Family friendly arrangements

The Congress organisers welcome delegates who have children to make use of the following options and information to plan and enable their participation in the event.

Delegates attending Congress with a child may bring a support person (e.g. parent, spouse, friend, etc.) onsite to assist them with child-minding. A support person registration costs AU$50 inc GST and provides access to the family-friendly room as well as a name badge to facilitate ease of movement around the Congress spaces.

Please note this registration type does not include access to sessions or the exhibition/catering area, nor access to any social activities. Please see further information regarding attendance at social activities below. Guest tickets for adults and children aged 12 or older may be purchased for the Welcome reception. Adult tickets are also available for purchase for the Gala dinner.

Support person registrations are available on application/request. Please contact the Congress Office with the name and details of your support person. The Congress Office will then be in touch with further details.

The Congress will have an accessible family friendly room where delegates can watch a live feed from the plenary room whilst their child/ren use the provided colouring in books and pencils or watch the provided TV that will stream child friendly content during sessions. A breast-feeding space, microwave and refrigerator will also be available in this room.

There will be a dedicated space for parents, with access to a change table, kitchenette, microwave and comfortable seating options.

Delegates are welcome to bring their babies and young children into sessions, and the plenary room will have space for pram parking on the ground floor. For most of the concurrent sessions, it is recommended that prams are stored outside rooms to avoid blocking the entrance/exit. In cases where they can fit into a room, parents are welcome to bring prams into the room with them.

Parents are encouraged to arrive early to a session if they wish to secure a seat closest to the exit, to allow them to leave with their child, without causing disruption, during the session, if required.

Jumbo Early Education is located within DFO South Wharf at 20 Convention Centre Place, close to the Congress venue.

They can be contacted directly via email to info@jumboearlyeducation.com.au, by those wishing to enquire about making a casual booking during the conference.

Please note: casual spots can’t be guaranteed, however they will do their best to accommodate families who may need childcare during the conference.

The Pan Pacific South Wharf Melbourne partner with Olabisi Babysitting Service, a trusted agency providing experienced carers with background checks, working with children checks, and First Aid certifications. Should you wish to enquire about these services, please contact the hotel concierge once you have made your accommodation booking. Alternatively, if you choose to stay at one of the other Congress hotels, City Babysitters is a local babysitting service which can assist and is highly recommended.

The Welcome reception will be held at il Mercato Centrale from 17:00-19:00 on Sunday 3 May. Whilst this is not a family-focused event, children (aged 12 and over) are welcome to attend with their parents.

The College Ceremony which will take place on Monday 4 May is a family-focused event, and children are encouraged to attend.

The Gala dinner on Wednesday 6 May will be held at the Plaza Ballroom from 18:30-23:00, and is aimed at adults, rather than children. Parents are encouraged to arrange childcare through their hotel if they wish to attend this event.