SPARK PRESENTATIONS

Due Thursday 6 April 2023

Due Monday 8 May 2023

Optional, but preferred

Download attendee app
Promote your presentation

Due at least 3 hours prior to your presentation

Pick up lanyard from the registration desk
Check-in to speaker support to check your presentation

Get ready to ignite the audience with your ideas with your Spark Talks! These short-form presentations are designed to captivate the audience and leave a lasting impression. Here's what you need to know:

Each Spark Talk is limited to three minutes. We'll be keeping a close eye on the time, so make sure you use it wisely to showcase your project and tell your story. It's a race against the clock, so be prepared to captivate your audience quickly. Please allocate some time to get comfortable up front within your three minutes. We want you to shine!
Keep your presentation simple and engaging. We recommend using a single slide to support your message, using words and/or images to convey the essence of your work. But avoid visual and verbal clutter - we want your message to shine through!
Use the talk as an opportunity to tell the story of your project and spark the interest of others. Leave out the details, choose your points carefully, and use your words and images to convey the essence of your work.
Q&A will be held at the end of the session, so be prepared to answer questions, and inspire conversations during breaks and beyond!

Are you feeling inspired yet? To get your creative juices flowing, check out some Three Minute Thesis presentations by speech pathologists Anna-Liisa Sutt and Nathaniel Swain. And most importantly, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! The clock is ticking, and we can't wait to see you shine on stage. With your ideas and our platform, the sky's the limit!

Effective Presentation Practices

To ensure your presentation is easily understood by all attendees, it's crucial to provide clear and concise information. Check out these helpful tips for delivering a presentation that captivates and informs:

Explain Data: Keep in mind that attendees may not be familiar with the data you're presenting. To help them grasp your point, be sure to explain what they should be looking for.
Repetition: Repetition is key! Use it throughout your presentation to help attendees understand the facts.
Introduction and Conclusion: A well-crafted introduction and conclusion will help tie everything together and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Time Constraints: Stick to the allotted time and only include information or data that can be properly explained.
Repeat Questions: If a question is posed, repeat it for the benefit of all attendees.
Lengthy Replies: For questions that require a lengthy reply, suggest meeting after the presentation to take the discussion offline.

PowerPoint Slide Tips

Your PowerPoint slides play a huge role in your presentation's success. To make sure your visuals are on point, keep the following in mind:

Optimise Size: Large files can be difficult to transfer and may not display properly. To optimise your PowerPoint size, compress any images and videos.
Embed Files: Ensure your presentation looks the way you intended, regardless of the computer being used, by embedding special fonts and media files when saving your presentation. Don't rely on WiFi/Internet access to stream YouTube clips during the session; instead, embed a video file by selecting the 'Video online' or 'Video on my PC' option after clicking the 'Insert' button in the top navigation panel of Microsoft PowerPoint.
Consistency: Use a uniform background colour, text size, text colour, and font throughout your presentation to help attendees follow the flow of your ideas. Consider building your presentation using the slide master.
Screen Size: To ensure your presentation looks its best on screens and projectors, keep in mind that they are optimised for widescreen 16:9 ratio. Adjust your slide size by choosing the "Design" tab, clicking on the "Page Setup" button, and selecting Widescreen (16:9) from the top menu panel. Don't forget to also adjust your slide content as necessary to avoid stretching or distortion.
Colour and Contrast: Use dark text on a light background for readability. If using a dark background, increase font size by two or three points.
Slide Count: Use a maximum of one slide per minute, and leave blank space between lines of print.
Font: Use sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, or Verdana in at least 18-point font size.
Text Alignment: Align text left or right, rather than centring it.
Minimal Words: Keep your slides concise with no more than five to eight lines of type with no more than five to seven words per line. Keep custom animations and slide transitions simple and use them sparingly.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to delivering a presentation that attendees will remember for all the right reasons!

Upload your Presentation and Resources

Upload your Presentation Upload Supporting Resources

Rename your file to: FullName_DateofPresentation(DD.MM)_ProgramCode

Example: JoCitizen_21.05_M3A

Please only upload a final version of your slides, alternatively you can bring your slides on a USB drive and upload them through speaker support at least 3 hours prior to your presentation start time.

Technical assistance

SPA has made arrangements for Manta Communications to provide pre-event support and assistance for your presentation. This includes an email service that allows you to upload your presentation/s directly before the conference, as well as free over-the-phone consultation and technical assistance to address any concerns you may have regarding your presentation/s.

To take advantage of this service, please contact Ray German at 0421 159 711 or email ray@manta.net.au.

Acknowledgement of Country

At SPA, we hold a deep commitment to honouring and respecting the Traditional Custodians of Australia's land, sea and water. That's why we're proud to offer a formal Welcome to Country during the opening session of our conference.

As a presenter, we encourage you to consider sharing an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of your presentation. It's a small but meaningful way to show respect and appreciation for the people who have cared for this land for tens of thousands of years.

Further resources and reading to assist:
Speech Pathology Australia Welcome to Country/Acknowledgement of Country guidelines
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country guide
Reconciliation Australia Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country guide

The Big Day: Time to Share Your Expertise!

Excitement is in the air as the moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived! You're gearing up to share your brilliant research and expert knowledge with your peers at the conference. To make sure your presentation goes off without a hitch, it's essential to keep the following important details in mind for your onsite presentation:

Arriving at the venue: On arrival to the venue, simply head to the registration desk to collect your snazzy conference lanyard and check-in.
Speaker Support: Our speaker support team is dedicated to ensuring your presentation goes off without a hitch. All presentation slides are loaded into the conference cloud prior and automatically streamed into the room projector. We recommend that you check in with speaker support no later than 3 hours prior to your presentation to ensure ample time for any necessary adjustments. Our team will be on hand to help you confirm that your presentation has been uploaded correctly and that all transitions are working smoothly. As a back-up, we recommend you bring a copy of your presentation on a USB drive as a backup.
Arrive Early: To ensure a seamless presentation, presenters should arrive at the session room least 10 minutes prior to the start of the session to check their presentation and meet the session chair and volunteers who will be assisting with your presentation.
Stay on Schedule: To ensure a fair and respectful program, presenters will not be allowed to go beyond their allocated presentation time. Please practice your presentation to ensure your content fits within the timeframe without having to rush. Session chairs will provide time card prompts towards the end of the presentation and if required, conclude the presentation. Should you run out of time, we encourage you to invite attendees to approach you during the break to discuss further.
Equipment: At a minimum, all rooms are provided with a lectern microphone, projector/screen and speakers.
Go Green with your Resources: A reminder that SPA will not be printing any hardcopy handouts. We encourage presenters to join the effort to reduce our carbon footprint and provide digital copies where possible. We discourage the use of hardcopy handouts, however, if required please we recommend you arrange this prior to the conference as there are limited printing facilities at the venue.
Attendee Feedback: All attendees are provided with the opportunity to fill out a session survey after your presentation via the attendee app.
Follow Up with Attendees: Offer to exchange contact information, follow up with additional information, and keep in touch with attendees who share similar interests.

Remember your presentation is just the beginning of an exciting and engaging conversation with your fellow attendees. You'll be sharing your knowledge, insights, and expertise with individuals who are equally passionate about the topics at hand. We encourage you to view your presentation as a launchpad for exchanging ideas and connecting with others. Be open to feedback, questions, and insights - this is how connections are forged and new discoveries are made!

Together, we will make this conference an unforgettable experience full of inspiration, collaboration, and discovery.