SPEAKER INFO PACK

Thank you for participating as a speaker at the 6th National LGBTIQA+ Conference, Better Together® 2024.

This page helps prepare speakers for your talk, workshop or Q&A panel at Better Together® 2024. Please read all the information on this page.

ℹ️ KEY INFORMATION

VENUE:

GMHBA Stadium, 370 Moorabool St, South Geelong, Victoria, Australia

DATES & TIMES:

  • 📅 Conference: Fri 14 to Sat 15 June 2024

  • 🕗 9.00 am to 5.30 pm on 14 June

  • 🕘 8.00 am to 5.30 pm on 15 June

WHEN IS YOUR SESSION?

You can find the date and time of every session in the Better Together 2024 Program.

🎟 REGISTRATION

All session presenters, including co-presenters and panellists, must have a valid ticket to Better Together® 2024.

If you are running a session, it is your responsibility to ensure that your panellists and co-presenters have a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online, and scholarships are available.

You will need to use the code we emailed you to access the Presenter ticket price. Check your emails for the presenter ticket price code, and if you can’t find it please contact us directly. All speakers including panelists are eligible to use this code, so please share it with your panelists if you are arranging a session.

🙋🏽‍♀️ YOUR PRESENTATION

📝 Please supply your PowerPoint presentation by 11.59pm Sunday 9 June 2024 by uploading it via this form.

PowerPoint data projection is the method used for all presentations. All screens and projectors will be in the 16:9 format. A PowerPoint template in the 16:9 format which includes an accessible presentation guide and embedded font is available below for speakers to download.

MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION ACCESSIBLE 🤔

Better Together® attracts a diverse range of individuals and communities with distinct learning styles and some requiring more accessible ways to acquire information. This includes people with a lived experience of disability, people who are neurodivergent, people for whom English is not a first language and those who may have limited vision or reading ability.

Presentations that are accessible to people with disabilities are inclusive to many more audiences. 🎉

With this in mind, we encourage you to make your presentation as accessible as possible. If you’ll be using PowerPoint slides as part of your session, we’ve prepared a guide to help you create slide decks that are accessible to a wider audience.

⚡️ If you intend to show a video in your presentation please make sure it is captioned. Some sessions will be Auslan interpreted. If an Auslan interpreter is present please speak clearly and at a moderate pace.

⬇️ Download the template below for tips on how to create an accessible and impactful PowerPoint presentation.

Then submit your PowerPoint presentation ahead of your session by submitting it via this form.

📝 Deadline: 11.59pm Sunday 9 June 2024

⚙️ LOGISTICS

The next 60 seconds of your life could determine whether Better Together® 2024 is a giant mess, or a well-choreographed dance, where all 94+ sessions slot neatly into their allocated times across two uplifting and nourishing days.

If you read this section and do your part, you’ll be a part of the team creating a great conference experience for everyone - presenters, attendees and volunteers alike.

To have a representative community-driven conference, we’ve done everything in our power to make space for as many sessions as possible. This means we have a very tight schedule. Follow the steps below to ensure you’re where you need to be, nobody has to run around looking for you, and your presentation doesn’t get cut off before you’re finished speaking.

FOR ALL SPEAKERS

  • Please be in your allocated room 15 minutes ⏰ before your session commences.

  • We have scheduled 10 minutes between every session for you to set up, and for attendees to move between rooms.

  • Bring your PowerPoint presentation on a USB drive. This is a backup for the copy you submit via the form (above). Where possible, a volunteer will be in the room to help you set up, and we will have a technician on hand for the conference if something goes wrong with the technology. 👨🏻‍🔧

  • If you have a video 📹 as part of your presentation, the video must be embedded in your presentation or downloaded to your USB drive. It must not require the internet to play. Please ensure that your video is captioned.

  • During your session, you will be given a 5-minute warning ⚠️ and then a 1-minute warning to signal the end of your session.

  • Stick to the time limit for your session ⌛️. This time limit is a hard-stop, so plan a talk that is slightly shorter than your allocated time to avoid being cut off. This is to keep the conference fair to all speakers, and accessible to all speakers and attendees.

  • If you need help, please ask a staff member at the registration desk or a volunteer 🙋🏻‍♀️. We will endeavour to have one volunteer in every room.

  • With a few exceptions, standard sessions are limited to:

    • Panel = 50 minutes (plan for 45 minutes)

    • Workshop = As per the program. Note you will always finish 10 minutes before the hour or the half-hour.

    • BetterThink = 20 minutes (plan for 15 minutes)

FOR BETTERTHINK SPEAKERS

BetterThink is a new format at Better Together®. The aim of this session type is to encourage speakers to prepare short impactful presentations and deliver a great idea in under 20 minutes.

Help us ensure a smooth and on-time delivery of your BetterThink talk by adhering to the rules below. In addition to the above requirements:

  • Please supply your PowerPoint presentation ahead of your session by submitting it via this form. 📝 Deadline: 11.59 Sunday 9 June 2024

  • If you miss the submission deadline, we cannot guarantee that your PowerPoint presentation will be included in the BetterThink session schedule. Files submitted via USB on the day of the session will not be accepted. ⚠️

📍 Each BetterThink speaker must deliver their presentation within 20 minutes.

The 20-minute time limit will be strictly enforced.

At the 20-minute mark your microphone and PowerPoint presentation will stop in preparation for the next BetterThink speaker who must start within the next 10 minutes.

