SPEAKER INFO PACK
Thank you for participating as a speaker at the 7th National Rainbow Community Conference, Better Together® 2025.
This page helps prepare speakers for your talk, workshop or panel at Better Together® 2025. Please read all the information on this page.
ℹ️ KEY INFORMATION
VENUE:
Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA
DATES & TIMES:
📅 Conference: Fri 31 October to Sat 1 November 2025
🕗 8.20 am to 5.30 pm on 31 October
🕘 9.00 am to 4.30 pm on 1 November, followed by joining the local Pride March in Adelaide
WHEN IS YOUR SESSION?
You can find the date and time of every session in the Better Together 2025 Program*.
*Please note, session times are subject to change until closer to the event. We try not to change session days after the program is released, as we understand speakers may have booked travel around speaking on a particular day. We encourage you to plan to attend both days of the conference if possible.
🎟 REGISTRATION
All session presenters, including co-presenters, co-facilitators and panellists, must have a valid ticket to Better Together® 2025.
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 panellists are eligible to use this code, so please share it with your panellists if you are arranging a session.
⭐️ REFERRAL SCHEME ⭐️
We'd love you to help us spread the word about Better Together. And here's a little thank you for doing it. Invite two people from your network to buy a ticket using your unique referral link and we’ll refund your ticket!
Here's how it works:
Share your unique referral link (sent to you via email) with friends, colleagues, allies.
Once two of them purchase a ticket, we'll refund you if you've already paid or your ticket will be free if you haven't.
As a special thank you to those who support you and your work, share the $50 off code SAVE50BT2025 for them to use on their conference ticket.
Your unique referral link looks like this:
https://better-together-2025.eventbrite.com.au/?aff=yourfirstnamelastnameYou should have received this referral link in a recent email.
This offer includes all ticket types, except for free tickets and $19 Seniors Card Offer tickets.
🙋🏽♀️ YOUR PRESENTATION
📝 If you will be using a PowerPoint presentation, please supply the PowerPoint file by 11.59pm Sunday 26 October 2025 by uploading it via this form. The file size limit is 10Mb.
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.
Sending your presentation in ahead of time is vital to keeping the day running on time. There are only 10 minutes between sessions, and having your presentation pre-loaded on the computer in the room will ensure the fastest possible changeover. We also encourage you to bring your presentation on a USB as a backup.
It is not a requirement that you have a presentation at all. If you choose not to have a presentation, a holding slide will be put up on the screen.
MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION ACCESSIBLE 🤔
Better Together® attracts a diverse range of individuals and communities with distinct learning styles. Some require 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 26 October 2025
⚙️ LOGISTICS
The next 60 seconds of your life could determine whether Better Together® 2025 is a giant mess, or a well-choreographed dance, where all 96+ 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. 👨🏻🔧
Each room will have a lecturn with built-in microphone, at least one handheld microphone and a microphone stand. It is up to you which microphone you use. We ask all speakers to use one of the microphone options with no exceptions. Using a microphone this enables the participation of our hard-of-hearing attendees and those using the hearing loop system.
Workshop rooms will have two handheld microphones. Panel rooms will have four handheld microphones.
There will be a clicker in each room to help you move to the next slide, if you wish to use it.
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 17 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.
Based on feedback from previous years, this year there will be no Q&A in BetterThink sessions. This is to give you the full 20 minutes to more deeply unpack your idea or core concept. If you would like to continue this conversation, we encourage you to nominate a spot at the end of your session where you will meet people to talk. Some good options include the Communi-tea space, or the food and drink area. These places will be marked on your map.
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 26 October 2025
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.
IF YOU'RE HOSTING A WORKSHOP
The workshop rooms will have trestle tables and chairs as ‘flexible furniture’, to enable you to set up the room as you wish. You can have chairs around tables, fold the tables up and create a circle of chairs, push all the furniture to the edges and use the space to move - it’s up to you and your imagination.
As we have only a small number of volunteers, we encourage you to ask people to meet you at your workshop room to help move the space around, and/or to get your participants involved in setting up the room. Better Together attendees are often happy to help.
We also encourage you to hang around at the end of your workshop to help the next group set up. If we all work together, these flexible spaces can enhance our workshops and create a conference that responds to the people participating.
