Victoria Winter Conference 2023

Details

Immovable: In the Power of the Holy Spirit

“Immovable” - adjective

(of a person) not yielding to pressure or stress

In an ever-changing world, how do we remain steadfast and at peace?  How do we not yield in the face of mounting pressure?  In the Bible, we are taught that we have been given incredible power and peace through the Holy Spirit.  

Come and explore this, and much more, at Winter Conference VIC 2023!

Winter Conference is Power to Change's annual conference in the winter break gathering uni students from around Victoria. It's the perfect place for you to discover more about who Jesus is and how to live in relationship with God - all in the context of a great community! The conference will feature Bible teaching from our keynote speaker (Andrew Bryan), practical training, journey groups and fun times with people from your campus and other campuses.

So whether you have been following Jesus for many years or you are just getting to know Him, we would love to have you at Winter Conference this year! Please invite your friends and we hope to see you there!

FACEBOOK EVENT: https://fb.me/e/7twLEYj8o

What to Expect

What to Expect

Musical Worship: Each day there will be opportunity to come together to worship God through music. A playlist of the songs will be sent out so you can get familiar with some of the songs that we will sing to. You could even listen to it and worship on the way to conference!

Time Alone with God (Quiet Time): While we will have plenty of time to learn together, we also want you to get alone time to read the bible, talk to God, and process anything you may be learning. If you are unfamiliar with this, there will be a how to session that will help walk you through how to use this time.

Training: There will be times to break out into smaller groups to explore the Christian faith deeper or to receive practical training based on where you are at. Some of the training relates to learning how to talk to people about Jesus, how to disciple other students or be part of leading the movement at your campus!

Teaching: Andrew Bryan, our keynote speaker, will be giving our main session talks at our evening sessions. He’ll be teaching us from the Bible and helping us learn more about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  

Free Time/Nightlife: We like to break up all that we are taking in with space to just relax and have fun. Beach time, sports, craft and other activities are what students typically find themselves doing during their free time. In the evenings, there will be time to play games, have a chat over supper, and go deeper with those you have been meeting and connecting with.

Mission: Power to Change wants the Gospel to be made known not only on university campuses in Australia, but all over the world! With this in mind, we’ll get to hear about the places we can go over summer to serve and engage people in conversations about Jesus.

Campus Time: Bond with people from your own campus or area! Campus time is important to us because it encourages us to continue pursuing God and community even when conference is over.

There will also be a range of seminars you can attend and you will have the opportunity to be a part of a small journey group over the conference. The best way to experience all of this and more is to come along!

Venue & Transport

Venue and Transport

Venue

The venue for Winter Conference is Camp Wilkin Baptist Centre in Anglesea.

Address: 57 Noble Street, Anglesea VIC. 3230

Transport

There will be a Coach service available for Winter Conference. Pick up will be at Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University Clayton Campus.

We apologise for the change in details, but the Coach will now be departing at 1.00pm instead of 3.00pm as previously advertised. Please arrive by 12.30pm for a 1.00pm departure. This will also be the drop off location on Friday 7th July, at approximately 3pm

Registration & Payment

Registration and Payment

Cost and Deadlines

The final deadline to register and pay for Winter Conference is midnight on Sunday 4th June. We encourage you not to leave this until the last minute! 

This is to allow us to complete important planning steps for each person attending, such as allocating accommodation and ordering materials. Due to the time required to complete these processes, this deadline is not negotiable. No registrations after this date will be accepted so please make sure you submit your registration and payment by that date, and let any friends you're inviting know that they need to do so as well. Failure to pay by the deadline will mean your registration is incomplete.

Please note that there are no refunds for any cancellations or withdrawals after the final deadline.

Payment Methods

When you register please select your payment method (bank transfer, cash or credit card). Ask someone from your campus or your Campus Registrar (see Contact Us tab) to find out how to make your payment (for bank transfer or cash).

Part Time Attendance

The conference venue requires full payment even if an attendee is only able to attend part-time. Therefore, you are welcome to only attend a part of the conference if necessary, but you will still have to pay the full conference fee. If you qualify for the First Year or Seeker discount, you are welcome to pay that price. If you are only able to attend part-time, please let us know via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Conference Fee Subsidies

We know that Winter Conference can be expensive for students, even though the value is good. We don't want finances to be a barrier to anyone attending, so if you're not able to afford the cost of Winter Conference, please contact your Campus Registrar (See Contact Us tab) or speak to a missionary from your campus. If your campus is not listed, email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and we'll put you in touch with the right person.

Meet the Speaker

Meet the Speaker

Andrew Bryan is married to Samantha and they have 5 children aged 14-25. Andrew has been a Chemical Engineer and for the past 15 years has led Power to Change’s university ministry in Australia.

How long have you served with Power to Change?

26 years, the last 15 as National Strategy Director – Campus.

What is a favourite pastime?

Reading, camping & hanging out with family.

What are you most looking forward to at Winter Conference 2023?

Seeing God grow us all in understanding who He is, how much He loves us and how He wants to do life, including mission, with us.

