Can I change my times on the day?

No. It is not possible to shift meeting times. Parliamentarians’ diaries can be booked months in advance, and times have been allocated based on the parliamentarians’ requests in the registration process.

Can I swap meetings with someone else?

No. STA has provided your biography to parliamentarians, who receive detailed briefings from their staff before all meetings.

Can I organise additional meetings with parliamentarians for the day?

No. This is based on previous feedback from their offices. This has led to confusion about which meeting is the “official” Science meets Parliament meeting. Try for an adjacent day.

Can I store luggage at Parliament House?

Small- to medium-sized items that fit through the security scanner may be stored at the Parliamentary Theatre but STA cannot accept responsibility for them.

Can STA change my flights?

No. You should arrange this with your travel provider.

Do I need a mobile phone?

Yes. We may need to contact you urgently during the day. However, you should turn off your phone during all meetings and forums. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed into the Public Gallery during Question Time.

Dress Code

Meetings with parliamentarians are formal occasions. Wear a business suit/dress or at least a smart jacket. Jeans, runners and casual attire are not appropriate. The dress code for the Gala Dinner is lounge suit or cocktail dress.  

Parliament House is centrally cooled and heated to a constant temperature of 22C.

How to address your host

Always refer to the Minister as “Minister”, Senator as “Senator” and a Member as Dr, Mr, Ms or Mrs. However, some wish to create an informal atmosphere and will invite you to call them by their first name.

When you introduce yourself, simply give your name, your position and your institution/company. The parliamentarian will have received copies of your 100-word biography (provided by you during registration) before the meeting.

What should you bring to the meeting?

Take a business card and a simple one-page summary document to leave at the conclusion. Describe your work and its implications (a small professional brochure from your agency/research centre/firm is fine).

Dot points are better than long paragraphs, and it’s a good idea to provide something to illustrate your key point – a simple graph, photo or other small memento (such as a rock sample or a map).