The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is superbly located on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River, close to the heart of the CBD and just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s International Airport. The new Convention Centre has received worldwide acclaim for achieving a 6-Star Green Star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, the first in the world for a convention centre.
The modern complex is a landmark in the area, perched on the south bank of the Yarra River, and surrounded on all sides by trams, trains, buses, taxi ranks and ample car parking. A short stroll along the iconic Southbank Promenade places you in the heart of Melbourne city – Australia’s culture, cuisine and events capital – where visitors can enjoy a perfect café latte or award-winning local wine at any time of day or night.
The venue is an easy walking distance from a range of accommodation options, which will be available to delegates to book at the time of registering for the congress.
For any registration questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Congress Secretariat at ispcan.info@icmsaust.com.au.
Member Registrations | Early Bird Registration Fees – Ends July 31, 2026 | Standard |
|---|---|---|
Member Main Conference 3 Day Registration * | $990 | $1,190 |
Member Package – Main Conference and Discounted Rise Up Policy Forum | $1150 | $1,350 |
Non-Member Registration**** | ||
Non-Member Main Conference Registration **
| $1,190
| $1,350 |
Non-Member Package – Main Conference and Rise Up Day | $1,375 | $1,575 |
Pre and Post Congress Events | ||
|---|---|---|
Pre-Congress Working Group– Sunday 23 August 2026 | Free for registered delegates ($30 lunch ticket to hold a spot) | |
Rise Up Day Policy forum- Thursday 27 August 2026 *** | $400 | |
Social Functions | ||
Monday Welcome Reception | Included ($88 for additional tickets) | |
Tuesday Social Networking Event | $100 | |
* ISPCAN Member Fee requires valid membership at the time of registration and Congress to receive the reduced rate offered to members. Be sure to check your membership validity at memberships@ispcan.org.
** All non-members who pay and register for the Congress will automatically become ISPCAN Members and receive all the ISPCAN membership benefits by the end of 2026.
***Rise Up Policy Forum combined with participation in the main congress is available at a discounted price.
Please note that if you purchase a Non-Member Registration to the Congress, it will include a one-year ISPCAN Membership.
There are limited spots available for the Pre-Congress Working Groups. They will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
3-Day Registration Includes:
4 day Registration Includes:
Cancellation of Registration Deadline: Thursday 23 July 2026
Cancellations must be notified in writing by e-mail to ispcan.info@icmsaust.com.au. Cancellations made by 23 July 2026 will result in a full refund less $150 to cover administration costs. Refunds are only issued for visa denials so proof of adequate time for applications and denial must be provided. As an alternative to cancellation, your registration may be transferred to another person by Friday 7 August without incurring any cost penalty.
Disclaimer
All best endeavours will be made to present the program as published on the website. The Congress and its agents reserve the right to alter without prior notice, any of the arrangements, timetables, plans or other items relating to the meeting, for any cause beyond its reasonable control. The host and the Congress Organisers are not liable for any loss or inconvenience caused as a result of such alteration. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the host and the Congress Organisers do not accept responsibility for the loss of monies caused by delays. Participants are advised to take out personal travel insurance and to extend their policy to cover personal possessions. The Congress does not cover individuals against cancellations of bookings or theft or damage to belongings.
Note participants may be photographed or filmed at any time. By attending, you consent to the use, publication, or reproduction of your image or recording in any form of communication material used to promote the event and report on its events through publications and resource materials. If you do not wish to have your image photographed or filmed, please contact the secretariat in advance or onsite to advise of your preference.
Congress Postponement
In the event of a postponement, all registrations will automatically be transferred to the new Congress dates. All components of your registration including accommodation bookings, Social Functions will also be transferred. If you are unable to attend on the new dates, you may contact the Congress Secretariat to request a transfer of your registration to a colleague at no cost or request a cancellation and refund which will incur a $150 administration fee up until the Registration Cancellation Deadline.
Congress Cancellation
In the event of the cancellation of the Congress all registrations and associated components of attendance will be cancelled and amounts refunded in full.
Visa invitation letters will be provided on completion and payment of the registration form via email. Once payment is complete, you will receive a visa letter from the local organizers. If your visa is denied, you will be refunded your registration. We advise applying for your visa at least 6 weeks prior to the Congress start date for this to be accepted.
Attendees of the congress receive 3.0 CEUs for their learning. This certificate is part of the congress fees.
Working Groups have limited spots and they will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
Site Visits are now available!
Already Registered? Please contact the ISPCAN Secretariat to advise which site visit you wish to attend.
Contact Us: ispcan.info@icmsaust.com.au
Not yet registered for the Congress? Register using the link below. During the registration process, you will be able to indicate your attendance to the site visits.
Register Now!
Date/Time/Location:
Cost | Free
Host | Andrew Russo, Co-Founder, International Association of Family Support Networks (IAFSN). Our Place school-based hubs (Colman Education Foundation, in partnership with Victorian government)
Description | An on-site tour of Our Place school-based hubs (Colman Education Foundation, in partnership with Victorian Government) — community-based Family Resource Centres providing multi-generational, strengths-based support to families, with a strong track record in preventing child maltreatment and out-of-home placements. Delegates will see first-hand how FRCs connect families to services and support child welfare prevention at the community level.
Date | Monday, 24 August 2026
Time | 12:30 – 1:30pm
Location | Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare offices, walking distance from MCEC
Inclusions | Complimentary lunch
Cost | Free
Host | Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Anglicare Victoria (David, Principal Partner, Anglicare)
Description | Discover how Victoria has taken a whole-of-sector approach to Restoring Families, bringing together the Victorian Government, peak bodies and community service organisations to strengthen family preservation and restoration and improve outcomes for children and families.