Seminars

Seminars

What to Bring

What to Bring

Please prepare to bring the following items with you to Winter Conference:

• Clothes for cool/wet weather (including a warm jacket as it can get very cold at night)
• All Bedding (including Pillow, Sheet, Sleeping Bag or Doona/Blanket)
• Towel
• Toiletries
• Bible and journal/pen
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Keep cup (if you want hot drinks)/water bottle
• Medication (if you require this)
• Medicare card (if you have one)
• Umbrella

Optional items:

• Face masks
• Sports Equipment, Board Games, craft or other activities for free time
  • You may like to bring your own: basketball, soccer ball, tennis racquet/balls, volleyball, table tennis bat/balls, frisbees
• Snacks (morning tea, afternoon tea and supper will be provided)
• Powerboard/double adaptors for your bedrooms
• Money for your driver/conference bookstall
• Hand sanitiser (if you prefer to use your own). This will be available around the site.
• Gel or roll-on deodorant. Please DO NOT bring/use aerosol spray deodorant or Aerogard in the bedrooms as it will set off the fire alarms and will incur a fire truck call out fee.

Winter Conference is a drug and alcohol free event; please do not bring these items.

FAQs

FAQs

Why should I attend Winter Conference?

Power to Change's Winter Conference is specifically designed to help you - as a student in Victoria - join with other students from your campus and state in living out Jesus’ commission in your everyday life. It is also a place where you can explore more about who Jesus is and what Christianity is all about alongside others. At Winter Conference you will build and deepen friendships with fellow students that will continue to grow through the rest of the year. We’ll be talking about things immediately relevant to your situation on campus, and providing practical skills that will help you follow Jesus more closely in second semester. And you will come to understand how and why Power to Change does things on your campus, and how you can play a part.

Who will be at Winter Conference? Can I invite friends who are not part of Power to Change to come? Can I come if I'm not a Christian?

Winter Conference is designed especially for tertiary students, so the primary attendees will be uni students from around Victoria. And yes! Students who are not Christians or part of Power to Change are welcome to come! Winter Conference is for all young adults, regardless of their spiritual background, who have a desire to grow in their relationship with God or are wanting to investigate and chat about God and Christianity. If you are not Christian, you won't be asked to participate in any activities you don't feel comfortable with, and there will be alternate options available during things like small group training.

Is it an issue if I don't know anyone else going to Winter Conference?

There are plenty of opportunities to get to know people at Winter Conference, in fact it's designed for people who may not know many others. You'll be assigned to a specific group of up to four people to meet as a prayer and reflection group, as well as getting to know others in your training group, and from your uni and other unis throughout the week. Free time and Nightlife are also spaces where you will get to meet new friends.

What do I need to bring?

You can find a list of what to bring with you to Winter Conference on the "What to Bring" tab.

What is the accommodation/site like?

The venue, Camp Wilkin, has rooms with cluster ensuites (shared bathrooms between a few rooms). You will be required to bring all your own bedding. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper will all be catered for by the site. There will not be cooking facilities in the bedrooms. Some general information and photos can be found here.

Who will I be rooming with?

You'll be allocated a cabin with a few other people of the same gender (except in the case of families and married couples). During the registration process you can indicate if there are people you would particularly like to room with and we'll do our best to put you with at least one of those people. However if you don't have a particular preference or if you don't know anyone else at Winter Conference, you'll be placed with people from your campus or region so you can get to know some new friends.

Why does it cost what it does?

We're committed to organising a memorable, life-changing conference as well as keeping costs low. This is actually a fantastic price for everything that you get at Winter Conference! The price covers all the food, accommodation, training and conference materials, equipment and activities, and speaker fees. What you will take away in terms of connecting with God and others will be well worth it!

How do I pay?

When you register, you will be able to select your preferred payment method. If you choose to pay by bank transfer or cash you will need to arrange it through your Campus Registrar; contact them to find out how to pay.

I can't afford the cost of Winter Conference, what can I do?

We know that Winter Conference can be expensive for students, even though the value is good. We don't want finances to be a barrier to anyone attending, so if you're not able to afford the cost of Winter Conference, please contact your Campus Registrar or missionary from your campus to find out about the subsidies available. If your campus is not listed, contact us and we'll put you in touch with the right person.

If your question isn't answered here, please contact us.

What about COVID? What happens if I get sick before or during conference?

If you get sick in the days leading up to the conference, we ask that you get tested and only come if you have received a negative test result and are well enough to attend. If you get sick during conference, you will need to inform the conference directors, and may need to potentially self-isolate, get tested and/or make arrangements to go home. Any financial implications of not being able to attend due to COVID can be discussed depending on what the situation is. Feel free to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions or concerns about this.

Contact Us

Contact Us

For who to contact in regards to your registration, see the details below.

Speak to a missionary on your campus for further information regarding subsidies if you are in need of financial assistance.

If you are from…

Catalytic (i.e. at student from Deakin, LaTrobe, Monash Caulfield, Monash Parkville, Monash Peninsula, RMIT): Please contact Josie Dixon (