Family Friendly Initiatives

Once again, the TASA conference is aiming to provide extra support for delegates who are carers. The conference will have a room on the city campus where families, friends and carers can take accompanying children to hangout and take a break. Children will need to be supervised by an adult at all times. Full details of the family friendly spaces will be added to this page as they become available. They will also be included in the Conference Program. Please note this link to the Western Sydney University policy on the responsibilities of having children on campus.

Family Friendly Initiatives available for TASA 2019 include:

• Parramatta City Room PC-0.7.78 will be set up to be a family-friendly space where families, friends and carers can take accompanying children to hangout and take a break. Some toys and books will be provided.
• Parramatta South will have a break out space in the foyer of EE where families, friends and carers can take accompanying children to hangout and take a break. Some toys and books will be provided.
• The most accessible breastfeeding room for Parramatta South events is located in EHa.LG.63. A refrigerator is located next door in the Social Science and Psychology staffroom (enter via the reception at EHaLG). EHa is located to the right of the EE building, as you exit.
• Reserved seats for caregivers with small children near the back exits of auditoriums to support leaving and re-entering the venue.
• Coloured pencils and paper available at the registration desk for children to bring into sessions. Children can bring their own small toys or electronic devices to quietly occupy them (use of headphones is encouraged).
• Subject to prior notice, registrants can bring along an additional caregiver at no extra cost – partner, friend, grandparent – to care for children while the delegate presents and attends sessions. Conference catering for the carer can be selected at registration.
• Children are welcome to attend any social events in the company of the parent.
• Breastfeeding women encouraged to breastfeed during sessions and events. For those who prefer to breastfeed in private, a parent and carer room is available.
• Parents are encouraged to check abstracts prior to attending sessions with children and accept all responsibility for the care and supervision of their child.
• Family Friendly Accommodation: adjoining rooms in our recommended hotels are subject to availability, should delegates require these particular rooms they will need to contact our Reservation Manager (see the accommodation page).
• A Parramatta South campus map that includes accessibility information, the location of parent rooms and baby changing facilities is available here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/content/dam/digital/pdf/campus-maps/parramatta-north-and-south-campus-map.pdf
• Further information on breastfeeding facilities can be found here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/equity_diversity/equity_and_diversity/gender_equality/parenting_support

Childcare availability, including occasional childcare, is limited in the Sydney and greater-Sydney region, including in proximity to the conference venue.  If you need to access child care facilities during your stay, you should contact a provider as soon as possible. Please see the list of providers below.

Please note that neither Western Sydney University nor TASA makes any warranty or representation about the suitability, quality or availability of those child care facilities, or their proximity to the conference venue.  Conference attendees are responsible for making their own inquiries and arrangements.

The childcare options for the conference are as follows:

Kid’s World Childcare centre: http://www.kidsworldchildcare.com.au/enrolment/

Type of care: occasional care within a childcare centre

Location: level 5, shop 5028B, Westfield, Parramatta (an approximate 6 minute walk to the WSU Parramatta city campus)

Hours: 7:30am-6pm

Eligibility: babies to 6 years of age

Cost: children under 3 cost $30 per hour and children aged 3-6 years cost $25 per hour.

Contact: (02) 9635 8113

Enrolment: bookings are for a minimum of 2 hours and typically need to be organised one week in advance. The enrolment form is available on their website.

The Sometime Centre:

https://www.careforkids.com.au/child-care/n8q5x/the-sometime-centre-merrylands-2160

Type of care: occasional care within a childcare centre

Location: 54 Neil St, Merrylands (approximately 10 mins by car or 30 mins by public transport to the WSU Parramatta city campus).

Hours: 8am-5:30pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Eligibility: 6 weeks to 5 years

Cost: $11 per hour

Contact: (02) 8757 9084

Enrolment: bookings will need to be made by the beginning of October.

WSU Early Learning Parramatta:

 https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/campuses_structure/cas/services_facilities/childcare/occasional_child_care

Type of care: onsite occasional care within a childcare centre

Location: Building EL, Parramatta South Campus, Rydalmere

Hours: 7:30am-6pm

Eligibility: 6 weeks to 6 years. This care is only available to the children of WSU students

Cost: $10 per hour for a minimum of two hours

Contact: (02) 9683 8190 or wsuelparramatta@westernsydney.edu.au

Enrolment: limited places are available and bookings must be done 7 days in advance along with an orientation visit.

Abracadabra Childcare Services:

https://abrachild.com.au

Type of care: babysitting and nanny service

Location: in home or hotel care

Hours: casual/flexible

Eligibility: children of all ages

Cost: agency fee of $30 for advanced booking or $40 for same day booking. Evening babysitters and casual day nannies charge $25-$35 per hour. A nanny sharing service is available for a $10 surcharge and $5 extra per child.

Contact: 1300 011 167

Enrolment: bookings can be made on the day but prior notice is preferred. The service uses your enrolment details to match you with a suitable carer. The carer will then contact you to introduce themselves before the care takes place. Carer interviews are available for a fee (see website).

Western Sydney University (WSU) is pleased to host the 2019 Australian Sociological Association Conference, a return to Sydney for the first time since 2010. WSU’s School of Social Sciences and Psychology and Institute of Culture and Society will hold the conference in Greater Western Sydney (GWS) at our new Parramatta City campus and at other sites nearby.