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"Horizons in Home Economics"

The Home Economics Institute of Australia 2007 Conference, Horizons in Home Economics, has been designed to enable delegates to explore the inter-relationships of values and ethical decision-making in relation to individual and family wellbeing within the varied contexts of home economics practice: education, industry and health.

Grounded by a discipline that values social inquiry and empowerment practices, delegates will have the opportunity to consider whether what can be done, ought to be done and the values that underscore these decisions. The Conference provides an opportunity to clarify, challenge and advocate to decision makers in industry, health and government for structures, policies and practices that are supportive of an equitable society, both locally and globally. No session should conclude without presenter(s) and participants feeling that they have learnt something about making the world a better and more equitable place.

A related, but quite distinct focus will be Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Delegates will have the opportunity to explore how ICTs can be great tools of our trade, how they can take the grind out of technical issues and free us up to move to levels of critical, creative and reflective thinking that can be used to promote wellbeing. They will also examine how the ICTs themselves can be used to promote thinking, and how the use of ICTs impacts positively and negatively on society and, in particular, individual and family wellbeing.

A unique aspect of this HEIA Biennial Conference is the in-built industry visits. These will enable delegates to both see industries in action and to explore in-situ those ethical issues that underpin this Conference.

In summary, the Conference will explore new angles and perspectives through a critical lens of home economics values, in order to consider what this means for personal and professional lives, and importantly what it means for a more socially just, equitable and ethical society.