About Conflux
Conflux is Canberra’s longest-running spec fiction (sci fi, fantasy, alternative history and horror) convention. An annual convention for both new and established writers and artists, Conflux has a strong program of panels, discussions, workshops, competitions and social stuff.
Conflux 17 – Passages and Portals – is both our seventeenth Conflux and the Australian National Science Fiction Convention (Natcon 2023). We will be hosting the Ditmar Awards which recognise achievement in Australian science fiction (including fantasy and horror) and science fiction fandom.
How is our current world situation affecting our perceptions of the future, the past, and even alternate realities? What is the future of the speculative fiction genre? Find out at Conflux 17!
Conflux 17: Passages and Portals will explore the future speculative fiction in Australia over three days from September 29 to October 2, 2023 at Novotel Canberra.
Click here to find out about our fabulous guests.
Register today or sign up to keep up informed about guests and programming. Fill in the program survey to let us know what events you might like to see or be a part of.
Click here to watch last year’s convention highlights!
FAQ
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE CON BEING HELD?
Friday 29 September to Monday 2 October 2023 in Canberra at the Novotel, 65 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra.
WHAT DOES MY MEMBERSHIP ENTITLE ME TO?
Ticket type |
Cost |
Entry to convention & all related areas |
Progress reports, including post-con wrap-up |
Con Handbook |
Full membership (Adult or Concession*) |
Adult: $275 Concession: $220 |
All three days | Yes | Yes |
One-day ticket | $120 for Saturday or Sunday, $80 for Monday | One day | Yes | Yes |
Digital/SupportingSupporting Member | $45 | Digital events only | Yes | Yes |
Youth Day Saturday (people age 12-25)** | $45 | Saturday only | Yes | Yes |
*Must show student, pension or senior card upon registration at the event ** Only 30 tickets available Dealers can also get a membership with a table in the dealer’s hall for $330, or just the table for $85. Extra events, such as the banquet dinner or WhiskeyCon, will be at an additional cost. |
WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE?
Conflux membership gives you access to the entire convention facilities, as well as a program of literature, media, art and science. You will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with authors, publishers, book sellers and other celebrities of Australian and international speculative fiction and pop culture.
And then there’s the parties, launches and other entertainment!
WHAT IS THE WEAPONS POLICY?
No weapons are to be brought to, worn or carried at any time during the convention (including water pistols, real or replica guns, swords or knives), unless approved as part of an official event. Only the convention organisers may approve such weapons and their participation in any event.
Strictly no fire, no flame, no flashes, no explosions, NO EXCEPTIONS, due to risk of causality disruption.
WHAT IS THE SMOKING, DRUG & ALCOHOL POLICY?
Alcohol may not be brought into the convention site and may only be consumed within the confines of the convention site if purchased from official sources.
CONVENTION RULES
Conflux Convention Rules and Weapons Policy
By taking an attending membership at Conflux, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules. Failure to abide by these rules will see you entering an alternate universe, a friendless and miserable place, where others will look upon you with disgust and you will be forced to listen to an endless reel of Vogon poetry.
While both the convention and the venue will exercise all due care and responsibility to ensure the safety of participants and their property, no liability will be accepted for loss or damage of items or personal effects brought onto the convention site. In other words, don’t leave your valuables lying around unattended, especially if you are planning on going to Bali immediately after Conflux.
Nobody may touch or use any equipment set up for the convention, except those who have been officially appointed to do so. Non-compliance with this will result in expulsion from the convention, as well as a legal request for payment of loss or damage to the equipment.
If people wish to record events or panels that they attend, then they first must get the permission of all participants to be videoed or audio taped. People using recording equipment must not obstruct other people’s views or thoroughfares. The organisers reserve the right not to allow filming or sound recording for any reason.
A child is a person under 12 years of age, and while in attendance at the convention, must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Conflux cannot provide a child minding service to con attendees. Parents and guardians are advised to make their own arrangements for childcare services. For out of town visitors, you should check with your hotel regarding childcare or baby-sitting services.
If you cause any trouble of any sort, the organisers reserve the right to eject you from the convention, the convention site and/or the onsite hotel if you do so. The organisers reserve the right to define what ‘trouble’ is – you get the gist.
No weapons: nothing that looks like a weapon. No fire, no flame, no flashes, no explosions, NO EXCEPTIONS, due to risk of causality disruption.
There is no official dress code, however, the organisers would prefer not to see your jiggly bits. Lycra is permitted. All people attending the convention must wear footwear – a requirement of the insurers for the convention, the convention centre and the hotel, rather than conservative Victorian attitudes. Don’t forget to bathe during the course of the convention. This is at the request of other attendees.
Alcohol may not be brought into the convention site and may only be consumed within the confines of the convention site if purchased from official sources, (ie bars and restaurants).
The use of illegal drugs is expressly forbidden within the convention site. If any member or person who attends Conflux brings, uses, sells or otherwise distributes any type of illegal drug at Conflux, the legal authorities will be contacted to remove the person/s and no refund will be forthcoming. The attendee will also be banned from the remainder of the convention.
The convention site is a non-smoking venue. This means no smoking of any kind, from any orifice.
A long-standing tradition of science fiction conventions has been the room party. If you want to hold a room-party, by all means do so, but it is your responsibility to organise. The convention organisers are unable to provide you with staff to assist. There will be a notice board at the Registration Desk if you want to post a public notice about your room party.
As the convention is sharing the hotel with non-convention members, there will be a few restrictions on room parties and such. Please be responsible. You are welcome to host a party in your hotel room, but keep the noise down if you don’t wish the hotel to close your party down. The room guest will be liable for any malicious damage caused. What you do in your own hotel room is your own business, although most accommodation providers would not approve of you bonging on nor making human or animal sacrifices.
If you wish to place items in the Auction, information on how to do so is available at the Registration Desk.
If you wish to bid on items in the Art Show or purchase prints, information on how to do so is available from the Art Show desk in the Art Show room.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Conflux Incorporated Code of Conduct
Conflux Incorporated is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment for everyone at all their events. Fandom, writers, people are by and large great, and they are interesting and considerate and treat others with respect and we’re glad for that. But there are some people that do not act that way, so we want to make it clear: harassment of any kind, including physical assault, battery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome physical attentions, will not be tolerated. If people tell you “no” or to leave them alone, your business with them is done. Leave them alone. Do not follow them or attempt to disrupt their convention experience in any way.
Failure to abide by this policy will see your membership of the current event revoked, and may see you banned from future Conflux events.
If you see someone you believe is being harassed, here’s some suggestions on how you can help them:
- Remain at a respectful distance from both them and their possible aggressor, and call out, “Do you need help?” That not only lets the victim know that someone else is willing to have their back, it’s loud enough to alert others in the vicinity that there may be a problem.
- If they say no (they might not feel able to say yes) and you still have an uncomfortable feeling that something’s wrong, immediately alert someone in charge.
- Don’t try to get physically aggressive with someone you know or suspect is in the act of bullying someone else.
- If you know the suspected victim well, step in and tell them that they’re needed right away, and then walk away with them.
- Offer to accompany someone who’s just been harassed when they go to the event organisers to complain.
If you are harassed, know that Conflux Incorporated is committed to your safety and well-being so please be assured that you will be listened to by the event organisers, your feelings respected and all efforts will be made to rectify the situation.
Ratified by the Conflux Incorporated AGM, Monday 4 November 2013.