Monday 16 February - COMBS Early Connect and Annual Workshop Registration and Hotel Check-in.
Tuesday 17 February - COMBS Annual Workshop Commences at 9:30am in the Illawarra room
Friday 20 February - COMBS Annual Workshop Concludes at 1:30pm
All COMBS members are invited to attend the workshop subject to funding approval from COMBS supervisors.
Registration has now closed please contact Nicci if you have any questions.
COMBS Early Connect is focused on bringing COMBS Higher Degree by Research Students and Early Career Researchers together. At the event, our COMBS 'early' members will participate in a range of workshops and networking activities.
Learn more about COMBS Early Connect Hub page here.
COMBS is committed to fostering a family-friendly environment for all attendees. We understand the importance of balancing professional commitments with family life, and we are working to make our workshop as inclusive as possible.
What to Expect at a Family-Friendly Workshop
This workshop is designed to be a shared space where both professional and personal lives can coexist. To ensure a welcoming and productive experience for everyone, here’s what you can expect:
A Welcoming and Inclusive Environment: We want all attendees, including partners and children, to feel comfortable. This means you can expect to see families participating in various activities and social events, including workshop dinners. This is a deliberate choice to create a more integrated and supportive community.
Flexibility for All: The workshop schedule includes designated break times and spaces for attendees to step away as needed. This flexibility also provides a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone, with ample opportunities for networking and informal discussion.
Mutual Respect: As an attendee, we ask for your patience, understanding, and mutual respect for other people's needs.
COMBS is dedicated to ensuring that all members have equitable access to attend the COMBS Annual Workshop. As part of this commitment, COMBS Carers Support is available to all members, including HDR students, ECRs, AIs, PIs and CIs. This Support is designed to help address caregiving responsibilities that might affect your ability to register for or actively participate in the COMBS Annual Workshop. Please email Nicci with details of your needs so we can explore how best to support you.
COMBS is committed to ensuring that all members have equitable access to attending and fully participating in the COMBS Annual Workshop.
Your participation is important to us, and we are dedicated to helping overcome any barriers that might affect your ability to register for or actively participate in the workshop.
If you face any challenges to attending please email Nicci so we can explore how to best support you.
The 2026 COMBS Annual Workshop for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Microcombs for Breakthrough Science will be held at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, 1.5 hours from Sydney.
Included in your workshop registration are:
Accommodation
All meals (breakfast, morning/afternoon tea, lunch & dinner)
Poster sessions with drinks and nibbles - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday evenings
Workshop formal dinner Wednesday night including drinks & fun
Team building activity (Wednesday afternoon)
Yoga & breathing sessions
Access to venue facilities including a pool and gym
Single occupancy rooms
COMBS has a mixture of Residential View, Ocean View and Ocean View Balcony rooms. The room types will be allocated by the venue.
To view the rooms we have reserved please click here.
Twin share rooms - student accommodation
COMBS has a number of residential view twin share rooms, these rooms are the default room for students. Each room has two double beds with an ensuite bathroom. You can nominate who you would like to share with when completing the registration form.
If you would prefer not to share a room you please discuss this with your supervisor.
The Novotel Wollongong offers excellent facilities for you to enjoy throughout the workshop. With the hotel located just a one-minute walk from the beach, you may want to pack a beach towel!
For more information about the hotel's amenities, please click here
COMBS will provide the following transportation to and from the workshop. If your travel schedule falls outside of these times, you will be responsible for your own arrangements
COMBS arranged Busses
Monday 16 February 2026
Transport from Sydney University to Novotel Wollongong - departing at 3:30pm
Transport from Sydney Airport to Novotel Wollongong - departing at 3:30pm
Friday 20 February 2026
Buses depart at 1:30pm
Transport from Novotel Wollongong to Sydney University arrival by 3:15pm
Transport from Novotel Wollongong to Sydney Airport arrival by 3:00pm
*If you are travelling with checked in baggage it is recommended to book flights after 4:30pm to allow for possible delays.
Own Transport options
Self drive: Parking is available at the venue at a cost of $25 per day
Train: Wollongong is located on Sydney Trains South Coast Line. Sydney Trains operate commuter trains at regular intervals to Wollongong and will take approximately 90 minutes from Wolli Creek Station.
Make your travel plans via Transport NSW.
COMBS Annual Workshop attendees will be treated to a fun activity together Wednesday Afternoon check back here for more details.
Learn more about activities to do before/after the Annual Workshop here.