FAQs

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
Parkinson’s Australia is excited to host people living with Parkinson’s, carers, support partners, family, health professionals, specialists and researchers to Canberra to CONNECT with each other at the 2025 Parkinson’s Australia National Conference. The conference is Australia’s leading event exploring innovative research into the causes, prevention, improved treatments, daily living and wellbeing and ultimately a cure for Parkinson’s.

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
The 2025 Parkinson’s Australia National Conference is designed to provide the Parkinson’s community with research updates from Australia and around the world, evidence-based practices on how to live well with Parkinson’s, and to provide the community with the opportunity to socialise, exchange thoughts and the space to connect.

The conference will provide two streams - a scientific and a wellbeing stream. The scientific stream will present research relating to the theme “How we are trying to solve Parkinsons from cause to cure”. The wellbeing stream will focus on living well with Parkinson’s from panels of health professionals and people with lived experience. We will also have a dedicated space for carers, support people, and care partners to connect, educate and learn together. 

WHAT ARE THE CONFERENCE DATES AND VENUE?
The 2025 Parkinson’s Australia National Conference is being held Sunday, 6 April to Tuesday, 8 April 2025 at the National Convention Centre Canberra. 

HOW DO I GET TO THE CONFERENCE VENUE?
The National Convention Centre Canberra is conveniently located within the city centre and is close to all city centre services, attractions and amenities that Canberra has to offer. It’s only 7km from Canberra Airport and easily accessible by car, taxi and public transport at any time of the day. Click here for a map, so you can easily plan your travels.

IS THERE PARKING AT THE CONFERENCE VENUE?
Convenient, secure, underground car parking is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the National Convention Centre Canberra. There are 480 parking spots, with internal lift access from the top level. The height restriction of the car park is 1.9 metres.

You can find the entrance to the underground car park on Constitution Avenue, between the venue and the Airservices Australia building. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
Click here for available conference passes and pricing.

• Early bird passes are available until 11:59pm on Thursday, 31 October 2024. To qualify for early bird pricing your conference registration pass must be purchased and paid for in full prior.
   
• Regular passes are effective from Friday, 1 November 2024.

HOW DO I PAY FOR MY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PASS?
All prices are in Australian dollars (AUD) and include GST. Conference passes must be paid by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or AMEX) during the online conference registration process. All credit card transactions incur a 3% processing fee.

Please note that conferences passes are only confirmed upon receipt of payment. 

I NEED A TAX INVOICE!
A tax invoice is provided for all registrations, you can download your tax invoice by using the link within your conference registration email. Should you require a tax invoice for each attendee please ensure you register each attendee separately.


WHAT IS THE CONFERENCE DRESS CODE?
Casual business attire is suitable for the conference and its social events.

CAN I SHARE MY CONFERENCE PASS WITH SOMEONE?
Splitting of conference passes is not allowed under any circumstances. Delegates who wish to attend must purchase a conference pass. 

CAN I CANCEL MY CONFERENCE PASS?
Cancellations must be received in writing to the conference secretariat in accordance with the following schedule:

• 1 April to 30 June 2024 | 100% refund
• 1 July 2024 to 31 February 2025 | 50% refund
• 1 March to 8 April 2025 | no refund

I CAN NO LONGER ATTEND; CAN I GIVE MY CONFERENCE PASS TO SOMEONE IN MY ORGANISATION?
If you are unable to attend the conference after registering, a substitution is permitted at no charge. Please submit your substitution notification to the conference secretariat.

Notification must be received in writing by Friday, 4 April 2025. For substitutions after this deadline, please bring written notification with you and present to the onsite conference registration team.  

CAN I GET A REFUND, I DID NOT ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
No refunds will be made for non-attendance at the conference, and any unpaid registration fees will still be payable.

In the case of medical emergency which has caused a registered delegate not to attend the conference, the conference secretariat must be provided with a medical certificate or appropriate documentation before any refund will be considered. When the conference secretariat is advised of a situation after the conference, and a refund is deemed to be appropriate, the delegate must still pay the administration fee along with any catering charges incurred because of their cancelled registration, for all catering events at which they were scheduled to attend.

CAN I HAVE A LETTER OF INVITATION
Please note that our policy is to only issue a letter of invitation to an international delegate once conference registration and full payment has been received. A letter of invitation from the conference does not guarantee entry into Australia. Please contact the conference secretariat to request a letter of invitation after your registration and payment has been submitted.


I NEED ACCOMMODATION, WHAT DO I DO?
Delegates are responsible for organising and managing their own accommodation directly with the hotel, and must comply with the hotels rates, validity, terms, conditions and cancellation policies which can be found on the hotel’s website and booking site. Please read and understand the hotel's policies prior to making a hotel booking.

A list of suggested hotels and preferential rates secured for conference delegates has been published on the conference website, click here.

We encourage delegates to book their accommodation and flights early to avoid limited availability.

The conference organiser, secretariat, staff and/or its agents and others working under its authority do not accept responsibility for any accommodation booked by delegates.

DO I NEED TO RSVP TO THE SOCIAL EVENTS?
Registration as a delegate, sponsor or exhibitor attendee does not automatically constitute as confirmed attendance for any social events during the course of the conference. Every attendee (even those entitled to complimentary registrations) must respond in the affirmative as attending social functions by selecting options during the online registration process. Places at social functions are not held if an affirmative response is not received to the attending option.

