Overview & Registration
OzGrav is delighted to announce that the 2026 Early-Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop and Annual Retreat will be held in Sydney, New South Wales, at the Sofitel Darling Harbour Hotel and accommodation at the Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour.
**Please note these events are only open to OzGrav members and invited guests**
Early Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop
📅 Date: Monday 30 November & Tuesday 1 December 2026
📍 Where: Sofitel Darling Harbour, 12 Darling Drive, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
⏰ Start Time: 30 November @ 9:30 am | 🏁 End Time: 1 December @ 5 pm (AEDT)
💻 Note: Some of the programs can be streamed for those who cannot attend in person
The OzGrav Early Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop is open to OzGrav PhD, Masters-by-research and Honours students and Postdoctoral researchers. It is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow OzGrav students/ECRs. The workshop will consist of interactive sessions, networking opportunities and team building activities.
Chief Investigators & Project Scientists Meeting
📅 Date: Tuesday 1 December 2026
📍 Where:Sofitel Darling Harbour,12 Darling Drive, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
⏰ Start Time: 9:30 am | 🏁 End Time: 5 pm (AEDT)
Annual Retreat
📅 Date: 2, 3, and 4 December 2026
📍 Where: Sofitel Darling Harbour, 12 Darling Drive, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
⏰ Start time: 2 December @ 9 am | 🏁 End time: 4 December @ 4:30 pm (AEST)
💻 *Some of the programs can be streamed for those who cannot attend in person
The Annual Retreat will feature a mix of interactive sessions, scientific talks, keynote presentations, and professional development workshops, along with plenty of opportunities for networking and getting to know your OzGrav colleagues.
The Annual Retreat is open to OzGrav Postdocs, PhD students, Masters-by-research and Honours students, Chief Investigators, Partner Investigators, OzGrav-funded Professional and Technical Staff, members of the OzGrav Scientific and Governance Advisory Boards, and other guests by invitation. If you are another category of OzGrav member (such as an Associate Investigator, Affiliate, or undergraduate student) who is keen to attend the retreat, please contact your supervisor or node leader.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Accommodation
Location: Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour
Dates: Rooms available from Sunday 29 November to Friday 4 December
A group booking has been arranged at the Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour hotel. Accommodation will be booked centrally, so please include your dates and specific requirements in the registration form. All workshop and retreat sessions are at the Sofitel Darling Harbour hotel across the road, so you’ll only be a short stroll away from the meeting rooms.
Check-in time: 2:00pm
Check out time: 11:00am
Luggage can be stored at the hotel upon check-out.
If you need to change or amend your accommodation after registering, please email OzGrav HQ at ozgrav@swin.edu.au.
Accompanying family members
Family members, partners, and children are welcome to attend the event. OzGrav will cover accommodation costs and meals for children.
Please note that any additional expenses related to a partner’s participation in breakfasts, meals, dinners, or social activities will not be covered. The hotel may charge up to $38.00 per night for a second guest in the room to include breakfast.
Room Incidentals
Upon check-in, the hotel requires a security pre-authorisation of $50.00 per room from a credit card or a $100.00 cash deposit per room, per night from all guests.
Accessible accommodation
The Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour hotel has accessible rooms available upon request. If you require an accessible room or you have any specific requirements for your accommodation, please include this in your registration form. Alternatively, you can contact OzGrav HQ (Diana or Ari) ozgrav@swin.edu.au, or our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Lauren Carter to discuss your requirements further, laurencarter@swin.edu.au.
Accessible Rooms:
- At the Ibis Darling Harbour, there are 3 accessible rooms. All accessible rooms interconnect with another room for added safety and assurance. All accessible rooms feature the following aspects:
- Accessible vanities
- Hand-held shower wand
- Lowered electrical outlets
- Non-slip grab rails in the bathroom
- Roll in shower
- Toilet seat at wheelchair height
Logistical Information
Flights
Flights will need to be arranged by each attendee in accordance with their own institution. Flight costs will need to be paid by each node. Please contact your node leader or administrator to confirm the best way to book your flights.
To maximise attendance by our PhD students, OzGrav will centrally provide a subsidy of up to $400 per PhD student travelling from interstate to help cover flights and transportation. Each node can invoice OzGrav Headquarters for the relevant amount.
If you are an invited affiliate or guest of OzGrav and not involved with one of our nodes, please contact the OzGrav Admin team at ozgravadmin@swin.edu.au if you require any assistance in arranging your flights.
Transport
Transport to and from the airport should be arranged by attendees.
The accommodation venue, Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour, and the conference venue, Sofitel Darling Harbour, are both approximately 13km from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Travel options include:
- Taxi/Uber: 20-25 minutes, approximately $45-60
- Train: Airport Link to Central Station, then Light Rail to Convention Station (280m from Ibis and 64m from Sofitel), approximately 45 minutes, $20
Accessible Transport option
We can arrange a maxi taxi or Uber to and from the Retreat and Workshop venue to support any attendees unable to commute via public transport or walk.
Meals
A full buffet breakfast at the Ibis Kitchen is included with all OzGrav group rooms at the Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour hotel. Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea are also provided on all meeting days at the Sofitel Darling Harbour. Evening meals are normally at participants’ own expense except for the OzGrav conference dinner on Thursday, 3 December, which is covered. Check the program for any additional dinners or social activities that may also be included.
