Early Childhood Australia National Conference 2019

FAQs

The FAQ page has been developed to assist with questions in relation to all aspects of the conference, please see below as your first point of call. Alternatively, if the answer to your question is not listed below, please contact the Conference Office via email on conference@earlychildhood.org.au or 02 6242 1800.

1 General Questions

When is the 2019 Early Childhood Australia Conference being held?

26-28 September 2019.

Where is the 2019 conference being held?

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart.

Is it too late to submit an abstract to present at the conference?

Yes, the applications to present submissions closed on 29 January 2019.

Where can I find more information about the conference?

For information about the conference you can visit our conference website at 2019.ecaconference.com.au. The website contains the most current information including the conference program, details on social functions, awards and more.

How do I subscribe for the conference e-newsletter?

To stay up to date on all conference news, subscribe to the e-newsletter here. They are sent out approximately once per month.

For further updates, subscribe to the ECA e-newsletter, WebWatch.

Is it too late to submit a poster presentation?

Yes, the poster presentation applications closed on 29 January 2019.

Where can I find the conference program?

To view the conference program, please visit the Program tab.

2 Registration

How much does it cost to attend the conference?

Conference registration is now open. Early bird registration will close 30 June 2019. To view conference rates, please visit http://2019.ecaconference.com.au/register/.

* Concession registration will be available to full-time students, pensioners and health care cardholders. Please upload a copy of your concession card during the registration process.

How can I register for the conference?

All participants are required to officially register to attend the Early Childhood Australia National Conference. Online Registrations opened December 2018. Online registration is the preferred method of registration. Credit Card payment (Visa or MasterCard) and PayPal is accepted via our secure network. EFT payments are also available via the online process. Please note this facility will only be open until 31 July 2019. Registrations after 31 July require full payment by credit card. Please contact the conference office if you are unable to register online and they will be happy to assist you further.

T: 02 6242 1800
E: conference@earlychildhood.org.au

I am a member of Early Childhood Australia. Do I receive a discount on my conference registration?

Yes.

Institution members are eligible to receive a discount for 5 people, Service/School members are eligible to receive a discount for 3 people, and Professional and Concession members receive a discount for themselves. Please note: To receive a discount you must be a current member of ECA and your member number must be entered into the online system upon registration. If you are unsure of the type of membership you hold, please contact the ECA National Office on 1800 356 900

How do I find out if I am a member of ECA?

Contact the ECA Customer Service team on 1800 356 900.

Do I have to pay for the conference upfront?

Yes. Full payment of conference registration fees must accompany your registration.

I am not a member of ECA, can I still receive a registration discount?

No. The only way to receive a discount is to become a member. Click here for more information on ECA membership.

Can you take my registration details over the phone?

No. You must register online. We cannot accept any verbal registrations.

Can you invoice me once you receive my registration form?

The online system will allow you to register and indicate payment by EFT issuing you with an invoice and giving you seven (7) days to pay. Please note if your payment is not received within 7 days your registration will be cancelled.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my registration?

Registration terms & conditions – Registration cancellations will not be accepted unless made in writing to the event organiser. If the notification is not received by the conference office, the cancellation is deemed to have not been notified. Cancellations made more than thirty (30) days prior to the conference date will be refunded less 15% of the registration fee to cover administration costs. No registration refunds will be made after this date; however you may nominate a replacement delegate at no charge. The same conditions apply to tickets purchased for social events.

If I cannot attend, can I give my registration to someone else?

If you cannot attend, you may nominate a replacement delegate at no cost, contact ECA Customer Service on 1800 356 900.

3 Events

How much does it cost to attend the Welcome Reception?

One (1) ticket is included in the full delegate & concession registration. Additional tickets can be purchased at $90.00 each.

How much does it cost to attend the Conference Dinner?

Tickets to the HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards Dinner are $110.00 each. Tickets can be purchased online during the registration process, the ticket includes dinner, drinks and entertainment.

How much does it cost to attend a Centre tour?

There are centre tours available to suit a range of budgets. More information on centre tours will be available soon.

What days do the tours fall on and will they run over the conference program?

Centre Tours run on Day Zero, Wednesday 25 September 2019 between 8:30 am-4.30pm and do not conflict with any presentations. More information on centre tours will be available soon.

4 Exhibitors

I am interested in exhibiting at the conference, who do I contact?

The Exhibition will provide delegates and exhibitors with excellent opportunities to network in a favourable environment that provides a central and energised meeting place for all participants.

For further enquiries please contact the Conference Office who will be pleased to provide you with details of the best marketing package for your needs and budget. Alternatively you can also download a copy of the Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus. For more information on sponsorship and advertising packages, please contact the Conference Office via email conference@earlychildhood.org.au or phone 02 6242 1800.

5 Sponsorship

I am interested in becoming a sponsor of the Early Childhood Australia Conference. Can you tell me what packages are available?

There are many attractive and high value sponsorship and advertising opportunities available to ensure that your organisation stands out at this premier event, which will be attended by your target market.

For more information, view the Sponsorship page, or download the Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus.

For more information on sponsorship and advertising packages, please contact the Conference Office via email conference@earlychildhood.org.au or phone 02 6242 1800.

6 Accommodation

Can I book my accommodation through ECA?

No. InHouse Event Solutions have been appointed as the official Accommodation Management Company for the ECA 2019 National Conference. Accommodation has been secured at competitive rates at a range of hotels and apartments close to the venue, the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart. It is recommended that you book your accommodation whilst completing your registration to ensure you secure these negotiated rates while they last.

How many people can we fit in one hotel room?

The capacity of the room, and the options for room configurations, are noted in the description of each hotel during the booking process. Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee which varies slightly from hotel to hotel.

How do I make changes to my accommodation booking?

