We will comply with all Health Department guidelines in the operation of our event.

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

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 SARS-CoV-2 or if you are feeling unwell. There is scope to transfer your registration or to defer yours to a future event.
• The use of masks is not required by health authorities, however, please do not feel any hesitation to wear a mask if you would like to. You may indeed see organisers and helpers at LAST wearing masks in certain situations. Please be kind to people who are protecting their health.
• We have limited the number of registrations available for LAST Conference so that our total number is less than the overall venue capacity.
• Available doors and windows will be opened 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.
• Please dress for the weather conditions. There will be times when you will be outside when walking to sessions. As doors and windows will be opened, this will affect the temperatures in rooms.
• There is access to outdoor areas and entrance ways that could be used for group discussions etc. depending on the nature of the session. Please be mindful of tenants of the Convent, if you do this.
• Some of the sessions will be recorded. Therefore, it may be possible for you to catch up on some sessions.
• As it is difficult for us to predict demand, it is difficult for us to restrict numbers in each room. If you need to find a session that has more room, there are spaces that could be suitable for you.

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 25 August 2024.

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 do provide a mechanism for a selection of sessions to be recorded. Recordings are made available to registered participants first, and also to LAST Club Full Members. 

We would encourage you to become a LAST Club Full Member to access the recordings of this event as well as 150+ 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.

The Free Member library will have access to selected recordings at a later date.

If we postpone or cancel

If the event cannot be held in-person on the originally scheduled day, 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 27 Sep 2024. 100% refund.*
• before midnight AEDT on Fri 25 Nov 2024. 50% refund*
• before midnight AEDT on Fri 15 Nov 2024 25% refund*

No refunds are available after midnight AEDT on 15 Nov 2024.

* 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

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