workers’ compensation policy, especially with respect to workers who are precariously employed, geographically mobile, low wage earners or experiencing mental health issues.

This conference will take place in person at the University of Ottawa on June 9 to 11, 2024.

Important dates

Conference topics

Potential presentation topics include, but are not limited to:

Injury/illness and return to work
Workers’ compensation policy and implementation
Challenges faced by workers in low-wage and precarious work
COVID, health and work
Indigenous workers and health
Immigrant and racialized workers and health
Mobile workers, health and return to work
Temporary foreign workers and health
Mental health and work
Gender equity in work-related health and injury processes
The role of unions and advocates in work disability management
Health-care professionals and work injury
National and international comparisons of work injury and return to work

Presentation formats

We welcome proposals one of two presentation formats:

Individual presentation: 15-minute presentation, followed by a five-minute question period.
Group session: 1.5-hour session, which can be in various formats: traditional academic presentation with an overall description and up to four presentations, roundtable, or workshop.

Please note that all presenters must be physically present at the University of Ottawa, 120 University Private.

Review and selection process

All proposals will be subject to a peer review process by the conference organizing committee, which is composed of academic and community members. Submissions will be reviewed according to the following evaluation criteria:

Relevance to the conference themes
Clarity and coherence
Contribution of knowledge, expertise, or best practices
Relevance to participants

Proposals

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals in English or French and may present in either language.

Please submit your proposal using one of following forms:

Please note that abstract submissions via email will not be accepted.If you have any questions, email [email protected].

The submission deadline for abstracts and sessions is December 8, 2023.

Presenters are invited to contribute to a special issue of NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. Those interested will be asked to note their interest at the time of abstract submission.

Travel funding

The conference planning committee is offering travel funding. Priority will be given to students, injured or ill workers, community members in volunteering roles and the unwaged who are actively involved in the conference topics.

Please send [email protected] a short message (maximum 100 words) outlining why you would like to attend this conference and a budget indicating your travel costs.

Travel funding application deadline is February 15, 2024.

We are grateful for the support of the Social Sciences Humanities and Research Council and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.