Excited to announce that each of the Sessions from the Your Voice Our Future conference will be available to view virtually. 

You will need to register for each session you wish to view, there will be a very low cost for this $30.00 AUD per session

Saturday 4th May

Session 2 - Being an Effective Global Voice

Begins at 11.30 - 1.30 pm AEST

Being an effective advocate for women and girls locally and globally.

Panel Director:

• Leigh Ellwood Brown, Soroptimist International Director of Advocacy 2024-25/ Chair of Global Impact Committee

 Speakers:

• Helen Dalley-Fisher – Convenor Equality Rights Alliance (ERA )
• Dr Donnell Davis – SISEAP Programme Director, President United Nations Association Australia (UNAA)

After registering, you'll get a confirmation email about joining the event.

Session 3  - A Climate for Change

Commencing at 2.30 - 4.30pm AEST

A Climate for Change - The Power of Community and Commitment

Soroptimists are the change agents for the environment, be that change.

Panel Director:

• Cesarina Gigante, Programme Communications Co-ordinator

Speakers:

• Siew Yong Gnanalingam, President Soroptimist International (SI)
• Professor Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor Griffith Law School, Director, Policy Innovation Hub
• Saradha Narayanan, Assistant Programme Convenor SISEAP

After registering, you'll get a confirmation email about joining the event

Sunday 5th May

We're excited to announce that our lineup of guest speakers has just been released! Get ready to be inspired and motivated by a diverse group of highly qualified and interesting external and Soroptimist speakers.

Opening Session
Keynote Speaker – Cathy Hunt – Executive Producer Women of the World (WoW ) Australia

Cathy Hunt - Executive Producer WOW Australia
Executive Director of One Mind

Building a movement for action and change driven by cultural and creative dialogue, debate and celebration

Session 2 - Being An Effective Global Voice

Leigh Ellwood Brown - Soroptimist International Director of Advocacy 2024-25/ Chair of Global Impact Committee.

Helping women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.

Helen Dalley-Fisher – Convenor Equality Rights Alliance (ERA)

Bringing the voices of women, girls from diverse life situations to policy makers in Australia with a focus are women’s economic security, women’s leadership, and engagement with international human rights processes.

Dr Donnell Davis – SISEAP Director & Programme Convenor, President United Nations Association Australia (UNAA), A/Prof TGE

Experienced and passionate advocate for Gender Equality specialising Urban Climate Governance - creating climate sensitive and female friendly cities.

Session 3 - A Climate for Change - The Power of Community and Commitment

Siew Yong Gnanalingam - President Soroptimist International (SI) 2024 -2026
Themes for the biennium - “Save Mother Earth, Save the Future” and “No War, Only Peace”.

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer - Professor Griffith Law  School, Director, Policy Innovation Hub
“My vision is for a gender equal society that respects human rights and has made a full and just transition to a zero-carbon world.”

Session 4 - Digital Communication – The Good the Bad & the Ugly

Kate VanderVoort – Specialist Consultant on Marketing and Community Building through digital platforms and Podcaster.
Get ready for inspiration, innovation and tangible strategies to help you share your passion and purpose with the world!

Sheila Byard OAM - Recognised by Victorian Government as a change agent (2017), Member UNAA & Soroptimist
In recent years, Sheila has focused on advocacy relating to the implementation of UN conventions and protocols in Australia, particularly the Convention of the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and matters such as trafficking and forced marriage.

CONFERENCE UPDATE: 22 March 2024

Our conference program is shaping up well with a variety of highly qualified and interesting external and Soroptimist speakers. If you have already registered, here’s what you have to look forward to. If you haven’t registered, the price goes up at the end of March.

View the updated program HERE.

We're excited to announce that our lineup of guest speakers has just been released! Get ready to be inspired and motivated by a diverse group of experts and thought leaders.  View the speakers HERE.

