Attendee Guide¶
The Attendee Guide provides conference information and gives strategies and tips for new (and experienced) attendees to get plugged in and connect with others! We’ve gathered info here that will help you navigate the conference like a pro and make you feel more at home.
Where can I ask a question?¶
The Welcome Wagon Team is available to make your conference experience better! Stop by the Welcome Wagon table or feel free to ask questions in the #australia-oceania Slack channel. Whether you have a question about the schedule, where to eat, or how to connect with other attendees, they are your go-to for conference questions. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll find someone who does!
Location and availability:
The Welcome Wagon table is located directly next to the Registration table
Team will be available during all conference hours
Conference Layout¶
Review our Venue page for details on the accessibility and layout of conference spaces.
Eating¶
Coffee, tea, and water are provided on conference days in the Foyer close to Price Hall.
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options will be offered
Ingredients will be listed
Please email swapnil@writethedocs.org for other dietary requirements
Bring a water bottle to make it easier for you to stay hydrated.
There are many food and beverage options within 0.5 kms around the conference venue. Explore Melbourne’s amazing food scene on the Visiting Melbourne page.
Dress Code¶
We don’t technically have one! Melbourne is an extremely casual-dress city and so is the Write the Docs conference. You’ll be meeting business colleagues at this conference, though, so neat and comfortable are good dress guidelines.
Bring layers! Weather is on average high 22-23°C, low of 10-12°C, but Melbourne often sees four seasons in a day, so it is advisable to carry layers.
Driving and Parking¶
If you drive to the conference, note that the venue does not have parking on-site. You are able to park in the nearby streets (hourly) or commercial car parks. The nearest commercial parking is at QV Parking Complex, one block down from our conference venue. Be mindful that the venue is located in an extremely high-pedestrian traffic area, so finding on-street parking close to the venue for long hours may be a challenge.
The conference venue is located within a 5-minute walk of Melbourne Central Train Station, and very close to tram lines that run along La Trobe, Swanston and Elizabeth Streets, so public transport is definitely recommended.
Hotels and Transportation¶
The conference is located in Melbourne Central Business District (CBD). There are many hotel options within a 5-10 minute drive, some of these are walking distance from the venue. View our Visiting Melbourne page for recommended hotels.
Melbourne is an accessible city and there are many transportation options available including buses, trams, rideshare, and taxis. View our Visiting Melbourne for information.
Accessibility¶
We are committed to hosting a conference that is accessible to everyone. Visit our Accessibility section on the Venue page for more information.
How do I participate in the conference?¶
Speaker Talks¶
Listen! Take notes of remarkable and thoughtful ideas.
After a talk, use something you heard as a conversation starter with your colleagues or even the speakers during a break.
Tweet about a talk when it’s complete with the hashtag #writethedocs.
Unconference¶
The Unconference consists attendee-driven sessions that provide the opportunity for anyone to lead, contribute, share ideas, and discuss ideas.
Join and attend an unconference session.
Sign up to lead a session.
Lightning Talks¶
Lightning Talks are short talks, up to 5 minutes, where you share an idea, concept, or a bit of information that you find interesting.
Sign up to give a talk! Sign up at the registration table.
Tales from the Trenches¶
Tales from the trenches is a slightly different concept we are trialling out this year, where we invite you to share your unique experiences and offer fresh perspectives on three broad topics to help spark ideas.
Self-organised outing¶
If you arrive a day or two earlier, explore the beautiful downtown attractions or join fellow documentarians for a walk and some fresh air!
Tips to gave a great conference¶
Before the conference, join the Write the Docs Slack, and follow Write the Docs on LinkedIn and X, formerly known as Twitter.
Talk with people - attendees, volunteers, staff, and speakers. Don’t forget to use Eric Holscher’s Pac-Man Rule to leave room for others to join! The most important part of this conference (and any conference) is the people you meet. Set a goal for yourself to meet a few new people.
Review the speaker schedule and choose which talks you want to attend the most. Spread out your time between talks, unconference sessions, networking, and breaks.
Starting Thursday morning, check the Unconference schedule to discover if there are any sessions you are interested in attending. New sessions are added all the time, so check back periodically.
Give yourself and your brain a break! Conferences are exhilarating, but can also be exhausting. Grab a quiet spot in the Foyer/Price Hall or take a quick walk.
Eat and drink! There will be tea or coffee available but there are many restaurants close by.
