We will comply with all Health Department guidelines as well as the Abbotsford Convent's COVID Safe Plan, in the operation of our event.

We are also taking into consideration other measures, in cooperation with the Convent, to run a safe event.

Even though we are thankful to be in a position where we are able to come together in-person, we also want to do what we can proactively help protect the health of participants.

• For the wellbeing of your fellow LAST Community colleagues, please stay at home if you have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 or if you are feeling unwell. We will refund you. approx. 75% of your registration fee if you cannot come due to illness or defer your registration to a LAST Conference at a future date.
• We have limited the number of registrations available for LAST Conference so that our total number is less than the overall venue capacity.
• We have asked the Convent to open any doors and windows available to maximise the amount of fresh air. We would ask you not to close doors and to open doors and windows, if needed. Please keep your voice down in halls and entrances to rooms when sessions are in progress.
• Use of masks is no longer required by health authorities, however please do not feel any hesitation in wearing a mask if you would like to. You may indeed see organisers and helpers at LAST wearing masks in certain situations.
• Please dress for the weather conditions. There will be times when you will be outside when walking to sessions. Also, as doors and windows will be opened, this will affect the temperatures in rooms.
• There is also access to outdoor areas and entrance ways that could be used for group discussions etc. depending on the nature of the session.

The Convent is a nationally and internationally unique precinct managed by the Abbotsford Convent Foundation, a not-for-profit, social enterprise. The grounds, historic buildings and gardens are occupied by and host artisans; community and cultural events and cultural institutions, a community classical radio station, live music performances, a gallery, Steiner school, theatre, markets, bakery, bar, and cafe. 

A community-led campaign preserved it from commercial development, and the site was enshrined on Australia’s National Heritage List in 2017. 

North Magdalen Laundry and Industrial School
Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers St
Abbotsford VIC 3067

Google Maps

• Parking is available at the adjacent car park. Fees go towards the restoration and daily operation of the Convent and Collingwood Childrens' Farm.
• Undercover bicycle parking is available, with the venue being adjacent to the Main Yarra Trail.
• Victoria Park train station (Hurstbridge/Mernda line) is a 10-15min walk.
• The 200 or 207 busses stop on Johnston Street at the Clarke Street stop. The bus stop is a 3 – 5 minute walk to the Convent.

Abbotsford Convent transport page

Submissions are open until 13 August 2023.

Yes, your registration fee will include morning and afternoon refreshments, and also lunch. You can also make other dietary requests that we will try our best to accommodate.

We don't plan to do live-streaming BUT we are providing tripods in each space and asking Session Leaders and Participants to record sessions with a phone. Any recordings submitted will be made available to registered participants first, and also to LAST Club Full Members, before being made available on the Free Member library at a later date.

We would encourage you to become a LAST Club Full Member to access the recordings of this event as well as 100+ hours of the content in the LAST Club full member content library. See a preview. Full Club Members also get a discount to this event

If we postpone or cancel

If the event cannot be held in-person on 1 Dec, we will reschedule. If it becomes necessary to stage the event online, the event may be spread over more than one day. In the event that we must move to an online-only format, you will be sent details to attend virtually and we will also seek to pass on any cost savings that are made. 

Please note, we can't be responsible for any travel and accomodation costs that are lost in the event of a date change.

If you wish to cancel

Please consider sending someone else in your place. You can change the name on your registration at any time.

If you wish to cancel…

• before midnight AEDT on Fri 29 Sep 2023. 100% refund.*
• before midnight AEDT on Fri 3 Nov 2023. 50% refund*
• before midnight AEDT on Fri 17 Nov 2023 25% refund*

No refunds are available after midnight AEDT on 17 Nov 2023.

* Please note, some processing fees may not be refundable.

Yes! Please take a moment to review the Code of Conduct which is a continuation of the CoC we have had for the past few years at all of our events.

We have also been signatories to the Diversity Charter for several years. This is a movement to promote diversity at conferences

Diversity refers to a wide range of visible and non-visible characteristics; it’s about valuing variety, welcoming a range of backgrounds, experiences and opinions and embracing the benefits that differences bring. We believe that a diverse set of people on stage and in audiences will improve events and will ultimately change the industries they represent for the better.

In the past, we have had a lot of involvement from people in the community.

There will be opportunities such as:

• Assist in the submission process – we will recruit a group of people to help us to decide on the sessions for the event
• Ask for volunteers to setup, register people and help to guide people at the venue on the day

The best source of information will be the LAST Club Slack group. Please check for info there, please contact us if you would like to be invited to join.

What will be different?

• If you haven't been to LAST since the COVID19 pandemic began, the Abbotsford Convent Arts Precinct venue will be new to you
• LAST MEL 23 is smaller scale than 2019. It will be a single day event, instead of two days. There will be fewer people compared to 2019.

What will be the same?

• We are restoring community involvement in some aspects of organizing the event, such as in the Submissions process
• An inclusive, collegiate atmosphere that encourages diversity
• Valuable peer-to-peer learning in a non-formal environment
• Increasing connections between people, and their connections with great companies who appreciate the engaged participants of LAST Conference