As alcohol is on offer, all social functions are classed as a licenced event. The venue’s alcoholic beverage license requires that venue staff shall: (i) request proper identification (photo ID) of any person of questionable age and refuse alcoholic beverage service if the person is either under age or proper identification cannot be produced, and (ii) refuse alcoholic beverage service to any person who, in the venue’s judgment, appears intoxicated. 

DOES THE REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDE INSURANCE?
Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind and delegates shall be regarded in every aspect as carrying their own risk for personal injury and loss or injury to property, including baggage during the conference. It is strongly recommended that delegates take out their own general travel insurance. It is suggested that the insurance policy should also cover loss of fees/deposit, airfares, accommodation charges, medical expenses, loss or damage to personal property and repatriation expenses. The insurance should cover loss arising from the cancellation of the conference by the organisers or a person’s inability to attend due to any reason whatsoever. No responsibility is taken by the conference organiser, secretariat, staff and/or its agents and others working under its authority for any person not holding insurance and any loss in this regard. 

WILL THERE BE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY AT THE CONFERENCE?
Please note that photographs and video will be taken throughout the conference and at the social events. These will be used for promotional activities including display on websites and social media platforms. If you do not want your photograph or any video footage taken, or used, you are required to formally advise the conference secretariat in advance by email at: parkinsonsaustralia[@]eventfulprojects.com.au

WHAT ABOUT CONFERENCE SECURITY?
The conference organiser, secretariat, staff and/or its agents and others working under its authority accept no liability for personal accident or loss or damage suffered by any participant, accompanying person, invited observer or any other person by whatever means. Nor do we accept liability for any equipment or software brought to the conference by delegates, speakers, sponsors or any other party. Please protect your personal property. Do not leave laptops, cameras, and other valuable items unsecured. Be conscious of individuals who appear out of place and do not wear a conference name badge. Advise conference secretariat staff if this does not occur. If you have any questions, please contact the conference secretariat. 

DO YOU SHARE MY DATA WITH THIRD PARTIES?
No, your data is not shared with third parties. Please note that the Conference Secretariat will contact you directly should we need to connect with you. Be aware of scams, do not share your data or pay any money to third parties claiming to be associated with the Conference. If you have any questions, please contact the conference secretariat. 

I HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS - WHAT DO I DO?
Please advise the conference secretariat of any special dietary requirements when you register for the conference. Caterers at each function will be informed and suitable food for registered dietary requirements will be available. If you are unsure, please don’t hesitate to ask staff at the registration desk.

IMPORTANT - If your dietary request relates to a life-threatening allergy, please ensure that you advise the conference organisers as soon as possible. 

I AM A SPEAKER, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Please send your PowerPoint presentation to the conference secretariat by Friday, 21 March 2025.

Any changes can be provided to the conference secretariat up until Friday, 4 April 2025 after this time please bring your PowerPoint presentation with you to the conference.

Prior to the conference all speakers will receive communication regarding an on-site briefing to meet with their session chair, audio visual technician and to familiarise themselves with the room and the audio-visual equipment.

Speaker rehearsal allocations are available each day prior to the conference commencing, during morning/afternoon tea breaks and at lunch. If you would like to confirm a rehearsal allocation, please contact the conference secretariat prior to the conference to arrange. 

All speakers must present themselves to the conference secretariat on arrival to collect their conference credentials.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Recording of presentations and workshops at the conference is not permitted under any circumstances, this includes any form of media, including but not limited to audio recordings, video recordings, or literal transcripts unless you acquire a written consent.

You are encouraged to use social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and blogging at the conference as a way to summarise, highlight, review, critique, and/or promote the presented materials, or the conference in general, on the condition that: copyright law is observed, verbatim information is limited to a few quotes, and the author or speaker is referenced and cited appropriately. Please bear in mind that presenters have invested many hours in the development of materials for the conference and copyright laws apply.

Out of respect for the other participants, we ask that loud electronic devices be silenced, though they do not need to be switched off, so that they may be used to tweet, post or take notes in accordance with the above stated policy.

We encourage delegates to:

• Follow us on Instagram @parkinsonsaus
• Like us on Facebook @ParkinsonsAust
• Like us on LinkedIn @parkinsons-australia-ltd
• Follow us on Youtube @ParkinsonsAus
• Hashtags include #parkinsons  #parkinsonsdisease  #parkinsonsresearch   #VoiceForParkinsons  #ParkinsonsAusConf2025  #PANC25
• Blog, post and tweet about what you are hearing and seeing
• Talk about products and services you see being showcased
• Share photographs
• Provide feedback to the Parkinson's Australia staff and the conference secretariat
• Keep criticism constructive

We request delegates to refrain from:

• Using audio and/or video recording devices during sessions.
• Capturing, transmitting, or redistributing syllabus materials or the bulk of the material presented in a session. Doing so infringes on the intellectual property rights of the speakers.
• Engaging in rudeness or personal attacks.

WHAT ARE THE CONFERENCE TERMS AND CONDITIONS?
Conference terms and conditions can be viewed here.