The Sydney National YSA Convention for 2023 offers an exciting opportunity for YSA to gather together at the beautiful and stately Australia National University to participate in a fantastic programme designed to build eternal friendships and grow spiritually in a social and fun environment enabling them to ‘Remember what matters most’.

Please read through the FAQ below to prepare yourself for the best experience. If you have a question that is not answered below, please use the "Contact Us" page and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

 

Details

 

Where:              Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601

When:               Friday 29th December 2023 - Tuesday 2nd January 2024 (5 days, 4 nights)

Costs:             $100 AUD Full time for all registrants (including international YSA)

(This covers all accommodation, meals and activities)

 

Registration

Registrations open on the 31st of August and close on the 31st October 2023 unless sold out prior.

Who can attend?

To attend the Sydney National Convention 2023 in Canberra, you must be a YSA which means:

• You are  18 years old or turn 18 before 28th December 2023  and less than 31 years old on January 2nd  2024.
• You are single (not legally married). If you are separated from your spouse, or in the process of seeking a divorce, you may not participate in the convention until the divorce is legally finalised.

Can my non-member friend attend?

Yes. They will also pay $100 to attend. They should put down your ward and stake, and they must  be interviewed by your Bishop or Branch President.

I live overseas. Can I attend?

You absolutely can! For YSA residing outside of Australia, the cost is $100 AUD.

What do I need before signing up?

Before registering, make sure you have the following information ready:

• An Email Address – each YSA who registers for the convention will need their own email address.
• Medicare number (for YSA who live in Australia) – in case you require medical attention while at convention.
• Your photo – this will go on your ID card for convention, therefore a good quality image is needed in the style of a passport photo where your face is clearly identifiable. Images that are inappropriate or do not clearly identify you will require you to resubmit a photo before your registration card will be printed.
• Credit Card – Payments using Visa or Mastercard (including debit cards) are accepted.

How does the registration process work?

Registrations can only be made through this site and require payment immediately by credit or debit card in order for the registration to be accepted. All information including personal details, Stake/Ward and full payment of fees must be completed. Once your payment has been successfully processed you will receive an email confirming your registration at the convention. This will contain your confirmation ID and other details, so that you can return and update your profile as needed. Your Bishop or Branch President will also approve your attendance at the convention through a separate area of the website which only they can access. If there are any issues or concerns with your registration, either your priesthood leader or a member of the Sydney Convention Organising Committee will be in touch to resolve this.

If you register on this website, but do not pay at the same time, your registration will automatically cancel after a period of time. You are welcome to sign up again and pay when you are ready to do so.

I don't have a Medicare number. Can I still register?

If you don't have a Medicare number, you can write N/A, put a zero, or write "I don't have one", and it will let your registration continue. The website needs you to put "something" in the box before it will let you move to the next step.

Can I pay with instalments?

No. All fees must be paid in full on this website during the registration process.

Can I get a refund if I am no longer able to attend the convention?

If your circumstances change and you are no longer able to attend, you can receive a full refund if you have registered BEFORE the closing date which is 31st October 2023 or the date registrations close due to being at full capacity. After this, bookings and payments for catering, accommodation and other activities will have been made for you, and the amount refunded will be at the discretion of the Sydney YSA Convention Organising Committee.
Refunds will not be given under any circumstances for partial attendance at the conference.

Are you offering part-time or off-site registrations?

No. YSA who wish to attend convention register full-time and stay on-site get the most benefit out of attending and at the price we are offering

What if I want to attend Sunday only?

Please note that meals are being catered by ANU and they will only be providing meals for registered attendees only. Sunday events however will be open to unregistered YSA if we are not at full capacity and not just limited to registered attendees, but no meals will be provided to unregistered YSA on Sunday. Unregistered YSA will need to leave campus after the evening devotional

Can I still register if I have special needs?

We would like all YSA who wish to attend the convention to be able to attend. The registration form allows you to list any medical conditions, medication, allergies or dietary requirements. There will be options provided by catering for those with special dietary needs. For all other medical issues, while you will need to be able to take care of your own needs, there will be first-aid staff on site at all times to assist in any emergencies.