Conference Dinner
A conference dinner will take place on Thursday, 3 December, 6 pm – 9 pm in the Magnifique Ballroom at Sofitel Darling Harbour (no travel required). Our retreats are family-friendly, so partners and children are welcome. Children’s meals are covered by OzGrav; a partner/guest ticket is A$125.
After dinner, feel free to keep the fun going with:
- a night stroll around Darling Harbour
- impromptu karaoke in the hotel’s private room
- board-games at the Novotel Lounge across the road
- or a quick escape to one of the nearby pubs/bars around Sydney Harbour.
Childcare
Childcare can be arranged. Please indicate in your registration if you require childcare and we will liaise directly with you regarding options available.
Carer and Equity Assistance
We also take this opportunity to remind you that OzGrav has a Carer’s Grant open to all members. For more information, please click here.
Accessibilty and support
Dedicated Quiet Space/Sensory Room
A quiet space/sensory room is available at the Sofitel Darling Harbour hotel for attendees to utilise. The room is located on level 1, directly above the lobby. Look for room the Quiet Space/Sensory Room sign.
Venue and accessibility details
Sofitel Darling Harbour Hotel
Entrance
- Step-free access is available at the hotel entrance, which features a drop-off point with a dropped curb.
- A clear path leads from the outdoor entrance to the indoor foyer.
Parking
- ICC Parking Station – Darling Drive (casual parking, close to venue)
- Wilson Parking – Murray Street, Darling Harbour (casual parking, close to venue)
- Novotel and Ibis Sydney on Darling Harbour (accommodation venue) – $65.00 per vehicle per night (subject to availability), with hourly rates from $19.00 per hour
- Wilson’s Harbourside Car Park – Located beneath the Novotel, competitive rates with the option to reserve a space in advance via Wilson Harbourside Car Park
Conference Venue (Magnifique Ballroom – Level 1)
- Access the Magnifique Ballroom via the hotel lifts.
- The venue is step-free, with carpeted floors and ample space for attendees.
- The entrance features a double-door entry, and a registration table will be in the lobby area.
- Casual seating is available in the Lobby for attendees’ use.
Additional Information
- All tables in the cabaret-style seating will have clear visibility of the stage and screens.
- A floor plan of the venue is available for reference, including the locations of lifts and bathrooms.
Parenting Room:
- A parenting room is available for use on Level 1 of the hotel
Bathrooms:
- Restrooms, including an accessible bathroom, are available on Level 1 and the ground floor.
3-Minute Lightning Talks
3-Minute Lightning Talks
As part of the Annual Retreat program, we will be hosting 3-minute lightning talks.
- All OzGrav members are welcome to present.
- Talks will be 3 minutes long, though this may be shortened depending on the number of submissions.
Call for Exhibitors: OzGrav Trade Show (aka “Show and Tell”)
As part of our Annual Retreat, we will host a dedicated one-hour session where groups can present exhibitor tables or posters. The OzGrav Trade Show is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your project, connect with OzGrav members, and explore collaboration opportunities. Whether you’re promoting a project for members to join, looking to host node visits, or planning a Busy Week within OzGrav, this event is an ideal platform to engage with and strengthen our vibrant research community.
To become an exhibitor, please submit your application using the form below. We look forward to seeing you at the OzGrav Trade Show!
OZGRAV TRADE SHOW APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Call for Project Ideas: Brainstorming/Collaboration/Small Group Sessions
We invite you to propose ideas for a brainstorming/collaboration/small group session. During this time, we’ll hold multiple parallel sessions where different teams can brainstorm and collaborate on targeted projects.
BRAINSTORMING SESSION APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Early Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop Program
Check back here closer to the ECR Workshop date for the program.
Annual Retreat Program
Check back here closer to the Annual Retreat date for the program.
Social Activities
-
Welcome Reception: Sunday 29 Nov at 6 pm – The Ternary Bar, Novotel Darling Harbour
-
Morning Yoga: 30 Nov–4 Dec at 7 am
-
ECR Social Evening: Monday 30 Nov (details TBA)
-
Conference Dinner: Thursday 3 Dec at 6:30 pm, Magnifique Ballroom (Sofitel Level 1)
-
Board & Card-Game Lounge: available all day, every day in our Digital Detox Space – Sofitel level 1, above the lobby.
Family-friendly sightseeing options around Sydney include Taronga Zoo, Sydney Harbour, and more. Visit Sydney.com for more details!
Code of Conduct
We ask attendees to read and adhere to the the OzGrav Events code of conduct policy that outlines behaviour that will not be tolerated. In particular:
- Behave professionally. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments or jokes are not appropriate. Harassment includes sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation, stalking, and photography or recording of an individual without consent. It also includes offensive comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race or religion.
- All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds.
- Participants asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Attendees violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of the organisers without a refund of any charge.
- You are welcome to engage with this event and your colleagues through social media, provided that your communications are respectful, appropriate for a professional audience, and adhere to the Code of Conduct. If you have questions or criticisms about a colleague’s research or presentation, we strongly encourage you to communicate that directly to your colleague rather than via social media. We also encourage you to only post things on social media about other people, which you would be comfortable saying to them in person.