5 hours
La Trobe University City Campus
Free Tickets Available
Fri, 10 Oct, 2025 at 08:30 am to 01:30 pm (GMT+11:00)
La Trobe University City Campus
360 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
"AI systems should enable an equitable and democratic society by respecting, protecting and promoting human rights, enabling diversity, respecting human freedom and the autonomy of individuals, and protecting the environment.” – Australia’s AI Ethics Principles
Ethical technology guidelines and frameworks abound. Yet, translating ethical principles into innovative local practice is a growing challenge. How do we ensure that technological systems, including AI, support Indigenous data sovereignty, diversity, human rights, and autonomy in more than name alone?
The Ethical AI, Virtual Reality, Social Robots & Data Symposium will respond to this question, addressing some of the key opportunities and ethical challenges of emerging AI, Virtual Reality, Social Robotics and Data systems.
Join senior La Trobe University researchers and international guest researcher Dr Karin Christiansen as we explore the ethical and practical dimensions of emerging technologies and data practices, and launch the Language and Ethical Technology Lab (LETL) research network.
Outline of the program
Speaker topics will include:
• Language and Ethical Technology
• Indigenous AI and Data Sovereignty
• Health Data, Personalised Medicine and AI
• Virtual Reality, Connection and Care
• Technology and Education: Robotics, VR and AI
• AI in Nursing Education
• Data Visibility for Care Visibility
This is a free event but registration is essential as places are limited. Session registration includes morning tea and lunch. A detailed agenda with abstracts will be shared with registered participants closer to the event. Online participants can join us by registering for the Virtual event.
In-person participants can also register for the afternoon mini-symposium on Ethical AI, Creativity and Language (In-Person only). Please note that this event is separately ticketed. Registration includes afternoon tea.
We look forward to seeing you at the La Trobe University City Campus for a morning of thought-provoking talks and conversations.
Info: A substantial volume of health data is currently being extracted from diverse databases to develop artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms aimed at predicting and preventing disease and premature mortality. While these technological advancements hold significant promise, they also raise complex ethical and social concerns that must be carefully examined and addressed prior to their integration into clinical practice. In this presentation, I will explore several ethical challenges articulated by healthcare professionals, organizational leaders, and IT developers collaborating on the Danish interdisciplinary research initiative Cross Tracks. The discussion will highlight the plurality—and at times, the tension—of interests and values that characterize this evolving field.
Info: What role might Virtual Reality play in enhancing the wellbeing of older adults? A reflection on two VR interventions, one in a residential care facility and one in a retirement village, offer two contrasting answers to this question. First, VR presents a novel and attractive means of expanding opportunities for connection. But second, significant limitations are built into the very design of VR. This raises important questions about how to avoid sacrificing care while seeking to benefit from technological innovation.
Info: This presentation examines the convergence of robotics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence in reshaping contemporary classroom practice. It highlights how these technologies collectively transform teaching and learning, while also raising critical questions of equity, gender, and resistance in their adoption. Framed within broader pedagogical and policy contexts, the discussion offers insights into both the opportunities and challenges of integrating emerging technologies in education.
Info: In Australia, over half the population are first- or second-generation migrants, and one in three older adults come from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background. Yet CALD communities remain significantly under-represented in medical research, including dementia studies. As a result, many findings applied in practice and policy are culturally inappropriate, overlook biological differences, and reinforce inequities. This presentation highlights these gaps and discusses ways to overcome methodological challenges, strengthen CALD inclusion, and discuss some of the benefits for research and policy.
Info: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly employed in nursing education. The session provides a summary of using AI in simulation-based nursing education and communication training. Based on the latest evidence, we discuss the gaps in knowledge and the future direction of AI in nursing education.
Info: Care data remains largely invisible to researchers and policymakers due to historical marginalisation, systemic inequalities, and technical fragmentation—limiting evidence-based decision-making in a sector that affects millions of Australians. This talk presents two foundational projects addressing these challenges: a care data portal currently in development that enhances visibility of existing care economy data, and a pilot metadata project working directly with care organisations to develop nuanced, interoperable standards that capture the sector's unique complexities. Together, these initiatives represent practical steps toward transforming care data from scattered, hidden information into accessible, standardised resources for research and policy. By improving data infrastructure, we can better support the care economy and everyone involved in it.
Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Melbourne, Nonprofit events in Melbourne, Contests in Melbourne.
Tickets for Ethical AI, Virtual Reality, Social Robots and Data (In-Person) can be booked here.
| Ticket type | Ticket price |
|---|---|
| General Admission - Lunch included | Free |
| LTU Staff (HUSS) - Lunch included | Free |
| LTU Staff (Non-HUSS) - Lunch included | Free |
| LTU Student (HUSS) - Lunch included | Free |
| LTU Student (Non-HUSS) - Lunch included | Free |
