About HOUSE Conference
HOUSE Conference is about theological reflection for best practice in youth and children's ministry, within a community of youth and children's ministers. This annual conference for youth and children’s ministry is held at Youthworks Conference Centres Port Hacking.
Each day will include encouragement from God’s word, an opportunity to engage theologically and practically with one of the papers, and opportunities to workshop ideas and skills that will equip you as a ministry leader.
There will be plenty of time to connect and network with other people who are engaged in youth and children’s ministry and opportunities to form new friendships and share wisdom.
We hope you will join us and your peers in youth and children’s ministry as we seek to grow in this aspect of our ministry.
2026 Conference
Anchored and Adaptable:
a timeless word in a changing world
In a world that never stops changing, how do we stay rooted in the unchanging truth of the Gospel—while also meeting people where they are?
At HOUSE Conference 2026, we’ll be diving deep into the tension and beauty of Gospel ministry that is both anchored in Christ and adaptable to context. Our focus this year is on communicating the timeless message of Jesus to children and youth—a mission filled with complexity and rich opportunity. Age, culture, gender, socio-economic background, worldview, and family dynamics all shape how young people hear and respond to the Gospel.
Our key question:
To what extent should Gospel ministry be shaped by the context we’re in?
To explore this, we’ll look to the example of the Apostle Paul, who embodied both unwavering conviction and remarkable flexibility:
On one hand, Paul was anchored:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified… My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power…”
— 1 Corinthians 2:2-4
On the other, he was adaptable:
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:22
At HOUSE 2026, we’ll wrestle with how to hold both truths together as we seek to pass on the faith to the next generation. Whether you're in children's ministry, youth ministry, or shaping the culture of your church or school, this conference is for you.
Come ready to be challenged, equipped, and inspired—to stand firm in the Gospel, and to speak it clearly in every corner of our changing world.
Registration
25-27 August 2026
Prices from $360 full time.
Registration opens March 2026
Early bird discount available until 31 May 2026.
Registration closes 6 August 2026.
Paper Presenters
Rev Mike Dicker
Principal and Dean of Students, Youthworks College
Mike Dicker serves as Principal and Dean of Students at Youthworks College, where he teaches New Testament and Young Adults Ministry. With a deep passion for forming leaders who know God profoundly and handle his Word faithfully, Mike is committed to equipping children’s and youth ministers to engage young people in meaningful and transformative ways that bear kingdom fruit for generations.
Mike has been part of the church community at All Saints Petersham for around 20 years, and brings a rich combination of theological depth and long-term local ministry experience. He loves engaging with children and young people, and walking alongside those called to lead them. At HOUSE 2026, Mike brings a strong conviction that Gospel ministry must remain firmly anchored in Christ while being thoughtfully applied to the contexts in which young people live and learn today.
Rev Dr Derek Brotherson
Principal and Lecturer in Missions and Preaching, SMBC
Derek Brotherson serves as Principal of Sydney Missionary & Bible College, where he also lectures in missions and preaching. With a deep commitment to forming leaders who are grounded in God’s Word and engaged in his mission, Derek is passionate about equipping ministers to communicate the gospel faithfully across diverse cultural contexts.
Derek brings a rich combination of theological depth and cross-cultural ministry experience. Before joining SMBC, he worked as a lawyer and later served in Southeast Asia with OMF in a variety of settings, including a Bible college, a missionary training school, and a women’s refuge. At HOUSE Conference 2026, Derek brings a strong focus on contextualisation, helping us think carefully about how the unchanging gospel can be clearly and faithfully proclaimed in the changing contexts in which we serve.
Ministry Electives
Ministry electives run on Wednesday afternoon of conference for approximately 2 hours. They are an opportunity for you as ministry leaders to dive deeper into a specific and practical aspect of ministry that fall roughly into three categories: leading self, leading others, leading young people. We typically have 3-4 electives to choose between.
The Privileges and Challenges of Leading Teams - Building a culture of leadership development
Fiona Smartt - Director of Ministry at St Luke’s Clovelly
"Looking for more leaders? Want to help existing leaders stretch and grow? Keen for a culture of joyful and sacrificial service? This is the second in a three year elective series on the privilege and challenge of raising up leaders. This year we'll look at how to build and grow a culture of leadership development in any ministry - big or small. This elective also includes lots of practical resources, tools and ideas to help you develop other leaders to use their gifts in service of the Lord.
Note: You do not need to have attended the previous year to come to this elective.
