Pre-Arrival Information
Conference Event Details
The Australian Catholic Education Conference will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Venue Address: Corner Wharf & Sheridan Street, Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns Queensland 4870
The conference will be held across multiple spaces in the convention centre. The main plenary will take place in the Auditorium on the ground floor. The Mass on Wednesday 20 August will take place in the Arena on the ground floor. There are 9 other spaces within the convention centre where the concurrent sessions will take place across the three days of the conference on the first floor of the centre. Our partners exhibition space will be located in the Mezzanine Exhibition Area on the first floor, Detailed floorplans of the convention centre will be made available within the conference app for your reference.
The registration desk in the main foyer will be open from 2:00pm - 6:00pm on Tuesday 19 August for you to collect your name badge, and from 7.30am on Wednesday 20 August. We strongly encourage you to collect your badge on Tuesday to avoid queues on Wednesday morning.
Name badges will be required to access the conference each day and should be worn at all times during the conference.
Emergency Conference Contact
From Monday, 18 August 2025, the conference organiser can be reached via phone on 0499 774 387 (for questions regarding registration, venue, conference events, etc.)
Program and Conference App
The full conference program can be accessed here. The program is available through the website or the conference app. You would have received an email on 29th July with login information for the conference app. A PDF printable program is available here if you wish to print a copy of the current program. The program will not be distributed in printed format, so if you would like a hard copy, please remember to print one out to bring with you.
You do not need to register for the concurrent sessions, you can decide what to attend on the day, unless a room is full.
Below is an overview of main session times for conference activities:
Tuesday 19 August
2:00pm - 6:00pm - Pre-Registration Open - register at this time to avoid queues.
Wednesday 20 August
7:30 am: Registration & Partner Exhibition Open
8:45 am - 5.40 pm: Conference Sessions
11:15 am - 1:00 pm: Conference Mass (Arena)
1:10pm - 1:55pm: Lunch n Learn (Ticketed event - registered attendees only)
Thursday 21 August
6:45 am: Registration & Partner Exhibition Open
7:00 am - 8:15 am: Breakfast n Learn (Ticketed event - registered attendees only)
8:30 am - 5.00 pm: Conference Sessions
12:40pm - 1:25pm: Lunch n Learn (Ticketed event - registered attendees only)
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Meet Our Partners and Sponsors
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Conference Reception at Convention Centre (Arena)
Friday 22 August
6:45 am: Registration & Partner Exhibition Open
7:00am - 8:15am: Breakfast n Learn - (Ticketed event - registered attendees only)
8:30 am - 1:00 pm: Conference Sessions
8:30 am - 3:30 pm: Dylan William Full day Workshop - (Ticketed event - registered attendees only)
10:10am - 10:40am: Australian Catholics Conversation Corner with Sr Nathalie Becquart xmcj
How to access the app:
You will be prompted to enter your email address - please enter the email you registered with.
Once you press "Next", you will receive an email with an access code (please allow at least 30 minutes to receive your code).
Input this access code from your email in the box and press "Sign in".
Press "Enable notifications" in the pop-up box to ensure that you receive the most up to date information about the conference.
Finished!
Tips to enhance your app experience:
If accessing the app on your phone, you can save this website to your home screen by pressing the share button and then "Add to home screen".
In the agenda, you can create your own personalised program by pressing the "+" button next to the session you would like to attend. These sessions will then show up in the "My Schedule" tab.
You can access a personalised QR code on your profile by pressing the black box with your initials in the top right-hand corner. Other delegates can scan your QR code within the app by clicking the QR code icon at the top of the screen. Here you can add people to your contacts or send them a message.
Catering
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included in your registration. Catering will be in the main foyer, Mezzanine exhibition area and the upstairs foyer.
Conference Reception
The Conference Reception will be held at Cairns Convention Centre in the Arena.
The reception will start at 5.30pm and will conclude at 7.00pm.
It is free to attend (for all those who have a full conference registration). Day ticket holders are able to purchase a ticket for the reception for $90 prior to the event.
The reception is exclusively for those attending the conference - you are not able to purchase a ticket for additional guests.
Light refreshments and alcoholic drinks are included.
Getting to the venue
Airport transfers (shuttle) are available through Cairns Airport Local Shuttle (Cairns Airport- Local Shuttle Bus). The Airport Shuttle service can pick-up or drop-off at Cairns CBD and is scheduled to meet up with all arriving and departing flights.
Taxi fares from the airport are approximately $21.00 – $26.00 one way.
Uber and other transport options are available as well.
Limited parking is available at the Cairns Convention Centre. There is a $10 daily charge for parking or $5 for up to 4 hours.
Photographs and Videos
Photographs and videos of delegates and other attendees will be taken during the conference and reproduced for promotional purposes including print and electronic media and may be posted on the internet and official social media platforms.
As part of registration, you have consented to having your photo/video taken but can choose to withdraw this consent.
If you have any concerns, please contact 2025ACEC@conferencenational.com.au or inform staff at the Registration Desk at the conference venue who can place a small sticker on your name badge that will indicate to the photographer to not photograph you.
Cairns Visitor Information
Catholic Mass Times
Weekdays: 7:45am
Saturday: 7:45am & 7:00pm Vigil (Reconciliation 11:30am –12:30pm)
Sundays 6:30am, 10:00am & 5:00pm
Medical Centres Near Cairns City
· Cairns Central Medical Centre
Eating out suggestions
For Breakfast & Coffee
· Caffiend
· The Chamber Room Espresso & Brew Bar
For Dinner
There are plenty of restaurants located along the waterfront of the Pier Shopping Centre and along the Esplanade between Minnie Street and south of Abbott Street. These include:
· C’est Bon Restaurant Francais
· Tha Fish
Local Shopping Centres