📔 CONFERENCE BOOKLET
At Better Together® 2025, we’re moving away from the app and trying something new (actually, we’re going back to technology that’s 4000+ years old ✏️📜, but who’s counting?).
Every attendee at Better Together® 2025 will be given a Conference Booklet when they register on the day. It will include a map of the venue, some journalling prompts, space to write out their own schedule of sessions to attend, a place for the contact details of the awesome people they meet, and more.
We’re telling you, our speakers, about the Conference Booklet first as you may wish to think about ways you could help your participants to learn more about your topic or stay in touch with you quickly and easily.
One idea is that you could get a small print run of stickers made up with your contact details, to quickly add yourself to lots of booklets at the end of your session. Or maybe you could do a sticker with a QR code with a link to more information about your project.
You don’t have to do anything at all, we’re just letting you know ahead of time, in case this sparks your creativity.
📣 PROMOTE YOUR SESSION
The Equality Project will highlight and promote some sessions leading up to Better Together® 2025, 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® 2025 ticket.
🔐 SAVE50BT2025
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 X and invite your network to come to Better Together® 2025. We’ve prepared the following templates in Canva for you to share on social media:
⚙️ INSTRUCTIONS
Open the Better Together speaker Canva template.
Sign in (or create a free account): Canva may ask you to log in. If you don’t have an account, it’s quick and free to set one up.
Click “Use template”: Canva will create your own editable version.
Customise safely: Pick a suitable tile. There are options for single speakers and up to 5 speakers. Add your name, session title, and photo. The event branding, colours, and layout are locked, so you don’t need to worry about changing anything by mistake.
Download: Go to Share → Download and save as a PNG or JPEG.
Share: Post it on your socials.
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 or your unique referral link. Two ticket purchases via this link will earn you a refund on your paid conference ticket.
Your unique referral link looks like this:
https://better-together-2025.eventbrite.com.au/?aff=yourfirstnamelastname
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 #BetterTogether2025.
🔖 TAGGING
Tag @TheEqualityProjectAustralia on Facebook
Tag @the-equality-project on Linkedin
Use hashtag #BetterTogether2024
💡 SAMPLE COPY
Option 1
I’m delighted to share that I’ll be speaking at Better Together® 2025, Australia’s largest rainbow gathering for change, taking place in Adelaide on 31 October – 1 November.
My session, [insert title/topic], will explore [insert a few words about the focus or why it matters]. I’m looking forward to sparking important conversations and connecting with people who are passionate about building more inclusive, equitable communities.
Better Together® 2025 brings together changemakers, leaders, and rainbow community voices from across the country. Across two days, hundreds of people will gather to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and discover new ways to create impact together. Join me!
📍 Adelaide Convention Centre
🎟️ Tickets available here: www.theequalityproject.org.au/better-together-conference
[Or use your unique referral link.]
#BetterTogether2025 @[tag us on relevant platform, see above]
Option 2
I’m excited to be speaking at Better Together® 2025 in Adelaide this October. Join me for my session on [insert topic] and be part of Australia’s largest rainbow gathering for change.
📅 31 Oct – 1 Nov 2025
📍 Adelaide Convention Centre
Grab your tickets here: www.theequalityproject.org.au/better-together-conference
[Or use your unique referral link.]
#BetterTogether2025 @[tag us on relevant platform, see above]
Option 3
Thrilled to be speaking at #BetterTogether2025 in Adelaide. My session will explore [insert topic], and I’d love for you to come along and be part of the conversation.
Better Together® is Australia’s national LGBTIQA+ community conference — bringing people together from across the country to share stories, ideas and ways we can build a better future.
🎤 My session: [Insert session title or theme]
📍 Adelaide Convention Centre
📅 Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2025
Grab your tickets here: www.theequalityproject.org.au/better-together-conference
[Or use your unique referral link.]
#BetterTogether2025 @[tag us on relevant platform, see above]
💁🏼♂️ USEFUL STUFF
LINKS
ACCESSIBILITY
💁🏽♂️ We will update the Conference Accessibility Information page soon.
IF YOU NEED IT
Qlife: 1800 184 527
Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367
Lifeline: 13 11 14
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).
✅ Shared my session and the event to my network.
✅ Read the T&Cs and Code of Conduct.
✅ Celebrate with champagne. 🥂
💬 NEED TO CONTACT US?
General speaker inquiries: speaker@equality.org.au