The workshops relate to the themes discussed in conference and are grouped under headings:

HARNESSING THE CHANGES
• Modern Membership
• Using the Tools Effectively

ADVOCACY AND ACTION
• Being an Effective Soroptimist Advocate
• Programme Action - Be the Change

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
• Violence/DV/Coercive Control – MATE – Griffith University
The bystander approach focuses not on the perpetrator or victim of violence rather, on what we can all do to prevent violence.
• Cancer – Dee Handyside - The Silk Rags Project
An award-winning approach to talking to those diagnosed with serious illness. Dee explores this topic from different angles through dialogue and song, and through personal experience.

Friendship Evening

Until we had numbers of registrants confirmed, we were unable to open the Friendship Evening to anyone other than full registrants. We are now able to open the evening to day registrants and to partners at a cost of $55 a head. Register for this event HERE.

Volunteers Required

If you are coming to the conference and can give some time, we are looking for volunteers to help with the registration desk and as stewards. Please contact swpconferencechair@siswp.org if you can spare some time. 

Streaming of Conference Sessions

There are 5 sessions that will be streamed from the main conference. The cost per session will be $20 for Federation members, $30 for members of other Federations.

Ralda Forzin

Conference Chair

swpconferencechair@siswp.org

Welcome to our Conference Updates Page. This is your go-to destination for all the latest and greatest updates on our conference. Here you will find a comprehensive collection of news, announcements and highlights, that will keep you informed and engaged leading up to the 2024 Conference.  Stay tuned as we bring you valuable insights, important updates and exciting developments straight from our Conference Chair, Ralda Forzin.

Get ready to be immersed in a world of inspiration, collaboration, and innovation as we keep you updated every step of the way.

Let the conference journey begin!!

SISEAP COMPANY AGM, GENERAL & FEDERATION MEETINGS

Information for Club Representatives, Proxy Representative and members.

SISEAP Company & Federation Meetings Representative & Proxy Representative Form
The 13th Annual General Meeting of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP) will be held on Friday 3 May 2024 at 9.00 am AEST at Twin Towns Conference and Function Centre, Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia. The Company General Meeting will follow the AGM. There is no cost to attend this meeting. All club representatives and silent observers must register to attend via the registration link on the website.

The SISEAP Federation Meeting will be held on Friday 3 May 2024 at 12.30 pm (AEST) in River Room L3, Twin Towns Conference and Function Centre, Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia. The cost is $26.00pp which includes afternoon tea. All club representatives, silent observers and guests must register and pay via the SISEAP Conference 2024 page on the website.

An authorised representative from each financial member (club) within the Federation or a proxy representative must attend each meeting. A proxy representative must be an individual Soroptimist from another member club i.e. a club within SISEAP.

Papers, Resolutions & Items For Discussion For Meetings 
Business papers including the Agenda, Resolutions, Items for Discussion and Reports will be circulated to Clubs at the end of March 2024.

SISEAP Honours & Remembrance Form 
The Honours and Remembrance form is available on the website download here. Please return the completed form to the Federation Secretary by 30 March 2024.

Question Form For Company & Federation Meetings 
Clubs are invited to submit questions of the Directors and/or the Auditor for the AGM and/or company meeting and/or to the Federation Team for the Federation Meeting. Please submit your questions from your club email address by 5.00 pm Friday 26 April 2024 to enable a comprehensive answer to be given.
Question Form

Silent Observers For The Company & Federation Meetings 
There is no cost to attend the Company AGM and General Meeting. The cost to attend the Federation Meeting is $26.00 pp which includes afternoon tea.
Please register and pay via the SISEAP Conference 2024 page on the website.
Registration Page Conference 2024

CALL FOR COMPANY SECRETARY

SISEAP is looking for a Soroptimist to fulfil the role of understudy to SISEAP Company Secretary Carolyn Hudson. This plays a vital role in governance and compliance and enables the smooth operation and functioning of the organisation.