Can my Bishop/Branch President pay my registration fees?

Yes, but that is entirely between you and him.

How does my Bishop/Branch President approve my registration?

Once registration and full payment has been completed successfully then your details are recorded in the convention database. Bishops and Branch Presidents throughout Australia will be sent a letter with details explaining how they can login to access the website and approve any registrations from their ward/branch. Registrations that are not approved by the Bishop/Branch President will be refunded in accordance with the policy above.

For YSA who reside outside Australia, we ask that you include your Bishop or Branch President's email on the registration page. Because the convention website only has access to contact details for Australian stakes and wards/branches, overseas leaders will not automatically receive any convention emails and they will need to be contacted directly to give their approval for your attendance at convention.

Will my registration details be kept private?

Yes, all details are securely stored on the convention website and only necessary data is given to those who need it. For example, data about dietary requirements will be passed on to the catering team in order to provide you with the correct meal, or if you have a medical issue then data will be provided to the first aid team.

Where will the check-in be held?

Check-in will be held at the Bruce Hall Foyer for Males and Wright Hall Foyer for Females at 11am on Friday 29th December 2023. Check in is open at 11am and will close at 3pm. If you are unable to check in within this timeframe please let us know via email before 4th of December 2023 with your ETA.

 

Swipe Cards

As part of your registration, you will be given a swipe card to access your room and other areas of your accommodation block.  If you lose this you will be charged an additional fee of AUD 30.00 to replace same.

Packing

What should I bring?

• Scriptures
• Casual clothes
• Old clothes appropriate for group vs group games or service projects.
• Appropriate bathing/swimming attire
• Comfortable shoes for activities
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• A sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Clothes for Dance
• Clothes for Ball
• Church clothing
• Dress shoes for formal events
• Toiletries
  • Deodorant
  • Tooth brush & toothpaste
  • Shaving gear
  • Shampoo/conditioner/soap
  • Hair brush/comb
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Two towels
• Any medication you may need
• Appropriate sleeping attire
• Sleeping bag
• Pens and pencils (for taking notes, marking scriptures etc)
• Money/bank card to purchase any further personal items

Rooms

• King Single bed – Your own room!
• Shared bathroom facilities
• Linen - bottom sheet, 1 pillow with case, 1 doona (thin) or top sheet
• Study desk and chair
• Rooms are not serviced
• WiFi will be provided

What shouldn’t I bring to convention?

• Items that are inappropriate or inconsistent with Gospel Standards. See “For The Strength of Youth” and the Convention Code of Conduct for additional information.
• Any expensive or valuable items brought to convention are at your own risk.

Church Standards for Clothing

Please review the following guidelines from “For the Strength of Youth” when choosing clothing to wear for the convention:

“Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner. Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. Young men and young women should be neat and clean and avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in clothing, hairstyle, and behaviour. They should choose appropriately modest apparel when participating in sports. The fashions of the world will change, but the Lord’s standards will not change.”

“Show respect for the Lord and yourself by dressing appropriately for Church meetings and activities.”

 

Code of Conduct

By completing your registration, you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct which includes:-

The following prohibited activities will result in your being sent home immediately at your own expense and with no refund:

• Participating in or encouraging immoral behavior of any kind, which includes breaking the law of chastity and viewing pornography in any form.
• Shoplifting, theft, or vandalism of any kind.
• Breaking the Word of Wisdom, including the possession of illegal substances and vaping.  ANU has a strict policy of no smoking or vaping on campus at all times. 
• Possession of weapons or firearms of any kind.
• Doing anything harmful to yourself or others physically, spiritually, or emotionally, including any form of bullying.

Please be advised that all crimes and incidents or pranks of a harmful or destructive nature will be reported to local authorities. Consequences resulting from actions taken by local authorities are out of our control.  This includes activating fire alarms.  There are numerous CCTV cameras on the campus.