You can amend your booking in one of two ways. Log back into your booking and complete the change through the online booking tool or by contacting the Accommodation Managers to do so. Please do not go directly to the hotel. Please ensure any changes are made by the Wednesday 14 August 2019 to avoid fees that may be charged by the Hotel. If a change needs to be made after this date, please contact the Accommodation Managers directly.

How do I cancel my booking for accommodation?

You can cancel your booking in one of two ways. By either logging back into your booking and completing the cancellation online or by contacting the Accommodation Managers. Cancellation fees will apply if you cancel your booking after 14 August 2019 or if you do not arrive at the hotel on your check in date. The fee will differ according to the individual hotel’s cancellation policy. For bookings that have been paid in full, please note, if you do not arrive at the hotel on your confirmed arrival date, the hotel will hold and charge for the room for each night booked. For cancellations please contact the Accommodation Managers on conferences@inhouseeventsolutions.com.

Please place the name ECA 2019 Conference in the subject line of the email.

I am no longer travelling can I change the name on my booking to a colleague?

In most cases hotels will allow a name change, however, please do check the terms and conditions for your specific hotel before making the change online.

How do I book for more than person?

You can make a group booking if you are booking for more than one person. Details are provided within the booking area to guide you through how to book for two or more persons, whether you are attending the conference or booking on someone else’s behalf.

How do I arrange payment for my accommodation by EFT or a third party credit card?

You will need to provide a credit card to guarantee your reservation during the initial booking process but this card will not be utilised if payment is subsequently made by another method. Once your receive your confirmation email please contact the Accommodation Managers to request an invoice for EFT or for a third party credit card form to be sent to you. Please note that if the hotel does not have the required paperwork and/or the payment by your Accounts team has not gone through, you will be required to settle your account at check in. Please allow sufficient time for payments to be made to the hotel. You will still be asked to provide a credit card or cash deposit upon arrival at the hotel to cover any incidental costs.

I am thinking of extending my stay either before and/or after the Conference but I am unable to book these date online?

Please contact the Accommodation Managers who will confirm availability and rates with your selected property.

I am arriving early in the morning can I check in straight away?

You will need to book and pay for the night prior to your arrival to guarantee an early check in. If you do not wish to pay for the night before you can request an early check in the “special requirements” box during the booking process. Please note that although the hotel will note this request they cannot guarantee a room will be available for you. In most instances you will be able to leave your luggage at the hotel until check in time.

My flight isn't departing until the evening, what time do I have to check out?

Each property has a check out time, normally mid-morning. You may ask the hotel for a late check out on arrival at the hotel however their answer will be based on availability and hotel policy. Please note fees may apply.

I need to speak to someone regarding booking my accommodation or about my confirmed booking, who do I call?

Please contact the Accommodation Managers, InHouse Event Solutions on conferences@inhouseeventsolutions.com. Please put ECA 2019 Conference in the subject line.

7 Conference App

How do I download the conference app?

The 2019 ECA National Conference App is available in the Google play and Apple App store.

Search for ECA National Conference and install the app.

What is the 'Conference App Permissions' and what am I consenting to?

Providing us with your consent to share your information via the conference app will allow your profile to be viewed by other attendees at the conference.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by opening the ‘Conference App Permissions’ and selecting ‘I do not consent’.

Why do I need to login?

You will need to be logged in to use the functions and features in the app.

To login please enter your email address which you registered with and your App Pin or Password.

If you can’t remember your App Pin or password, select Reset Password and it will send you an email with your pin.

I can nominate the sessions I would like to attend in the app, does this book me in to the session?

You can plan your time during the conference and pick the presentations you are interested in attending.

The session will then be added to your personal agenda to make it easy for you to know where to go and at what time.

Nominating your sessions does not mean this will book you a seat in the room.

I see there is an option to take notes in a session, what does this mean?

If you select the note icon on the top of the session information page, you can take notes during the presentation and then later, export these notes via your email.

How do I post on the social stream?

You need to be logged in, in order to view and post on the social stream.

Upon opening the social stream you will be able to see the conference stream.

To post, select ‘Add to the EventStream’ at the top of the page.

After writing your post, submit by hitting the ‘Post’ button.

Your post will then be submitted to our conference team for review and to be posted on the stream.

Please note: If you have opted to not provide us with consent to share your information, you will not be able to post on the social stream.

8 Virtual Pass and Live Stream

What is included in the Virtual delegate pass?

Virtual delegate passes will include streaming access to:

all keynote speakers
a selection of concurrent presenters and panel discussions
virtual introduction to exhibitors & sponsors
participate in the live Q&A with speakers.

Can I still register to virtually attend the 2019 ECA National Conference?

Yes, please click here to complete your registration.

What are the minimum requirements for my device to view the live stream?

To view the live webcasts, you will require:

A computer (desktop or laptop), tablet or smartphone
Speakers or headphones
An internet connection (at least 450kbps). A speed of 2.5mbps is required to achieve the best playback quality
A recent version of your web browser – Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge preferred
Adobe Flash Player 10.2 (or higher) is only required for older desktop machines and browsers

It is very important that you check your IT equipment and internet connection before day one (Thursday 26 September 2019) of the ECA Conference. We recommend you test your equipment as early as possible prior to the start of the ECA Conference. We will email your invitation to the live stream page prior to the conference, please log in to test and view it. If you experience any problems and would like assistance, please email us at customerservice@earlychildhood.org.au.

Where can I find the program for the Live stream?

The Live stream program can be downloaded here. Please note that all the times on the program are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

I missed a presentation, what now?

After the ECA National Conference has concluded, all the live streamed presentations will be uploaded to a library on https://2019.ecaconference.com.au/virtual-delegates/, where it will be available for 30 days. Use your same login details as during the conference to access it.