The successful applicant will work alongside current Company Secretary Carolyn Hudson and HQ Officer Gabbi Kearney, learning the requirements and processes of the role, then when ready will progress to being appointed as Company Secretary.  Details on the requirements of the Company Secretary are outlined in the Role and Responsibilities document, link below.  For more information please contact Federation Secretary swpsecretary2020@siswp.org

SISEAP HEADQUARTER REMINDER 

Federation Fees 2024
All Clubs have been emailed notification of the Federation Fees and the Annual Return Packs for 2024.

All Soroptimists:
A reminder that the due date for Soroptimists to pay their membership fee to their Club is 31 December 2023.

Note: For a club to vote at a AGM and General Meeting the club and its members must be financial, in that HQ has received your capitation fees. 

Friday 3 May 9am 

Company Annual General Meeting

Company General Meeting

These meetings will be held in the River Room Level 3 of the Conference Centre. 

Club Representatives and Silent Observers are all welcome.

Friday 3 May 12.30pm

Federation Meeting

Best Practice Awards for Programme and Membership.

National Presidents' Reports

General Business

All Club representatives and silent observers are welcome. 

Meeting room River Room on level 3 of the Conference Centre. 

Friday 3rd May 6.00pm

The two days of conference begins in earnest, as we meet in the Conference Plenary - Showroom on located on Level 5.  

Morning and Afternoon tea, and Lunch will be served in the Stars room, located on the same level. 

Saturday 4th May

Sunday 5th May

Sunday evening - Gala Dinner

ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to circumstances beyond the committee’s control, the conference hotels are completely booked out for the weekend of the conference. More than this, the entire
immediate area appears to be heavily booked. (Explanation below)

NEW ACCOMMODATION DETAILS.

The committee has done much research and has identified Kingscliff - 15 kilometres down the highway, as a potential second hub where Soroptimists can stay and share transport to and from the conference venue and meet up on Saturday night. A number of Soroptimists have already booked at Mantra on Salt Beach and Peppers Salt Resort & Spa. We tried to arrange a deal with ACCOR for a conference rate but they said we were not eligible for a promo code. Further research has revealed that there is accommodation at very reasonable rates in the area and two maxi taxis with room for up to eleven people. Depending on numbers, we may be able to look at shuttle buses.

 For those still to register, please check out https://www.hotelscombined.com.au/Place/Kingscliff.htm. I found a variety of accommodation similar to, sometimes cheaper than, the conference hotels, including:

Mantra on Salt Beach

Peppers Salt Resort & Spa

Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort

Tropical Coast Retreat.

We are changing the start time for conference to allow for travel time. We have been in communication with the current registrants who had yet to book accommodation to alert them to the situation and many have been able to book elsewhere. We have worked to ensure cheap accommodation for some of our overseas members.

Background Explanation
We have been informed that lack of accomodation is due to the scheduling (only at the end of 2023) of a rock concert on the beach at Coolangatta on the Saturday night, which is attracting a huge crowd, it is disappointing that the conference organisers and the reservations section processing the Soroptimist bookings failed to inform us of this new event on the calendar and possible impacts. However, the agreement was rooms would be made available to conference participants at the quoted cost “in accordance with availability”. SISEAP could not afford to pay to have rooms set aside for our members. We would have to have committed to pay for a minimum of 100 rooms and that was way outside our budget and anticipated attendance. At the time of the agreement, we were informed that there were more than 200 rooms available. The committee will work with all members to obtain accommodation where available, please reach out so that we can assist

Kingscliffe and Kirra are viable alternative,  Kingscliffe is a magnificent beach area, with quality hotels and apartments and is only 7 Klms away,  a short trip by uber, but the committee will also work with you on organising transportation each morning and night.  Kirra is just down the hill from Tweed Heads.  

Mantra Twin Towns Coolangatta

Whilst this is currently booked, the Hotel has informed us to keep checking back as rooms do become available.

Whilst this is currently booked, the Hotel has informed us to keep checking back as rooms do become availale.  Members wishing to book accomodation at the Mantra, can view and complete the booking form by  pdf DOWNLOADING here  (212 KB)

The Sebel Twin Towns Coolangatta

Members wishing to book accomodation at the Sebel, can view and complete the booking form by    pdf DOWNLOADING here (191 KB)

Other Hotels Close by

Oaks Gold Coast Calypso Plaza

Apartment style accomodation, a 3 minutes walk from the conference centre, Transfers from Coolangatta airport. Try Wotif.com for this site, as apartments were still available. 

Budget Accomodation

Tweed Head Vegas Motel

comfortable, clean and central motel. There are no lifts to wait for, all rooms are ground or first floor. Park at the door when you arrive and then walk to all the conveniently located restaurants, cafes, shopping centres, clubs, and beaches.  This is about a 7 minute walk to the conference centre

Tweed Harbour Motor Inn

Consisting of rooms and apartments.  Located 700 metres from the beach and shopping centre, and about 7 minutes walk to the conference centre.

Blue Pelican Motel

The Blue Pelican Motel has a total of 21 comfortable roomy units.  9 ground floor units, including a disabled unit, plus 11 units upstairs. All Units come with a free car space and full use of all advertised amenities. Free WiFi / Internet is available throughout the motel for guests.  Located about 7 minutes walk to the conference  centre. 

Caravan parks with on site cabins.  On site cabins have cooking facilities.

Pyramid Holiday Park 

2 Bedroom Holiday Villas and Budget Holiday Cabins, up to 4 persons,  are the perfect choice for accommodation in Tweed Heads. Situated a short stroll to the Tweed River, and the conference centre.

Kirra Beach Caravan Park 

Big 4 Tweed Billabong Caravan Park

This site has two bedroom cabins, can sleep up to 4 persons,  we can arrange transport if requried, book thru Wotif.com 

Tweed Holiday Parks Tweed Heads

Registration for all events has now CLOSED.  Thank you for your interest.   If you have enquiries please contact Conference Chair via email 

SISEAP Conference Friday evening 3rd May - 5 May

SISEAP AGM Friday morning 3rd May

SISEAP Federation meeting Friday afternoon 3rd May. 

PLEASE CHECK THE INFORMATION ON THE ACCOMMODATION PAGE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOURCED ACCOMMODATION.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Just Announced!

Accompanying persons can now attend the Friendship night.   Cost is $55.00pp,  Registrations have now CLOSED 

The above prices are inclusive of GST of 10%

Cancellation Policy

Cancellatons up to 30 March 2024 wll incur a 25% fee of the total price paid

Cancellations 1 - 15 April will incur a 50% fee of the total price paid

16-31 April, will incur a 100% cancellation fee of the total price paid. 

This is necessary to cover the administrative cost of processing the payments and refunds and to cover costs paid to the venue on the basis of numbers of registrants.

SISEAP Conference Scholarship 

Soroptimists from SISEAP are able to apply for four (4) partly funded scholarships to attend the conference.  These scholarships will provide you with a 50% discount to the Full registration costs.   To be considered for this scholarship please complete the online application form

Friday 3rd May 2024, River Room L3, Twin Towns Conference Centre

Commences at 9am

Meeting is open to all Club Representatives, Club Proxy Represetatives and Silent Observers

You must register to attend this meeting, registrations have now CLOSED

There is no cost to attend this meeting.

SISEAP Federation Meeting, is a general meeting including the showcasing of:

The National President's Reports

Best Practice Awards for Programme and Membership

Membership section

Programme section.

Meeting is in the River Room L3, Twin Towns Conference Centre, commencing at 12.30pm

Cost is $26.00pp which includes afternoon tea.

Club Representatives, Club proxy representatives and Silent Obervers are all welcome.

You must register to attend this meeting, Registrations have now CLOSED for this meeting

Twin Towns Conference and Function centre located in the twin towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, on the southern end of the beautiful iconic Gold Coast.

Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, NSW.

Federation Conference

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th of May 2024

Company AGM

Friday 3 May Time to be advised

Federation Meeting

Friday 3 May 12.30 pm till 4.30pm