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2023 National Volunteering Conference
Delegate Guide – In-person Delegates
Welcome to the 2023 National Volunteering Conference, hosted by Volunteering Australia in partnership with the Australian National University, being held on Ngunnawal land in Canberra on 13 and 14 February 2023. We are delighted to have you!
This briefing is your go-to guide for attending the National Volunteering Conference.
Program Outline
Monday, 13 February 2023
- Registrations from 7.30am
- Day One of the conference will kick off at 9.00am with a series of concurrent sessions
- A Welcome Lunch will be held at 12.00pm with the conference opening at 1.00pm with a Welcome to Country
- In the afternoon, the National Strategy for Volunteering will be launched followed by plenary and concurrent sessions
- A conference drinks reception will be held in the evening at the QT Hotel
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
- Day Two of the conference will involve a mix of plenary and concurrent sessions
- The conference will wrap up at 5.00pm on Tuesday
Where to go
The Conference is being held at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. While the campus is quite large, the Conference will be based in the following venues:
- School of Music
- Peter Karmel Building
- Research School of Social Sciences
When you arrive at the Conference, you will need to attend the Registration Desk to collect your lanyard. The Registration Desk will be based in the foyer of the Research School of Social Sciences and registrations will open on Monday 13 February from 7.30am. From 12pm the Registration Desk will move to the foyer of Llewellyn Hall at the School of Music and will be open until 5.30pm. Registrations will reopen again at 8.00am on Tuesday 14 February in Llewellyn Hall.
Once you have your lanyard, you will need to wear it at all times during the Conference. Your lanyard will provide you with access to the Plenary Sessions and pre-booked Breakout Sessions. To find out where you need to be and when, refer to the online Conference Program, ask for directions at the Registration Desk, or scan the QR codes throughout the Conference venue.
Getting to the Conference
Parking at the Australian National University is always difficult. If you are driving to the Conference, you may want to consider parking at one of the multistorey carparks close to campus to avoid delays. The Conference is taking place during Orientation Week at ANU, meaning there is likely to be traffic congestion in and around the campus. Parking options include:
Secure Parking City West Car Park (five-minute walk from venue)
One City Hill Car Park (ten-minute walk from venue)
The ANU is accessible by public transport. You will require a MyWay card to travel on public transport in the ACT, including the light rail if you are commuting from the north side of Canberra. MyWay cards can be purchased from designated recharge stations.
You may also choose to catch a taxi or uber to the venue. There are two taxi providers in Canberra and bookings can be made over the phone or online:
ACT Cabs on (02) 6280 0077.
Canberra Elite Taxis on (02) 6126 1600.
The ACT also has e-scooters. You can find an e-scooter by using the Beam or Neuron app. To use an e- scooter you will need an account and a linked payment method. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with the ACT’s rules and regulations on e-scooters, which can be found on the Transport Canberra website.
Accessibility
Free disability parking is available on campus for those with a valid Australian mobility permit. Disability parking spaces on campus are clearly signposted, however spaces are limited. Near the main venue at the School of Music, there are three spaces close by, with additional spaces further out.
There are clear paths of travel between both the School of Music and the Research School of Social Sciences. There is also a clear path of travel from ANU to the QT Canberra (where lunch and the Welcome Reception will be held on Day One of the Conference). All venues are wheelchair accessible and have accessible bathroom facilities.
Breakout Sessions A and B will have a hearing induction loop. Llewelyn Hall (where the Plenary Sessions will be held) can provide a FM Radio Assisted Hearing Unit for delegates who require hearing assistance. The FM system amplifies and improves sound quality through the users hearing aid.
There is a dedicated Quiet Room at the School of Music for delegates who want to take a break. There will also be a water bowl for assistance dogs at the Information and Wellbeing Desk. We will have AUSLAN interpreters at all Plenary Sessions, and we can provide additional AUSLAN interpreters at the breakout sessions on an ‘as-needed’ basis.
If you need any additional assistance throughout the Conference, please notify staff at the Information and Wellbeing Desk and they can arrange this for you. Alternatively, you can contact Carla Albrighton, the Delegate and Speaker Liaison, on 0427 582 360.
Food and Drinks
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea is included on both days of the Conference. There will also be tea and coffee stations available. We encourage you to bring a reusable coffee cup to minimise waste. Except for lunch on Day One of the Conference, all meals will be provided in a boxed format at the School of Music or at the Research School of Social Sciences. Delegates who have indicated specific dietary requirements will have their boxes clearly marked on a separate table.
