Pre-Arrival Information

We look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne shortly. To assist with your arrival, please see below further information on key areas of Congress.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
1 Convention Centre Place
South Wharf VIC 3006
T +61 (0) 3 9235 8000
mcec.com.au

Congress will be held at the MCEC and the closest entrance for the registration and information desk is Convention Centre Place. If entering from the Clarendon Street entrance, follow the directional signage to the RANZCP 2026 Congress.

There are taxis and Uber services available from the airport to the central city as well as the coach service, Skybus, which can be booked in advance or on arrival. The airport is approximately 26 kilometres to the MCEC.

The MCEC is easily accessible by the public transport system and also offers onsite carparking with Wilson Parking. The Exhibition Centre and South Wharf Retail car parks are recommended for easy access to the Congress areas. Please refer to the website for parking rates and early bird savings.

The registration and information desk will be located in Main Foyer 3 on the Ground Floor of the Convention Centre and will be open the following times:

Sunday 3 May 2026: 08:30-16:30
Monday 4 May 2026: 07:15-17:30
Tuesday 5 May 2026: 07:30-17:00
Wednesday 6 May 2026: 08:00-16:00
Thursday 7 May 2026: 08:30-13:45

We encourage you to register early to ensure you are seated and ready for the formalities to begin.
A few days prior to Congress you will receive an email from the Congress Office with a QR code for badge printing onsite.

Tea and coffee
Barista coffee carts will be available in the exhibition from opening time until the end of afternoon tea. The exhibition will be open 30 minutes prior to the first session each morning so we encourage you to make your way there for your morning coffee. Refer to the exhibition floorplan for the location of the barista coffee carts.

A tea and filtered coffee station will be available at the same time as the barista coffee carts.

The speaker preparation room will be located in Meeting Room 215 on Level 2 of the Convention Centre and will be open during the following times. Presenters must submit their presentation at least two hours before their session.

Sunday 3 May 2026: 08:30-16:30
Monday 4 May 2026: 07:30-17:30
Tuesday 5 May 2026: 07:30-17:00
Wednesday 6 May 2026: 08:00-16:00
Thursday 7 May 2026: 08:30-12:15

Abstracts
Abstracts can be viewed in the Congress app by clicking on the presenter's name within the program. They can also be viewed in the digital version of the Book of Abstracts which will be linked in the Congress technology email sent to you the week prior to the Congress.

Posters
Posters will be on display in the exhibition from Monday-Wednesday. There will be dedicated poster sessions over the lunch breaks where the authors will be by their work to share their ideas with fellow delegates. Refer to the app or pocket program for the list of posters being presented over each lunch break.

Poster presenters have also been offered the opportunity to include a digital version of their poster in the Congress app.

If you have booked accommodation through the Congress Office, any changes to your booking must be managed through the Congress Office by email, not directly with the hotel. You should refer to the cancellation terms and conditions noted on the website should you need to reduce or cancel your booking.

Each delegate who attended Congress will receive a certificate of attendance via email once Congress has concluded. The certificate will contain confirmation of attendance to those who have attended the RANZCP 2026 Congress. These credits will not be certified by a national or regional CME accrediting agency. Accompanying persons of Congress will not be awarded a certificate.

The MCEC Customer Service desk located on the Ground Floor near the Convention Centre Place entry can assist with any cloaking of coats, bags or personal belongings.

A separate cloak room and pram parking will be available in Main Foyer 2 for the College Ceremony and refreshments.

In the week before Congress, you will receive a further email from us detailing how to access the Congress app, which will provide you with the latest information. We encourage you to download the app before arriving to Congress.

This email will also include a link to the digital Book of Abstracts.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on Sunday (for pre-Congress workshop participants) will be served in the Level 2 foyers outside the workshop rooms.

Catering breaks on Monday-Wednesday will be served in the exhibition hall, allowing you the chance to enjoy refreshments, meet with exhibitors, and view the posters.

On Thursday, catering will be served in the Main Foyer on the Ground Floor.

The menu selections from the buffet station are inclusive of vegetarian and vegan options. A dedicated dietary buffet will cater for those who have advised us in advance of dietary requirements other than these.

For breakfasts or afternoon/evening functions, please make yourself known to waitstaff who will advise of your available options.

Every effort will be made to accommodate all special dietary requirements and/or other needs, however advance notification is required. Please contact the Congress Office by email to ranzcp@wsm.com.au if you did not provide this information at the time of registering. If you have provided this information, this will be outlined in your registration pre-arrival email.

To assist with networking, a copy of the delegate list, excluding privacy requests, will be available on the Congress app.

The dress code for Congress is as follows:

Pre-Congress workshops: Smart casual
Welcome reception: Smart casual
Congress sessions: Smart casual
College Ceremony and refreshments: Business attire
Congress Gala dinner: 'Op-Shop Couture' or Cocktail

If there is an emergency at the venue, please stay calm. Please follow the instructions given by the venue staff who are fully trained for an emergency situation.

The emergency phone number in Australia is 000. The dispatcher will then put you through to Police, Ambulance or the Fire Brigade.

We encourage you to network with the exhibitors during Congress. Located in Exhibition Bays 13 & 14 on the Ground Floor of the Exhibition Centre (entry via Concourse Door 7), the exhibition will be open during the following times:

Monday 4 May 2026: 08:00-17:30
Tuesday 5 May 2026: 07:30-17:00
Wednesday 6 May 2026: 08:00-15:30

Please see the supporters and exhibitors pages of the website for more information.

Delegates are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. Delegate registration fees do not provide any such coverage. The Congress Organisers and the Congress Office accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.

There will be a dedicated wifi network for you to use throughout Congress. The password for the Congress network will be printed on the reverse side of your name badge.

Attendees at Congress acknowledge and consent that during their attendance at the RANZCP 2026 Congress their image or voice may be recorded via video, photograph or by any other means (“recorded”) by an officer or official of the RANZCP, which may be distributed or published at the discretion of the RANZCP. If you do not wish to be recorded, you are required to formally advise the RANZCP.

Congress opening session
The opening session will commence at 08:30 sharp on Monday 4 May 2026. This will be in Plenary 2 (via Doors 7 & 8) on the Ground Floor of the Convention Centre. We encourage you to register early to ensure you are seated and ready for the formalities to begin. Please see the Congress website for the full program.

Pre-Congress workshops
A number of pre-Congress workshops are being held on Sunday 3 May 2026 at the MCEC. Check your registration pre-arrival letter to confirm if you have booked for these. Advance bookings are necessary so please contact us if you would like to book, or let us know if you no longer wish to attend one that you have registered for. The pre-Congress workshops schedule can be found here.

Please check your registration details in your email confirmation. If you would like to attend either event and it is not listed on your confirmation, please contact the Congress Office.

Welcome reception
Date: Sunday 4 May 2026
Location: il Mercato Centrale, 546 Collins Street, Melbourne
Time: 17:00-19:00
Dress code: Smart casual

Congress Gala dinner
Date: Wednesday 6 May 2026
Location: Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne
Time: 18:30-23:00
Dress Code: 'Op-Shop Couture' or Cocktail
Cost: AU$170pp inc GST

Most international guests will require a visa to enter Australia, and applications must be made in advance. You are advised to apply for your visas as early as possible as some applications may take 4-6 weeks to process.

Please visit here to ascertain the relevant visa for your visit.