Frequently Asked Questions

To ensure that your visit to Melbourne and the experience of the conference is as enjoyable as possible, here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions which will hopefully provide you with all the information you need.
We encourage you to read through this before you attend. Please contact us if you have a question that we haven’t answered.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Under Australia’s universal visa system, all visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia (other than New Zealand passport holders who will normally be granted a Special Category visa on arrival, provided they meet health and character requirements; and permanent residents of Norfolk Island who may be granted a Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa on arrival).

There are many visa options available to people wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa option will depend, amongst other things, on the person’s purpose for visiting Australia.

Please click here for more information.
Tap water in Melbourne is fresh and safe to drink.
The currency used in Australia is AUD. Please click here for an online converter.

Once you’re here, you can exchange your currency in many places, including at the airport when you arrive. Melbourne has many foreign exchange shops across the city.

If you’d like to visit a bank or an ATM, Melbourne has all major and smaller banks throughout the city.

ATMs will take any international cards and nearly all international networks such as Cirrus, Plus, STAR international ATM mark, Interlink or Maestro POS mark. Travellers should contact their bank at home for information on availability and service charges. The most commonly accepted credit cards in Australia are American Express, Bankcard, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and BarclayCard.

Some older machines dispense notes in two lots: first AUD$20 notes and then AUD$50 notes. Always count your money and make sure you have the right amount.

Use ATMs that are affiliated with your home bank it will save you a few dollars every transaction.

Conference Venue

MPLA Thrive25 Conference will be held at Rydges Melbourne, 186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne Victoria. See on Google Maps.

Taxis, UBERS, buses, trams, trains and hire cars are all great methods of transportation when in Melbourne.

Click here to view more information on transport to Rydges Melbourne.

Car Parking
On-site self-parking is available  from $60.00 per night per day (for hotel guests only)and is subject to availability on arrival.
The height limit is 1.9m.

Valet parking is unavailable.

Rydges Secure Carpark – onsite with 1.9 metre clearance

Other local parking options:
- Southern Cross Carpark at 129 Bourke Street with 2.1 metre clearance (a 3 minute walk)
- Daniel’s Car Park 217- 231 Lonsdale Street offers an open air car park and can accommodate cargo vans, flat bed tracks, film crewvans, delivery vans. (a 6 minute walk)

During the conference

The dress code throughout the day is smart casual.

The registration desk will be clearly marked. More information on the location of the desk will be confirmed closer to the event and emailed to you closer to the conference date.


Please direct any questions you may have regarding registration, session attendance or other elements of the conference to Leishman Associates staff at this desk.

Delegates will be provided with an individual name badge which will give you access to all sessions and social events that you have registered to attend. This must be worn at all times within the conference venue.

Delegates will have access to complimentary WIFI for the duration of the conference. Please see the Leishman Associates staff at the registration desk to obtain the password.

In the lead-up to the conference, small updates may be made to the program. See the latest version on the website and in the conference App, which will be available for download closer to the date. Any changes to the symposium program during the conference will be announced during housekeeping notices each morning. You may also check with Leishman Associates staff at the registration desk.

Delegates are not permitted to use any type of camera or recording device at any of the sessions unless written permission has been obtained from the relevant speaker. A professional photographer will be at the conference, if you have any issues with being photographed please notify the photographer or Leishman Associates staff.

The members of the Organising Committee and Leishman Associates 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 Leishman Associates staff if this occurs.

You must advise the Conference Managers of any special dietary requirements when you register for the conference. Caterers at each function will be informed of these. During the day there will be a buffet table offering food suitable for dietary requirements. 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 organisers as soon as possible.

After registering for the conference, you will be emailed a Registration Confirmation which lists all social functions for which you are registered. If you require another copy, please email conference@laevents.com.au

A delegate list will be available post-event via the delegate’s portal. Printed delegate lists will not be available at the conference. If you had selected ‘privacy required’ when completing your registration form, your name will not appear on the list.

Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is recommended that participants 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 managers for any person not holding insurance.


Various components of this event are being handled by Leishman Associates, a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO). Leishman Associates may be contacted regarding any matters relating to the event management. Further information about the PCO can be found at the following website:
www.leishman-associates.com.au

We will not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form.


Conference participants violating the Anti-Harassment Policy may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organisers.


If you experience any bad behaviour and/or you feel uncomfortable or unsafe during the conference, please contact the Conference Organisers.

Registration & Social Functions

CMO and Legal Forum

21 October 2025

The registration fee is $500, which includes access to the joint CMO and Legal Forum, all Legal Forum sessions, a name tag, lunch and afternoon refreshments on Tuesday. Delegates attending the full conference can register at a discounted rate of $250.

Conference

22 to 23 October 2025

Full Registration - Full Registration includes attendance at the Welcome Reception, Conference Dinner and all sessions on 22nd to 23rd October 2025. Full Registration also includes name badge, lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments. A ticket to the CMO and Legal Forum can be purchased separately at a discounted rate of $250 (Delegates attending the full conference only)

Day Registration - Day Registration includes attendance at sessions on the nominated day of attendance, name badge, lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments. Day registration does not include attendance at any social functions.

Note: Tickets for the CMO and Legal is not included and can be purchased during the registration process.

Speaker or Chairperson

Chairpersons will receive an email prior to the conference, reminding them of their responsibilities. If you are a chairperson and do not receive this, or have additional questions, please contact conference@laevents.com.au at Leishman Associates (+61 03 6234 7844).
Please bring your PowerPoint presentation with you when you register. All speakers should upload their presentation, at least four hours prior to their scheduled presentation time. Speakers are also requested to assemble in their session room 5 minutes before the commencement of the session if possible, to meet with their session chair and to familiarise themselves with the room and the audio visual equipment. A technician will be present in the room at all times.

Accommodation

You can book your accommodation through the online registration form or by emailing conference@laevents.com.au to obtain an auto-login token to book your accommodation after you have registered. You will be asked to provide your check-in and check-out date as well as your credit card details to secure the booking. Delegates are encouraged to book in advance as availability closer to the conference date is not guaranteed.

When you book your accommodation your credit card details will be transferred to the hotel you have selected. Your credit card will not be charged on the day of making your booking. The hotel requires full payment when you arrive at check-in. Please see the hotel terms and conditions when booking your room.

If you have booked as part of the Conference Block during the registration process, you will need to contact the Event Team at Leishman Associates conference@laevents.com.au to modify your booking details. Hotel policies for your booking will apply, see your registration confirmation email for details on the policy. Please see the hotel terms and conditions.

Cancellation and Disclaimer

Cancellations must be received in writing to Leishman Associates – conference@laevents.com.au. Cancellations will not be deemed to be received until you have written confirmation from Leishman Associates. If you have not received acknowledgement within two business days, please contact Leishman Associates on +61 (03) 6234 7844, conference@laevents.com.au.

See our Terms and Conditions page for full details.

All intellectual property rights of the event, and all materials distributed at or in connection with the event is owned by the Host, Leishman Associates, Sponsors, &/or Speakers presenting at the event. Participants may not use, reproduce or allow anyone to use or reproduce any trademarks or other trade names appearing at the conference, content, or in any materials distributed at or in connection with the Conference for any reason without the prior written permission from the Host.

No part of the event may be recorded, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including but not limited to video or audio recording, photography, photocopying or any other information storage or retrieval system known now or in the future, without the explicit written permission of the Host.

MPLA Thrive25 Conference reserves the right to amend or alter any advertised details relating to dates, program and speakers if necessary, without notice, as a result of circumstances beyond their control. All attempts have been made to keep any changes to an absolute minimum.

Not receiving event emails

Sometimes emails don’t get through firewall settings. To overcome this issue, please whitelist conference@laevents.com.au and conference@leishman-associates.com.au if you find you are not receiving conference correspondence.