1st Australian Conference on Rock Mechanics

The Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS), in collaboration with the International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM), proudly announces the 1st Australian Conference on Rock Mechanics (ACRM), to be held in Melbourne from 21–24 July 2026.

This inaugural event will bring together leading experts, researchers, and industry practitioners to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and showcase the latest advancements in rock mechanics and rock engineering. ACRM is set to become a key national platform for professional networking, engagement with early-career professionals, and strengthening Australia’s contribution to the global rock mechanics community.

Technical sessions

Conference Theme “Advances in Science and Emerging Technologies in Rock Engineering”

The Conference aims to explore what is being researched and what is being built at the frontiers of rock engineering. Within this overarching theme, papers and presentations are invited in several areas:

• Civil engineering – transport, water, renewable energy
• Mining – high stress environments, deep mining challenges, and sustainable mining practices
• Geohazards – slope engineering, risk assessment, disaster prevention
• Heritage conservation
• Advanced Computational and Data-Driven Methods
• Data collection, laboratory and in-situ testing
• Digital Monitoring and Predictive Analytics

Keynote Speeches and Named Lecture

Distinguished keynote speakers will include internationally and nationally recognised experts, with a focus on renowned Australian contributions.

Workshops and Activities

Hands-on workshops will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners.

Pre-conference events will include a Mentoring Night and other activities aimed at engaging young professionals and students in the field of rock mechanics and rock engineering.

Call for Submission

We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute to the 1st Australian Conference on Rock Mechanics (ACRM).

• Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2025
• Full paper submission deadline: 15 February 2026

Selected peer-reviewed papers will be published in a special issue edition of the Australian Geomechanics journal. A digital copy of the conference proceedings will also be provided to all participants.

Awards and Recognition

• ACRM Award – Recognising outstanding contributions to the field of Rock Mechanics in Australia.
• Best Paper Award – Awarded to the most impactful and high-quality paper presented at the conference.
• Best Presentation Award – Awarded to the most engaging and well-delivered presentation during the conference.

Field Trip & Walking Tour

Field trip options will include:

1. Walking-distance excursions (local site visits)
2. Bus-based technical tours (regional rock mechanics and engineering projects)

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship opportunies for the conference are now available. Details can be found in the sponsorship flyer. For more information, please contact [email protected]

Sponsorship can be purchased directly through the website.

Accommodation

Accommodation must be booked separately through the hotel. Accomodation is limited but booking through the following link will provide attendees with a conference price of:

• $295 for room
• $340 for room and breakfast

Organising Committee

• Qianbing Zhang (Monash University)
• Davide Guccione (University of Newcastle)
• Ha Bui (Monash University)
• Stephen Barrett (PureService)
• Robert Bertuzzi (PSM)
• Anna Giacomini (University of Newcastle)
• Sevda Dehkhoda (Beck Engineering)

Registration

Members are required to log in to access the AGS member price, which is not transferable.

More information about logging in to this website can be found here.

Payment via credit card is available and processed by Stripe. The Australian Geomechanics Society will not store or have access to your credit card information, and Stripe adhere to strict security and PCI compliance for processing online transactions.

Upon purchase, an email and a tax invoice will be sent to the buyer. Attendees will also receive an email with their tickets attached, as well as a link to download the tickets if they are misplaced.

Tickets to the conference include a ticket to the conference dinner. You can buy additional conference dinner tickets for people not attending the conference or day-rate ticket holders.

Please note, the field trip and walking tour are intended for conference attendees. The organisers reserve the right to refund purchases made by non-attendees.

AGS Members

ISRM Overseas Members

You will be required to provide information about your ISRM membership during the checkout process. We reserve the right to validate membership and charge the full-price where membership is not current.

Non-Members

Additional tickets to the conference dinner

For purchasers of the day rate, or those who wish to purchase a “plus one” ticket to the dinner.

One-Day Delegate rates

One-Day Delegate rate tickets will only be made available for sale after 1st July 2026.

These tickets for either Wednesday or Thursday attendance will be $545 for AGS and ISRM Overseas Members and $645 for non-members. One-Day Delegate tickets for either day do not include attendance at the Conference Dinner. You will need to buy an “extra ticket” to attend as a One-Day Delegate.

Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.