Lunch on Day One of the Conference will be held at the QT Hotel, 1 London Cct, Canberra. The QT Hotel is a ten-minute walk from the ANU. See the map for directions to the QT Hotel.
There are also cafés and restaurants located on campus and in the streets adjacent to campus if delegates would like to purchase additional food or drinks.
Attending the Plenary and Breakout Sessions
It is recommended you get to each Plenary and/or Breakout Session 10 minutes before it is due to start. The sessions are being livestreamed across Australia so please keep noise to a minimum when you enter the rooms. Delegates with accessibility requirements will have preference for the front rows in each room.
You must have your lanyard on you to enter a session. Room capacity limits will be enforced to ensure everyone’s safety. This includes ensuring access to emergency exits are clear and free from obstruction.
Please put your mobile phones on silent when you are attending a session to minimise the disruption to the speakers and viewers online.
Exhibitor Hall
Be inspired, enhance your networks and connect with exhibitors in the Conference Exhibition Space. The Exhibition Space will be a hub of activity located adjacent to the main Conference hall at the School of Music, with a tea and coffee station as well as the Conference Information and Wellbeing Desk.
The Exhibitor Space will be open from 1.00pm to 5.30pm on Day One of the Conference, and from 8.00am to 5.30pm on Day Two of the Conference.
Welcome Reception
The Welcome Reception is being held at the QT Hotel and is an opportunity to relax, network and enjoy yourselves. The dress code is ‘cocktail or come as you are’. It will be an informal evening with drinks and canapes available from 7.00pm – 9.00pm.
Information and Wellbeing Desk
Conferences are very busy places; there are lots of people and lots of things to see and do. We have set up a dedicated Information and Wellbeing Desk to provide you with any additional support or assistance you need on the day. The Information and Wellbeing Desk is located next to the Registration Desk and is clearly signposted.
First Aid and Emergency Evacuations
There will be staff trained in providing First Aid available on both days of the Conference. The main destination to obtain First Aid is at the Information and Wellbeing Desk, however you can also contact the Delegate and Speaker Liaison, Carla Albrighton, on 0427 582 360. In an emergency always call 000 in the first instance.
At the beginning of each plenary and breakout session, you will be briefed on the emergency evacuation points closest to you. We will have staff positioned in each room to keep exits clear and to direct you to the appropriate evacuation point if it becomes necessary.
Photography and Filming
Please note Volunteering Australia will be taking photos and filming during the event. Photos and videos may be published on social media platforms and used for online and printed materials by Volunteering Australia (VA) or third party organisations affiliated with VA. Please notify a VA staff member if you do not wish to be photographed or have any questions.
Cancellation
What is your transfer and cancellation policy for delegates?
COVID-19 – Any stage up until conference upon request to conference team.
Delegates who develop symptoms, feel unwell or test positive for COVID-19 may request to refund their ticket up until conference day or nominate to transfer their ticket to an online ticket and will be provided with a refund for the cost difference. Please submit your requests for transfer to our conference team at events@volunteeringaustralia.org.
Contact Details
Please email events@volunteeringaustralia.org or call 0476 993 682 if you have any questions regarding the 2023 National Volunteering Conference.
COVID-Safe Plan
Volunteering Australia has completed an in-depth risk assessment and developed a COVID-19 Safe Plan for the 2023 National Volunteering Conference. The risk assessment draws from Government advice in relation to the transmission of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of particular controls on reducing risk of transmission and serious illness.
Specifically, the COVID-19 Safety Plan outlines our approach to the following:
- In-person attendee access and flow
- Physical distancing
- Use of masks
- Regular touch point sanitisation
- Keeping hands clean
- Communication
- Team management and limiting interactions in closed spaces
- Responding to a positive COVID-19 case, or close contact, in the National Volunteering Conference Team
You can obtain a copy of the COVID-19 Safety Plan by emailing events@volunteeringaustralia.org.
While there are no current public health mandates in place in the ACT, we encourage everyone to follow COVID Smart behaviours. These include:
- Wearing a mask in enclosed areas (there will be spare masks available at the Registration Desk and throughout the venue).
- Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Staying home/not attending the Conference if you’re feeling unwell.
- Practicing good hygiene (there will be hand sanitiser stations available in every room).
- Physically distancing where possible (rooms are capped at specific numbers for this reason, however seats are not 1.5metres apart. If you have any concerns you may prefer to livestream the session from your device).
To see more about COVID Smart behaviours, visit the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website.
