Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key dates?
Professional Development Workshops – Monday 13 June – Thursday 16 June
Members Day – Thursday 16 June
Symposium – Friday 17 June – Sunday 19 June
Gala Dinner – Saturday 18 June
( See program for more details)

I've read that Monday 13th June is a Public Holiday in Melbourne.  Will that impact the Annual Meeting in any way?

No.  Most shops will be open during the day as will the airport, airport buses, restaurants, etc.   Public transport will be running to a Saturday timetable, and Taxi's will operate as usual.  The holiday is "Queen's Birthday."

I've got questions about the registration process for the annual meeting?

See the Registration FAQ.  You can also leave any tips and tricks you've discovered in the comments section of that page.

How can I get to central Melbourne from the airport?

Answer: Taxi or Airport Shuttle bus.

A taxi will cost A$50.00 approximately depending on various taxes such as amount of luggage or late night surcharge. Tipping is not expected in taxi's in Australia.  In restaurants you tip if you get good service.

The airport shuttle buses have various operators with an average price is about $20.  Skybus is the largest operator; they will take you to the main railway station where you can transfer to their free shuttle that will take you to the Langham.   Transit time is 20 minutes from the airport to the city depot, with services running every 10 minutes in busy times.  Overnight the frequency is every 30 minutes.  You can purchase a return ticket at the airport for $35 (credit cards are OK).  Skybus operates 24 hours per day.  Skybus departs from the ground level outside terminals 1 and 3.  Look for their distinctive orange ticket booths. 

For the fiscally challenged, adventurous, not over-tired traveller.  During the day (about 7am to 8pm) you can get to the city using metro transit. Transit time is about 1 hour. Exit the terminal and turn right to walk along the footpath.  Follow signs to Terminal 4 (Tiger Airways) and continue on.  The metro bus stop is on the far side of the road about 200m past terminal 4 - between Depot Drive and Grants Road .  Board a number 901 bus and purchase from the driver a "Zone 1& 2, 2 hour" ticket ($5.80, cash only on the bus).  Ride the bus to Broadmeadows Railway Station where you transfer onto a Metro Train service to the city.  Alight from the bus, enter the station building and then walk down the tunnel to the right and under the railway, then turn left up the ramp to platform 1.  Alight from the train at Flinders Street Station.  Exit from the western end of the station and look across the river.  You will see the Langham Hotel set back behind the cafes which front the river.  Walk across the footbridge, and straight into Southbank Ave.  Turn left at the round-about (traffic circle) and the Hotel entry is on the left.

What can I get for free in Melbourne?

There are two forms of free transport for tourists and they are both just a short walk from the Langham.
1. The City Circle ride on of one Melbourne’s famous old wooden trams takes you around the CBD
2. The Tourist Bus visits sites of interest in the inner suburbs
See http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Travel-g255100-c3005/Melbourne:Australia:Free.Bus.For.Tourists.In.Melbourne.html for more details

Getting around.

Melbourne is a ‘planned’ city based on rectangular street grids so it is very easy to get around. (See the map in your .....)Between the major streets there are smaller laneways which harbour many small cafes, bars and galleries that give the city a unique ‘vibe’. Also, in contrast to our Anglo/Celtic heritage evident in our institutional architecture, Melbourne is now incredibly cosmopolitan due to large intakes of European migrants following WW2 and more recently from Asia.

How do I get to ... by Public Transport

Visit http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au and look for the journey planner.  Entering the start and end address and you'll get detailed transit instructions.  If you are using public transit extensively you can purchase a weekly metcard that will allow you unlimited travel for a 7 day period.  Short trip tickets are valid for at least 2 hours on any metro tram, train or bus.  Transfer as often as you like within the time period.  Zone 1 applies to travel within approximately a 10km radius from the city (the boundary is quirky) while a zone 1 & 2 ticket will take you most places in the metropolitan area.

Can I see a Kangaroo/Koala/Platypus/Emu/Venomous Snake?

We suggest you visit Melbourne Zoo.  If you have day to spare, you could take a bus tour to Healesville Sanctuary where you can see most Australian native wildlife in close to native habitat.  We don't have crocodiles in Melbourne - it's too cold for them.

What is positive about the location of the Langham hotel? 

The Langham hotel is located on the Southbank of the river Yarra which runs through the heart of Melbourne. It is surrounded by an undercover shopping/restaurant precinct and it is only a short walk to all the major features of central Melbourne plus the botanical gardens, art galleries and concert halls. Public transport is also easily available. 

Do I have to stay at the Langham hotel to participate in the ISPSO Annual Meeting?

Answer: No. The Langham offers ISPSO conference discounts but cheaper accommodation is plentiful in surrounding areas.

Hotel.com.au and LateRooms.com/Melbourne-Hotels are websites you can check for alternative accommodation.

What about WiFi?

The Langham has WiFi for its guests for which it charges a daily access fee of $25 (Jan 2011 prices).

As in many other countries, you can get free WiFi at McDonalds 'restaurants' and public foodcourts - there are several nearby to the Langham.

Will my mobile phone work?

Australia has 3  mobile phone networks, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone/Three.  All networks operate using GSM (European) standards and support 3G.  So if your phone is compatible with these standards and you have global roaming enabled by your carrier then you can reasonably expect it to work. 

BEWARE global roaming charges for phone calls can be very high and data charges can be positively astronomic. 

Three  have a good global roaming plan if you happen to be a customer of theirs.  If you are going to use your phone a lot, we recommend you purchase a local pre-paid SIM from a supermarket, phone shop or convenience store.  Several carriers/resellers are offering 'all you can eat' plans for around A$30 per month (as at Jan 2011).  1GB data will usually be an extra $10 or so.  As with all things mobile telephony, beware the small print.  Caveat Emptor.

What about food?

You name it and Melbourne has it. From the incredible fresh food selection at Queen Victoria Market (even French visitors are impressed) to ethnic restaurants across a wide price range. You can dine finely at Southbank or walk across the river and try the south Indian cuisine of cafe Flora for a fraction of the price.

What weather can I expect?

Melbournians joke that you can expect four seasons in one day but our seasons differ from those in other parts of the world. It will be winter in June but it never snows in Melbourne. The worst weather consists of wind and rain at the same time, so bring a raincoat and a warm jacket, but sometimes the winter is very mild with sunshine and temperatures of up to17 centigrade. Umbrellas are very handy.

I'm a presenter.  Where can I upload copies of my abstract, presentation and paper?

On the home page, follow the link to presenter resources and then to submit your paper.

What are your Terms of Business?

Please view our Terms of Business here.

Do you have a presence in any Social Media sites?

The Annual Meting has a presence on "Facebook" and "Linked In" Group.  If you are a user of these services, we ask that you assist our marketing and 'like' these events.  We invite you to participate on-line both before and during the conference.