|
Dear all
We sincerely appreciate the efforts everyone is
making to attend the 24th Homebirth Australia Conference - now just one week
away.
By way of clarification we have become aware that
some delegates are bringing their children with them to the conference who have
not advised us they are doing so.
As you can all appreciate - we have already had to
move the conference once three weeks ago as the number of delegates booked to
attend had more than doubled the numbers we had expected. The only
remaining available venue we could move to is the centre we have
booked at the Mercure Hotel. It is not possible for us to move the venue again
to cater for more delegates or children coming with delegates we were not
advised of.
Please be aware we have clearly cited in our
information pack to delegates the following points:
a) Breast - fed babies are warmly welcomed to
attend the conference
b) We offerred childcare for delegates wishing to
use this service and the childcare option is now FULLY BOOKED
c) There is an unfenced pool in one of the walkways
between the function centre and the mercure hotel where all meal breaks and the
conference expo will be held. The main foyer to the function centre leads
directly onto the pool area and the doors will be closed but not locked.
We do not have the staff to supervise children who may be coming and going from
the funstion centre. Full responsibility for children attending the
conference must be taken by parents please as we absolutely snowed under in
organising this event....and it is not reasonable to expect the handful of
organisers to do this :)
We are now full booked at this venue and cannot
offer childcare or a 'separate space' for children attending the
conference. Every seat in both venues for the program is taken by
delegates, except of course breast -fed babies who are able to sit on a
'lap'. Literally the only remaining space for children to sit is on the floor
and it will not be possible to do this in front of the auditaurium as there
is no room there - due to the live feed out we are doing for mums with unsettled
bubs into the foyer and the audiovisual set up.
Please be aware the venue is a major
hotel that has other guests staying - and is
therefore essentially a public space - we do not have the staff or volunteers to
either co-ordinate an off site additional childcare facility but for those
delegates planning to attend with children we are not aware were coming to the
event may want to consider organising this as another
option. Some delegates have advised us they have a support person attending
who is helping with childcare, primarily at the accommodation venue
booked.
We have made every effort to accommodate breast fed
babies and children we have been advised of that are coming to the conference
and have co-ordinated several parenting safe spaces to do this. We have aimed
to honour the traditional philosophy of ensuring the venue is woman and
baby and child friendly. Please be aware that if you are planning to bring a
child to the conference we need to be advised of this asap if you have not
already done so.
All information for delegates has been either
emailed (or abt to be) as well as been available on the website at www.homebirthaustralia.org for
your reference. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate
to contact me on 04319 46647 or by email.
Please note you do not need to reconfirm a booking
for childcare or advise us if you are bringing a breast fed baby if you have
already advised us of this with your booking.
Warm Regards
Sally-Anne Brown
for the 24th Homebirth Australia Conference
team |
No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.1/369 - Release Date: 19/06/2006
