JASA
The Jane Austen Society of Australia Inc.
Jane Austen: Romance novelist?
2026 day Conference
Date
Saturday 16 May 2026, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location
The Epping Club, 45 Rawson St, Epping
Cost
Members $130
Non-members $140
What to expect
The JASA Day Conference is a lovely opportunity to get to know other members and make new friends, while enjoying wonderful talks and further delving into Jane Austen’s rich and superb novels. You’ll spend the day hearing interesting presentations with the opportunity to discuss with like-minded people. Morning tea and lunch are included. The venue, in the Sydney suburb of Epping, is close to Epping Railway Station and has parking nearby.
Programme
Jane Austen is often thought of as the original romance novelist, but are her novels always romantic? And are we doing them a disservice if we only consider them in that light? JASA is pleased to welcome international speaker Inger Brodey, author of Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness, to our day conference. Inger, alongside local speakers, will look at various aspects of romance, or non-romance, in Jane Austen’s novels.
Speakers
We have some fabulous speakers coming to instruct and enlighten us. Click on each name for more information about the speaker and their topic.
Speakers
Inger Brody: University of North Carolina
Inger Brodey is a professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a scholar, humanist and author. Her book Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness was published in 2024 and is the first full-length study that explores Austen’s endings to her novels.
Inger will be giving two talks at the conference:
- ‘Who can be in doubt of what followed?’: Austen’s Anti-Romantic Lessons for her Readers
- Austen’s Endings on Film
Carrie Kablean: Writer & Editor
Carrie Kablean is a London-born, Sydney resident writer and editor, whose love for Jane Austen began during her schooldays and culminated in a homage, her first novel, What Kitty Did Next, which centres on Catherine Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
Carrie will be presenting:
- A Guide to Romance from Mr Collins
David & Lisa Campbell: Into the Austenverse
David Campbell OAM is one of Australia’s most popular entertainers: a singer, actor, TV personality and radio host. Lisa Campbell is an award-winning casting director and theatre producer. Lisa is a lifelong Jane Austen fan, while David only recently picked up Pride and Prejudice for the first time. In 2025, they launched the podcast Into the Austenverse, which dives into the world of Austen novels, adaptations, reimaginings and cultural references. It blends pop culture, literature and the unique rhythms of their enduring marriage, with plenty of wit along the way.
David and Lisa will be presenting:
- A Guide to Romance from: Marianne Dashwood and Henry Tilney
Jane Caro: Commentator and Writer
Jane Caro AM is a best-selling novelist, Walkley award-winning columnist and in-demand speaker. She has a BA in English Literature, majoring in the Victorian social novel. She is a feminist and public education activist.
Jane will be presenting:
- Persuasion: A Mature-age Romance
Steve Rohan-Jones: Presenter
Steve Rohan-Jones is an engaging presenter and has recently delivered papers for international conferences, workshops and seminars, including the use of letters within Jane Austen, as far afield as Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Brisbane and Adelaide. A current PhD student at the University of Queensland, Steve is exploring the intersection between love and war within Shakespeare’s history plays.
Steve will be presenting:
- ‘Love or Thunder: The Intersection of Passion and Intimacy in the Austenverse’
Scarlett Hopper: Romancing the Novel
Scarlett Hopper is the author of seven romance novels and the founder of Sydney’s first romance bookstore, Romancing the Novel. Her love of reading goes back to her childhood, when her sister introduced her to the words of Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf. Her bookstore stands as a sanctuary for romance readers, offering not only stories of love, but a shared space for connection, belonging, and community.
Scarlett with be presenting:
- Romancing the Novel: Exploring Contemporary Love Stories
Registration & Payment
To book, please submit a registration form and make your payment. We accept payment by credit card, EFT, cheque, or cash. You can register in one of two ways:
Option 1 – Online (Recommended)
Complete your registration via our online booking page. At the Confirm & Pay step, you can choose to:
- Pay immediately by card, or
- Select an alternative payment method (bank transfer or cheque)
Visit our booking page here.
Option 2 – Print & Post Registration Form
If you prefer, you can:
- Download and complete the registration form
- Submit your payment via bank transfer, cheque, or cash
Visit our print-and-post form
Please note: Conference registrations close 7 May (or earlier if capacity is reached).
Payment
The following payment methods are available:
Card payment
– Available via the online booking page only
– Follow the prompts to pay by card
Visit our booking page here.
These payment options require a Print-&-Post form or the online form:
EFT (Direct deposit)
Account name: Jane Austen Society of Australia Inc.
Bank: St George Bank Ltd BSB: 112-879
Account number: 156156319
Reference: your name (essential)
Cheque
Mail to Elizabeth Budge, JASA Treasurer, 21 Galston Crescent, Leura NSW 2780
Cash
Cash payments can be made to Elizabeth Budge (Treasurer) at a JASA meeting. Please ensure you have completed a registration form (online or printed).
Important Notes about Booking
- Your place is only confirmed once payment has been received
- If registering online, please proceed to the Confirm & Pay step to select your payment method
- If paying via EFT, cheque, or cash, please ensure your name is clearly referenced
- Conference registrations close 7 May (or earlier if capacity is reached)
Location, Parking & Accessibility
Located in the heart of Epping, the Club is just a short walk from public transport and easily accessible by car, though it is important to consider parking availability. Please refer to this page for details on the location, public transport, and parking options.
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