Coach or cure? The minister’s role in caring for those with mental ill-health
Trinette Stanley - Mental Health Educator
The Christian minister is required to be proficient in several different skills – from administration to admonition, from plumber to preacher, from vision-setter to visitation. This elective is built on the foundational understanding that the gospel message has something profound to offer to those who are experiencing mental ill-health. It includes an in-depth exploration of the roles and responsibilities of ministry leaders in the mental health support of others.
Other topics TBC
House Program
Tuesday, 25 August
10:00 — Launch Session
10:45 — Prayer
11:00 — Morning Tea
11:30 — Paper 1 Presentation
12:45 — Lunch
13:30 — Paper Responders, Table Discussion And Q+A
15:00 — Afternoon Tea // Free Time
16:45 — Networking by Topics
18:00 — Dinner
19:15 — Evening Session Bible Talk
20:15 — Free Time // Supper
Wednesday, 26 August
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00 — Paper 2 Presentation
10:45 — Morning Tea
11:15 — Paper Responders, Table Discussion And Q+A
13:00 — Lunch
14:15 — Ministry Electives
16:15 — Free Time // Afternoon Tea
18:00 — Dinner
19:15 — Evening Session Bible Talk
20:15 — Free Time // Supper
Thursday, 27 August
08:00 — Breakfast
(Check out of rooms by 9am)
09:00 — Landing Session
10:45 — Morning Tea
11:30 — Closing Session
12:45 — Lunch
13:30 — Program Ends
FAQs
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HOUSE is run in the last week of August from Tuesday-Thursday.
In 2026 the dates are:
25-27 August 2026
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Because HOUSE provides a space to "learn how to fish" instead of simply "get a fish". That is, HOUSE invites you into a space to theologically reflect on your practice with your peers in youth and children's ministry, and the space to work out a way forward in your context. Most other conferences focus on models, skills, programs, and "how-to's". There's nothing wrong with that approach, HOUSE includes practical electives too, but HOUSE aims to deliver more. HOUSE encourages you to develop your professional skills in adapting and reflecting on your practice in your own context from year to year.
You should come because HOUSE will help you lead an effective youth and children's ministry that is theologically and biblically faithful, reflective, contextual, and growing disciples.
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No. It is a deliberate objective for HOUSE conference that youth and children's ministers gather and confer together in person. You can read good theology in books, you can get practical tips for youth and children's ministry from podcasts, you can watch presentations on YouTube. But you only get the personal connection, the fellowship, and the shared community knowledge by turning up in person to be part of it. Why not take some time out and come along?
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It is always a bit daunting coming to a conference when you don’t know anyone, but you’re coming to a conference with other like-minded youth and children’s ministers, and they love to hang out and chat about almost anything! There is opportunity on Monday night to network with other people around specific topics of interest in proximity to a fireplace and a hot cup of something. You can just turn up, join a topic group and start chatting away.
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We’re all grown ups here, so you can carve out time wherever you like to do the work you need to do. There's at least 2 hours of free time each day and you can always choose not to do an elective. Just remember that this is a unique 3 day opportunity that doesn’t come around all that often and you want to make the most of it for your own wellbeing and the advancement of those you lead.
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After you register online, you'll be sent an email about electives closer to the date of the conference. If you don’t intend on going to an elective at HOUSE, you can, of course, elect not to (see what we did there?).
This will help our presenters to have a more accurate idea of what numbers they have, the group dynamics and what resources to provide. You are welcome to attend an elective you haven’t booked for while you are at HOUSE, but we cannot guarantee that you will have any of the resources that come with that elective.
In addition to these electives we hope to have a number of impromptu workshops that form resources in response to the sessions and papers that are presented.
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Each year we organise our own onsite speciality coffee for purchase. You can buy quality coffee served in all your favourite ways.
Of course you can still take the free option and use the site's instant machines or be “that guy” who brings their own beans, a hand grinder and an aero-press.
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HOUSE conference is at Deer Park and Chaldercot at Youthworks Conference Centres Port Hacking, Rathane Road, Royal National Park.
If you would like to see what the accommodation and site looks like, visit youthworkscentres.net/porthacking. -
Our beautifully situated Youthworks Conference Centres at Port Hacking have a variety of ensuite dormitory rooms for accommodation on HOUSE conference. You can view Deer Park and Chaldercot on our website.
All dorm room options will be chosen by conference delegates during lunch on the first day to give you a chance to meet and choose your room mates.
Twin Share rooms will be allocated based on preferences given prior to arrival.
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Contact Youthworks Ministry Support via the form below or call 02 8268 3355.
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HOUSE runs in the last week of August from Tuesday-Thursday.
2027 dates should be available in July 2026.