IF YOU'RE HOSTING A PANEL

In addition to the above, please do the following:

  • Ensure that all of your panel members arrive no later than 15 minutes before the session commences.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure the program accurately reflects the number of speakers on your panel, so we can ensure there are enough chairs available at the front of the room for them to sit comfortably.

  • Ensure you have alerted the The Equality Project team of your panellists’ accessibility requirements well ahead of time, so that we can ensure they are accommodated as much as possible.

📱 EVENTEE APP

At Better Together® 2024, we’re using an event scheduling and management app called EVENTEE that will provide an interactive and personalised experience for attendees and speakers.

The EVENTEE app will:

  • Have all event information in one place;

  • Contain the full directory of event participants including speakers, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors;

  • Contain your speaker profile and session information;

  • Allow attendees to share valuable feedback;

  • Allow all attendees to create their own conference schedule;

  • Broadcast any event announcements to speakers and attendees.

The Eventee App will be released to all attendees at the conference, including speakers, closer to the event date.

CHECK YOUR PROFILE & SESSION INFO 💁🏾

Make sure your session title and description accurately and succinctly communicate the content of your session to the audience, as this is the main tool our attendees will use to decide which sessions to attend.

A note on filters: We have added special category tags so that attendees can filter sessions relevant to their interests. As a starting point, we have assigned the community and/or topic being spoken about in the session based on the topics you ticked in your application, the session title and description. These are not related to the identities of the session speakers.

Please feel free to let us know if you would like a category added or changed. What we have assigned will be imperfect, so thank you for making changes to make these more accurate and relevant. Please also note that the Education tag relates specifically to the Education industry, e.g. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education.

When choosing the communities and topics covered by your session, consider what someone looking for your session might search for, even if these aren’t words you would use yourself.

📣 PROMOTE YOUR SESSION

The Equality Project will highlight and promote some sessions leading up to Better Together® 2024, but it’s really you they want to hear from. Your social media followers and email contacts are key to ensuring that there is an audience present to hear the important things you have to say.

We encourage you to promote your session and the conference to your network. Below are some tools to support you.

PROMO CODE

As a special thank you to the people who support you and your work, we have created a voucher code for you to share. This code will give your networks a $50 discount on their full-priced Better Together® 2024 ticket.

🔐 BT50OFF

You can share this promo code through social media, by emailing your network directly or even share it in person at your local community meet-up.

*Note that this code will not work on a presenter ticket, as this ticket type is already discounted.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Promote your session on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and Twitter and invite your network to come to Better Together® 2024. We’ve prepared the following digital assets for you to share on social media.

When sharing this event to your network make sure that you:

  • Have a clear call to action eg. Buy your tickets, Join me, Get your early bird tix

  • Include the event landing page link 👉🏽 www.theequalityproject.org.au/better-together-conference

  • Tag us (see below) so we can re-share your post;

  • Tag the relevant group, organisation or community you want to invite or give a shout out to;

  • Use the hashtag #BetterTogether2024.

🔖 TAGGING

💁🏼‍♂️ USEFUL STUFF

ACCESSIBILITY

💁🏽‍♂️ We will update the Conference Accessibility Information page as soon as current building works at the venue have been finalised, to ensure we are giving the most accurate information.

⬇️ Download the accessible PowerPoint template.

IF YOU NEED IT

TERMS & CONDITIONS

📸 PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO COVERAGE

The Equality Project® will take photos and videos of attendees and presenters during the conference. These images are for The Equality Project's use only and may appear on The Equality Project's website, newsletter, social media outlets and other future promotional material. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to usage of your likeness in such media. If you do not wish to be photographed please let us know.

The Equality Project® may also conduct interviews of attendees, with their permission, using audio-visual equipment.

🎙 AUDIO RECORDING

The Equality Project® will audio record some sessions for use in the Better Together® podcast, including audience questions. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to your voice being used in this way if it is captured in a recording. If you do not wish for your voice to be in a recording please let us know ahead of time.

😇 CODE OF CONDUCT

All attendees, speakers, sponsors, vendors, partners, and volunteers at our conferences/events are required to adhere to the following Code of Conduct:

Our aim in hosting events is to build community. To that end, our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe to participate, speak up, ask questions, and engage in conversation. We invite all those who participate in this event to help us create safe/brave and positive experiences for everyone.

The Equality Project® is dedicated to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of participants, event organisers, volunteers and staff in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate during any aspect of the event/conference, including talks, workshops, parties, social media such as Twitter, or other online media.

💃🏽 EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR

  • Participate in an authentic and active way. In doing so, you contribute to the health and longevity of the community.

  • Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.

  • Attempt collaboration before conflict.

  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour and speech (particularly on social media).

  • Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert community leaders/organisers/volunteers/staff if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct, even if they seem inconsequential.

  • Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event/conference without a refund at the discretion of The Equality Project®. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTIQA+

LGBTIQA+ is respectfully being used as an umbrella term to refer collectively to a wider range of people than just those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual or aromantic. The use of the acronym is not intended to exclude people who may not be specifically represented by this term.

🙋🏽‍♂️ FAQs

Questions questions questions

As we receive questions from you (which you can send to speaker@equality.org.au), we will post the most widely relevant ones here with answers.

📝 CHECKLIST

As a speaker, workshop presenter or host of a Q&A panel, I have:

✅ Purchased my 2-day conference ticket.

✅ Downloaded the PowerPoint template (if applicable).

✅ Submitted my PowerPoint slides (if applicable).

✅ Read the T&Cs and Code of Conduct.

✅ Celebrate with champagne. 🥂

💬 NEED TO CONTACT US?