Hobart will become the national focal point for arboriculture in April 2026 when industry practitioners from across Australia gather for the National Arboriculture Conference. It will be just the tip of an educational iceberg in 2026.
The National Arboriculture Conference, from Sunday, April 12, to Tuesday, April 14, 2026, will form the centrepiece of one of the most comprehensive professional-development programs the industry has seen in recent years. Running alongside the conference will be the Australian Tree Climbing Championships (ATCC), from Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12, and New Arborist of the Year on Sunday, April 12.
The year will also boast workshops with international experts, the development of a local tree risk assessment method (AANZAA), and several courses of Tree Risk Assessment Qualifications (TRAQ 3.0) being held in several locations around the country.
Continued education matters
Arboriculture is not a static profession. Advances in tree science, evolving safety expectations, new tools and technologies, and increasing public scrutiny of tree-management decisions mean that what was considered best practice a decade ago may no longer be sufficient today.
Continued education and training are essential for maintaining professional competence, managing risk, and ensuring arborists can confidently justify their decisions – whether working on a suburban street tree, a complex construction site, or urban forest assets.
Ongoing learning is not only about formal qualifications or compliance. It is about developing judgement, understanding context, and keeping pace with emerging research and shared experience from across the profession.
Conferences as learning ecosystems
Industry conferences remain one of the most effective ways to bring these elements together. While formal presentations deliver technical knowledge, the broader value often lies in the exchange of ideas between sessions: conversations with peers, discussions with researchers, exposure to different approaches, and the opportunity to reflect on one’s own practice.
The National Arboriculture Conference in Hobart will again provide a forum for these exchanges, bringing together climbers, consultants, educators, researchers, students, suppliers, and decision-makers. Delegates consistently report that conferences help them return to work with renewed perspective, practical insights, and stronger professional networks – outcomes difficult to replicate in isolation.
Skills, sport and professional pride
The Australian Tree Climbing Championships are more than a competition. They showcase technical excellence, safety, innovation, and physical capability, while also providing an informal but powerful learning environment. Watching competitors tackle complex problems under pressure offers lessons that extend well beyond the competition arena.
Events like the ATCC also play a critical role in building professional identity, demonstrating to the wider community that arboriculture is a skilled, disciplined, and trained profession.
Recognising emerging professionals
Another important element of the 2026 program is the continued recognition of emerging talent through initiatives such as New Arborist of the Year.
Highlighting early-career professionals who demonstrate technical skill, commitment to learning, and leadership potential sends a clear message: arboriculture values growth, mentorship, and long-term career development.
Recognition programs help reinforce a culture where learning is expected and celebrated, rather than seen as an optional extra.
Learning from global expertise
In addition to major events, the 2026 calendar includes specialist workshops delivered by internationally recognised experts. These include sessions with Frank Rinn, known for his work in tree safety inspection and evaluation, and Ondrej Kolarik, whose expertise in tree biomechanics and tree stability software provides valuable international perspective.
Workshops like these allow practitioners to engage with complex topics, ask questions, and apply new thinking directly to Australian conditions, bridging the gap between research, theory, and practice.
Keeping qualifications current
Late 2025 saw the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) launch TRAQ 3.0, an updated Tree Risk Assessment Qualification with refreshed training resources, revised assessments and materials, and an extended seven-year credential validity. This is up from the previous five-year term and replaces the renewal courses.
Arboriculture Australia will be hosting TRAQ 3.0 multiple times throughout the year, with four dates already set:
• Melbourne – March 3-5;
• Sydney – August 4-6
• Adelaide – August 31-September 2; and
• Adelaide – November 18-20.
This new version of TRAQ requires attendees to first have their qualifications approved by ISA before registering for a course with Arboriculture Australia.
In 2026, Arboriculture Australia, in partnership with New Zealand Arboricultural Association, hopes to offer a new tree risk assessment method – AANZAA. This method is a quantitative approach developed in Australia and is another tool for the industry. More details of this educational opportunity will be announced soon.
This evolution in one of arboriculture’s key credentials reflects the industry’s ongoing growth and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date skills and knowledge as part of a lifelong commitment to professional excellence and safe, evidence-based practice.
Networking as professional infrastructure
Networking is sometimes dismissed as secondary to ‘real’ training, but in arboriculture it is fundamental. Many of the industry’s most effective problem-solving conversations happen informally between people who trust each other and understand the realities of the work.
Events provide the infrastructure for those relationships to form. They connect sole traders with larger businesses, students with mentors, regional practitioners with national peers, and experienced professionals with the next generation.
In an industry facing skills shortages and increasing complexity, these connections are not incidental; they are essential.
Looking ahead
As arboriculture continues to evolve, the need for high-quality, accessible professional development has never been greater. A strong events program spanning conferences, championships, workshops, and recognition initiatives helps ensure learning remains embedded in everyday practice.
For practitioners at every stage of their career, 2026 offers an excellent opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute to the ongoing strength and professionalism of Australia’s arboriculture industry.
Full details of all 2026 events, including registration information and updates, are available via the events page on the Arboriculture Australia website at trees.org.au/events.