Join practitioners, leaders and implementation experts from across the sector for an informal lunchtime networking event where conversation takes centre stage. Rather than formal presentations, delegates will have the opportunity to meet the people leading this work, ask questions and explore how Victoria has translated evidence into everyday practice.
Learn how evidence-informed practice elements have been embedded across services, how coaching frameworks and workforce learning modules have been developed to support implementation, and how evidence-based models have been introduced at scale. Participants will also hear how organisations have worked together to build workforce capability, maintain implementation fidelity, and measure outcomes to support continuous learning and improvement.
Whether you are interested in family preservation, implementation science, workforce development, system reform or evaluation, this session offers practical insights, shared learning and opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues from across Australia and around the world.
Hosted by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Anglicare Victoria, this complimentary networking lunch is open to all ISPCAN delegates. Places are limited, so early registration is encouraged
Date | Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time | 12:30 – 1:30pm
Location | Level 5, 50 Market Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cost | Free
Host | Centre for Excellence in Child & Family Welfare (point of contact TBC)
Description | Come and meet the Centre team, explore our work, and learn more about the role of a peak body. Browse interactive displays, chat with staff about current projects and priorities, pick up resources, and connect with others from across the sector. Whether you’re curious about policy, practice, workforce development, advocacy or systems reform, this is a great opportunity to network, ask questions and discover what’s happening across child and family services.
Date | Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Time | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location | 340 Bell St, Preston VIC 3072 – Level 1 and Level 4
Inclusions | Tea and coffee, VACCA resources optional
Cost | Free
Description | Join VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency) for an immersive visit to the largest Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) in Australia. Guests will gain insight into VACCA’s 50 year journey, statewide reach and commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, families and communities. The visit will showcase how Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing are embedded in practice through dedicated principal practitioner leadership, First Nations-led research and evidence building, and innovative service models such as Gamadji Balit. Visitors will experience how culture, self-determination and community leadership drive both service delivery and systems reform.
The conversations at ISPCAN are powerful, inspiring and at times, emotionally demanding. Throughout the Congress, we invite you to step away from the program, recharge and reconnect with yourself.
Our Wellness Program has been thoughtfully designed to support your wellbeing, helping you find moments of calm, reflection and connection amidst a busy schedule. Whether it’s taking a quiet break, moving your body, practising mindfulness or simply sharing a meaningful moment with others, these experiences are here to help you return to the Congress feeling refreshed and present.
At ISPCAN, we believe that caring for children begins with caring for ourselves. Creating space for balance and wellbeing enables us to engage more fully, think more clearly and continue this important work with compassion and resilience.
A dedicated quiet space to relax, reflect or simply take a break from the Congress.
Daily – Ground Level
Deep Breaths with Louie: Facilitated Breathwork Session
Join trauma survivor coach and breathwork facilitator Caroline Brunne, alongside accredited therapy dog Louie, for a gentle 30-minute seated breathwork session held daily. Designed to support nervous system regulation, reduce stress and create a moment of calm during the Congress, these accessible sessions are suitable for all experience levels. Louie will be there to offer his quiet, reassuring presence as participants learn simple breathing techniques they can continue to use long after the Congress has ended.
Monday – Wednesday
7:20-7:50am
Room 101 & 102
Wellness Lounge with Louie
Throughout the Congress, Caroline and Louie will be available in the Wellness Lounge, offering delegates a welcoming space to pause, reset and reconnect. Whether you’ve attended a breathwork session or simply need a quiet moment during the day, you’re invited to spend some time with Louie, Australia’s 2026 Dog of the Year and an accredited therapy dog. Through gentle interaction, conversation and connection, these visits are designed to support wellbeing, nervous system regulation and provide a calming opportunity to recharge before returning to the Congress.
Monday – Tuesday
10:00-10:30am
12:30-13:30pm
Wellness Lounge – Ground Level
Massage Therapists
Enjoy a complimentary two-minute shoulder and neck massage to help release tension and recharge between sessions.
Monday – Wednesday
10:00am-15:30pm
Wellness Lounge – Ground Level
The Story of ISPCAN 2026: Live Artwork Creation
Throughout the day, Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Sam Richards, founder of Muyan Story, will create an original artwork inspired by the stories, themes and connections emerging throughout ISPCAN 2026.
Drawing on the tradition of Aboriginal storytelling through art, Sam will develop a visual narrative that reflects the collective journey of the Congress—capturing children’s voices, healing, culture, connection, resilience and our shared commitment to preventing violence against children.
Tuesday
Wellness Lounge – Ground Level
Kick off ISPCAN 2026 with an exclusive Welcome Reception at SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium. Enjoy private, after-hours access to the aquarium while networking with fellow delegates among stunning sea animal displays. Food and drinks will be served in this immersive setting, offering a memorable and relaxed start to the Congress.
Venue: SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium
Date: Monday 24 August 2026
Time: 6-8pm
Join us for an unforgettable evening on Melbourne’s waterfront at the Showtime Events Centre. The event combines stunning riverside views with Melbourne’s iconic laneway culture. Enjoy roaming food stations, live entertainment featuring a party band, firebreather and b-boy performances, and plenty of opportunities for informal networking in a vibrant, urban-inspired atmosphere.
Venue: Showtime Events Centre
Date: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Time: 7-11pm
For any questions or further assistance, please contact the ISPCAN Melbourne 2026 Secretariat:
Proudly Managed by ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd
