Initiatives

Initiatives

As part of our mission to support innovative and interdisciplinary research on contemporary China, CCCS hosts and supports a wide range of initiatives. These programs are designed to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students from across disciplines, fostering vibrant intellectual exchange and cultivating new perspectives on China’s evolving role in the world. By building research capacity and encouraging collaboration, our initiatives create spaces where ideas can be tested and partnerships and projects can grow. Below you will find our current and ongoing initiatives.

Community Engagement Initiatives and Activities

The Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne works with community organisations, local libraries and professional networks to bring research and public discussion beyond the university. These activities connect Chinese-speaking communities, international students and the wider Melbourne community around migration, belonging, wellbeing and Australia–China relations.

Moon Gate
Moon gate in Ningxia. Photo by Sarah Rogers, 2025.

Conferences

Global Taiwan 全球臺灣 Conference (2026)

On 4–5 November 2026, CCCS will co-host Global Taiwan 全球臺灣, an international and interdisciplinary conference that brings together scholars from across the humanities and social sciences to explore Taiwan’s place in the world. The conference, organised with the Australasian Taiwan Studies Association (ATSA) and the International Taiwan Studies Center at the National Taiwan Normal University, seeks to situate Taiwan within global historical processes, intellectual currents, and cultural exchanges, while also highlighting the island’s distinctive experiences and contributions.

Biannual Conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia (2025)

In December 2025, CCCS hosed the biannual conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia (CSAA). For the full program of the event, see this page.

Grounding Global China Conference (2024)

In December 2024, CCCS organised the 'Grounding Global China' conference. The event sought to to bring together scholars, policy makers, and experts from diverse fields to exchange and share their experiences and research findings, offering grounded views on the latest developments related to Global China. For the full program of the event, see this page.

Community-Engaged Projects

Towards Co-thriving: Connecting International Students and Older Melburnians Across Cultures, September 2026
Community partner: North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre
Supported by: University of Melbourne Civic and Community Impact Fund (CCIF)

Dr Qiuping Pan collaborated with the North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre to bring international students and older local residents together through Towards Co-thriving. Two co-design sessions were delivered in conjunction with Being a Melburnian, a City of Melbourne–supported program. Participants shared experiences of belonging, identified barriers to community participation, and developed ideas for building stronger connections across cultures and generations.

The first session, Finding Belonging in Melbourne, invited participants to share stories and photographs of places where they feel comfortable and at home. A photo exhibition was also developed to organise conversations about friendship, neighbourhood life and the different ways people experience belonging.

The second session, Building Meaningful Connections in Melbourne, explored what helps international students form relationships beyond campus. Participants discussed shared activities, volunteering and neighbourhood opportunities, as well as the challenges of turning brief encounters into lasting connections.

Participants view the photo exhibition at the Finding Belonging in Melbourne session

Events and Public Engagement

International Student Wellbeing Workshop July 2026
Community partners: Lifeline Australia; Chinese Community Council of Australia (Victoria) (CCCAV)

The Centre partnered with CCCAV and Lifeline Australia to bring more than 70 international students and community members together to discuss wellbeing and access to support. Participants shared self-care ideas and challenges they had encountered when seeking help. Their reflections were recorded on a collaborative Padlet, and the event introduced students to Lifeline’s wellbeing toolkit and related resources.

Participants discuss wellbeing in small groups while a collaborative Padlet is displayed on screens.

Participants share self-care ideas in small-group discussions.

Career Pathways in Chinese Studies
Date: August 2026 | Represented organisations: National Foundation for Australia–China Relations; Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies; Australia–China Association of Scientists and Entrepreneurs

The Centre hosted a career pathways session for Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies students and students in related fields. More than 25 undergraduate and postgraduate students heard from Elise Gruttner, Professor Mark Wang and Henry Yang about careers in government, research, public diplomacy, innovation and entrepreneurship. The discussion explored the skills behind employable China capability and practical opportunities for career development.

Students and speakers seated around a conference table during a career pathways session.

Students and speakers discuss China-related career pathways.

Community, Connection and Platforms April 2026
Community partner: Yarra Libraries

Dr Pan and Dr Wilfred Yang Wang joined a bilingual public discussion on Chinese Australian community life and digital platforms, facilitated by Dr Eric Jun Fu. Drawing on Dr Pan's Transnational Ties, Local Lives (Routledge, 2025) and Dr Wang's co-authored Chinese Platforms: A Critical Introduction (Polity, 2025), the event brought research on migration and media into conversation with local audiences.

Three speakers take part in a public discussion before a seated audience at a Yarra Libraries venue.

Dr Pan and Dr Wang in discussion with Dr Fu at Yarra Libraries.

China Knowledge Starts at Home May 2026
Community partner: Knox Library

At Knox Library, Dr Pan and Dr Wang discussed how research on diaspora and digital platforms can deepen public understanding of China and Chinese Australian lives. Moderated by Dr Wesa Chau, the joint book talk created a forum for conversation among researchers and community members. Across the two library book talks, participants included local Chinese community leaders, an MP and SBS journalists.

Three speakers sit at the front of a library meeting room while audience members listen.

Dr Pan and Dr Wang speak at the Knox Library book talk, moderated by Dr Chau.

A History of Chinese Immigration to Australia April 2025
Community partner: Yarra Libraries

Dr Pan shared research on the history of Chinese immigration to Australia at a Mandarin-language public talk hosted by Yarra Libraries. The event formed part of her ongoing work with local libraries to make migration research accessible to Chinese-speaking audiences beyond the university.

Dr Pan addresses an audience from the front of a library event space.

Dr Pan gives a public talk at a Yarra Libraries event.

Open Access Publications

CCCS supports open-access journals and platforms that focus on creating and disseminating knowledge about all facets of Chinese politics and society. These include the Made in China Journal, The People's Map of Global China, and Global China Pulse.

Groups and Networks

China Water Network

Under the guidance of Associate Professor Sarah Rogers and Prof Mark Wang from CCCS, as well as Professor Alison Browne, Professor Deljana Iossifova, and Professor Saska Petrova from the University of Manchester, the China Water Network brings together early-stage researchers interested in China’s water-related topics across universities and disciplines. It is a platform for communication, peer support and networking to accompany the professional development of researchers, through virtual meetings, on-site events and networking activities at conferences. Read more at this link.

Chinese Studies Research Group

The Chinese Studies Research Group (CSRG) is a postgraduate academic group representing all Chinese Studies researchers at the University of Melbourne, regardless of department, school, or faculty. We provide events, resources, training, and support. For more information about the group and how to become a member, see this page.

Global China Knowledge Network

Global China Knowledge Network aims to be a platform that enables the development, sharing and articulation of knowledge on China’s process of ‘Going Global’.  Read more at this link.

Seed Funding

The purpose of our Seed Grants is to encourage and support new research ideas, collaborations and high-quality publications by University of Melbourne staff and PhD students, with a focus on contemporary China studies.