Exhibiting at the 2026 ECA National Conference

Exhibiting at the conference is a fantastic opportunity to have direct contact with a large number of people within the early childhood sector. The exhibition booths are an important part of the conference, with the exhibition area designed to ensure maximum visibility and accessibility for delegates and exhibitors to interact.

To maximise exposure, morning and afternoon teas will be served in the exhibition area, and the lunch period will also include time for exhibition viewing. 

   view live floorplan   

Download Sponsorship and Exhibition prospectus

Join waitlist

If your display or exhibit has individual space or layout requirements, we are happy to discuss your specific needs and provide customised solutions.

Exhibition booths will be ideal for those aiming to reach conference participants, including:

• people working in the early childhood sector, including staff, managers and operators of early childhood services
• early childhood policy-makers and officials
• early childhood academics
• early childhood teachers, trainers and resource agencies
• volunteer committees, peak bodies and advocacy organisations.

Please note: ECA wishes to take every opportunity to conserve natural resources and consolidate environmental sustainability throughout the conference. Our aim is to have minimal waste. In terms of packaging and use of plastic and disposable products, we request that you consider the environmental principles of reducing waste, water use and energy consumption.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that ECA does not sell delegate information to third parties. Our delegate list is only shared with our official contractors and select conference sponsors. Exhibitors and sponsors will have to comply with ECA’s Privacy Policy upon receiving information about our delegates. The information can only be used for the promotional purposes relevant to the conference.

ECA is aware that many across Australia have been receiving unsolicited emails from fraudulent business accounts or untraceable Gmail/Yahoo/Hotmail accounts. The security of our delegates is of utmost importance to us and our aim is to make networking between our sponsors/exhibitors and delegates as secure as possible.

To learn more about our Privacy Policy, please email us at conference@earlychildhood.org.au or call us on 02 6242 1800.

Exhibition booth features and inclusions

Standard exhibition booth (3 m x 3 m)- $3,830 (Including GST)

Booth layout plan

Please note: Conference organisers reserve the right to alter the booth layout at any time. Booths will be re-numbered on the final plan, once unsold sites have been removed. Please do not advertise your number to delegates until the final floor plan has been released.

Join waitlist

Exhibitor manual

A full manual will be sent to exhibitors closer to the conference date. It will provide information on freight times, exhibitor bump-in and bump-out, as well as operational details and additional order forms for food, equipment, furniture, etc.

Access to the exhibition area

Exhibitors will be able to access their booths from 9.00 am (AEST) on Wednesday 30 September 2026 and may continue to prepare their displays until 4.00 pm that day. Exhibition booths must be staffed from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm for the Welcome Reception.

At the conclusion of the conference, booths must be dismantled after lunch on Saturday 3 October 2026. Dismantling must be completed by 4.00 pm (AEST) that day.

Please note: Exhibitors are solely responsible for their goods. Melbourne Convention Centre and Early Childhood Australia will not be held responsible for any goods misplaced or left behind.

Preliminary exhibition timetable

Please note: This is a preliminary timetable and is subject to change.

For more information, please contact:

Conference Organisers
Early Childhood Australia
P: 02 6242 1800
E: conference@earlychildhood.org.au

Join waitlist

Terms and conditions

ECA reserves the right to amend these terms at any time. The most recent version of the terms and conditions will be made available on our website. ECA does not accept any responsibility for any errors, omissions or changes. By registering for either exhibition or sponsorship, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Booking

1. Exhibition/sponsorship packages are available for purchase online. To make a booking, please visit: https://www.ecaconference.com.au/2026/
2. Exhibition/sponsorship packages will not be held without:
   1. a completed booking
   2. acknowledgement that the sponsor/ exhibitor terms and conditions have been read and accepted
   3. a Public Liability Insurance Certificate
   4. payment of the exhibition fee in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below
   5. complying with ECA’s Privacy Policy. Any delegate contact information can only be used for the promotional purposes relevant to the conference.

Finance

3. All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST, unless stated otherwise.
4. If you pay by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or an international cheque, you agree to pay any bank charges and must include bank fees in the amount you transfer.
5. The full payment (100%) must be received within 14 days from date of invoice. If the balance of the payment is not received by the due date, the allocated sponsorship or exhibition booth may be cancelled.
6. Participation in the event is not permitted until the full payment has been received.
7. No sponsor shall assign, sublet or apportion the whole or any part of their exhibition and/or sponsorship package, except upon prior written consent of the ECA conference organisers.

Payment

8. Full amount for the exhibition stands/ sponsorship packages is payable within 14 days of the invoice being issued, or by Tuesday 30 June 2026, whichever comes first, in order to secure the space. If payment is not received within 14 days of the invoice issue date, or by Tuesday 30 June 2026, no space will be allocated and the booking will be declared invalid.

Cancellation fees

9. You must notify the ECA conference organisers in writing if you intend to cancel your sponsorship or exhibition booth.
10. Cancellations made before Tuesday 30 June 2026 will be refunded less 50% of the total purchase price.
11. Cancellations made after Tuesday 30 June 2026 will NOT be refunded.
12. Cancellations will not be considered if ECA deems that sponsorship entitlements have already been provided prior to the submission of cancellation.
13. All costs associated with advertising, display space, printing, branded gifts (and other costs included in sponsorship or exhibiting) are to be covered by the sponsor or exhibitor.
14. Sponsorship monies will facilitate the successful planning and promotion of the conference, in addition to subsidising the cost of management, communication, invited speakers, program and publications. Sponsorship monies are not expended on any entertainment incurred that is incidental to the activities of the conference.

On-site

15. Your application to sponsor or exhibit does not constitute an attendee registration.
16. All exhibition staff present at the conference must register for the conference.
17. Booths must be staffed for the full three days by a minimum of one staff member at any one time.
18. During the bump-in and bump-out times, all people present in the exhibition hall must wear protective clothing, including enclosed shoes and high visibility vests, which are to be purchased or supplied by the exhibitor.

Exhibitors

19. ECA reserves the right to ask exhibitors to remove any display items that ECA deems unacceptable.
20. Advertising materials (e.g. banners) are not allowed outside the designated booth area. Obstruction of the aisles or walkways, in any form, is not allowed.
21. Excessive noise, which inconveniences other exhibition or conference delegates, is not allowed.
22. You will be responsible for any reasonable costs of repairing the booth or premises if you paint, mark or damage any fixtures or fabric.
23. You are solely responsible for any physical loss or damage to your own property.
24. Public and Product Liability Insurance to a minimum of $10 million must be taken out by all exhibitors at their own expense. A copy of the organisation’s Public and Product Liability Certificate must be submitted to the ECA conference organisers at the time of submitting the booking form, or at the latest by Tuesday 30 June 2026.
25. Nails, staples, pins, screws, bolts, velcro, paint or double-sided adhesive should not be used on the booths to mount or attach items. (Please note that a charge will be invoiced to exhibitors for any wall panel damage.) UHU tac white putty (white tac), 3M Command picture hanging strips, hook & chain can be used (please contact Harry the Hirer if uncertain).
26. While innovative methods of attracting delegates to your booth are encouraged, practices disadvantaging other exhibitors or detracting from the exhibition will be discouraged (e.g. loud music).
27. No exhibitor shall assign, sublet or apportion the whole or any part of their booked space, except upon prior written consent of the ECA conference organisers.
28. The ECA conference organisers reserve the right to rearrange the floor plan and/or relocate any exhibit without notice.
29. ECA will not discount or refund any facilities not used or not required.
30. No exhibitor will be allowed to begin bump-in operations, or be listed as an exhibitor in the on-site publications, until full payment has been received by the ECA conference organisers.
31. If exhibitors intend to use a custom-built stand, the ECA conference organisers must be advised in advance, and such advice must include full details and stand dimensions. This information must be received by Tuesday 30 June 2026. All display construction requires approval of the ECA conference organisers.
32. A pro-rata fee will apply if any construction occupies space outside the specified area as indicated on the floor plan.
33. In terms of packaging and use of plastic and disposable products, we request that you consider the environmental principles of reducing waste, water use and energy consumption.

Advertising

34. ECA retains the right to develop all content for our social media.
35. All artwork for advertisements in Every Child magazine, as part of your chosen sponsorship package, needs to be supplied in accordance with the ECA media kit available .

Public liability insurance

36. Early Childhood Australia and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will not be held accountable or liable for any damage, loss, harm or injury to any person or any property at and during the exhibition, however caused.
37. Exhibitors are required to ensure that they have $10 million of Public Liability Insurance in respect of bodily injury to persons and property damage.
38. Exhibitors are required to submit a copy of their Public Liability Insurance Certificate along with their booking form or at the latest by Tuesday 30 June 2026.
    Please note: If your normal business insurance only covers your stock at your normal place of business, you should consider taking out additional insurance to cover your stock from the time your goods are dispatched to the exhibition until they are returned to your premises.

Security and insurance

39. Early Childhood Australia and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will provide reasonable security during the conference.
    However, neither the ECA conference organisers, nor the event venue, nor any of their staff, employees, agents or other representatives shall be held accountable, responsible or liable—and the same are released from accountability, responsibility or liability—for any damage, loss, harm or injury, however caused, to persons or property of the exhibitor or the exhibitor’s staff, employees, agent or other representatives, nor to goods or other property sent off in transit to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre or remaining there after the conference.
    Please note: Exhibitors should consult their own insurance companies for proper coverage on their exhibition equipment and displays (especially audio-visual equipment).

Cancellation/postponement of the 2026 ECA National Conference due to reasons beyond ECA’s control

40. ECA conference organisers reserve the right to make alterations to the conference speakers, programs, venues and timings.
41. If ECA cancels the 2026 ECA National Conference, for any reason beyond the reasonable control of ECA, a full refund will be made to sponsors and exhibitors.
42. If it is necessary, for whatever reason, to postpone the conference or change the conference dates, ECA shall not be liable for any expenditure (e.g. travel and accommodation), damage or loss incurred by sponsors and/or exhibitors.
43. If by rearrangement or postponement the 2026 ECA National Conference can take place, the booking between the sponsors and/or exhibitors and ECA shall remain in force and will be subject to the cancellation policy above.
44. In the unlikely case that the conference needs to shift to a fully virtual conference, you will be refunded minus the cost of the virtual exhibition booth.
45. Sponsors and exhibitors must, at all times, adhere to the venue’s COVID-19 safety plan, which will be enforced. Failure to do so will result in the sponsor and/or exhibitor being requested to leave the conference venue, with no reimbursement of costs.