NatRoad Conference 26 will be held on 5 and 6 November at The Star, Gold Coast, QLD
NatRoad Connect 26
Join us in Shepparton, Victoria for the NatRoad Connect 25 Industry Gala Dinner on Thursday 11 September, followed by our one-day conference program on Friday 12 September.
Thursday, 11 September
3.30pm: NatRoad Annual General Meeting
- Location: The Carrington Hotel, 505 Wyndham St, Shepparton VIC 3630
- No payment or rsvp required for NatRoad members to attend.
6pm: NatRoad Industry Gala Dinner
Surrounded by one of Australia’s most impressive transport collections, guests will enjoy a stunning evening of connection, celebration, and recognition. The prestigious NatRoad Awards, where we honour individuals making an outstanding contribution to the road transport industry. With fine dining, entertainment, networking and a striking backdrop of classic vehicles and collections, this is a night not to be missed.
- Time: 6pm pre-dinner drinks, for 7pm sit down dinner.
- Location: MOVE Museum of Vehicle Evolution. 7723 Goulburn Valley Highway, Shepparton Victoria.
- Registration includes pre-dinner drinks and your 3 course dinner and drinks.
Friday, 12 September
The Woolshed @Embark
- Location: The Woolshed @Embark, 7719 Goulburn Valley Highway, Shepparton Victoria. (Located behind MOVE.)
- 8.30am: Registration opens
- 9.00am: Conference sessions commence
- 4.00pm: Conference sessions conclude
| Time | Speaker | Session title | Session summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.30am | Arrive and registration | ||
| 9am | Conference start | ||
| Paul Fellows, NatRoad Chair | Chair welcome | ||
| 9.15am | Senator Bridget McKenzie | Senator's address | |
| 9.30am | Gillian Bristow, Bristow Legal | Legal Update - the latest and greatest changes | Gillian will provide an overview of recent changes to laws affecting the industry, plus further changes expected in the next 12 months. She will also share some insights into the sorts of practical problems/issues that members may encounter, and steps you can take to manage your legal risks. |
| 10.15am | Jordan Caleo, AEI Insurance | Navigating Transport Insurance in a Changing Risk Landscape | In an evolving economic and regulatory environment, transport operators face increasing financial and legal exposures. Jordan will unpack key insurance considerations critical to protecting your business and its leadership. Topics include: • Trade Credit Insurance: How to safeguard your receivables from customer insolvencies amid economic uncertainty. • Marine Transit Insurance: Understanding the differences between Defined Events cover and Accidental Damage policies — and what’s right for your operation. • Contractual Risk Management: Identifying clauses that may void your insurance cover and practical strategies to avoid costly pitfalls. • Directors & Officers Insurance: Real-world case studies and a review of legislative updates, including the limits of cover where fines and penalties from WorkCover apply. This session is a must-attend for business owners, operators, and managers looking to reduce risk exposure and strengthen their insurance strategy. |
| 11.00am | Morning Tea | ||
| 11.30am | Matt Elischer, NAAS Ian Mond, VIC Roads |
Improving access certainty - Victorian and National approach to automating access assessments | A joint presentation between Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning, and the National Automated Access System (NAAS) Program that will cover the work being delivered to improve the timeliness and certainty of heavy vehicle access decisions. This session will include demonstrations of the Victorian structural assessment system (HVSAPS) and the national automated access system (which is powered by Tasmania's successful HVAMS) with discussion on how they will benefit operators. |
| 12.30pm | Brett Green - NHVR Kirstie Matthews - NHVR Adrian Redfern - NHVR Melissa Barry - Border Crane Consultants |
Safety vs Compliance | Inform, educate, enforce encapsulates the NHVR's approach to guiding a safer heavy vehicle industry - engaging industry at various levels to provide support and education around managing safety. But what is industry's approach? NHVR are here to discuss their process, as well as the trends seen in industry as the focus shifts from being compliant for the sake of being compliant, to actively choosing to manage safety irrespective of compliance. |
| 1.00pm | Lunch | ||
| 1.45pm | Dale Halling, ATO | Getting it Right, Making it Fair | Getting it Right, Making it Fair will focus on the Taxable Payments Reporting System—TPRS—and what it means for the Road Freight industry. We’ll be unpacking the Taxable Payments Annual Report, or TPAR, and addressing some of the key questions we hear from industry. We will cover topics including: • What is required to be reported in the TPAR • What constitutes contractors • The ATO’s definition of what are road freight services for reporting purposes • An overview of the industry from a Tax lens • How TPAR data is used to support a level playing field. • Online tools to support the road freight industry. |
| 2.15pm | Peter Anderson, Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation (ARTIO) National Secretary | Minimum standards within the road transport industry | |
| 2.45pm | Kylie James, NatRoad HR Advisor | Member Matters: Top Industry Questions Answered | In this session, Kylie will share the most common HR questions raised by NatRoad members and the practical advice she offers in response. She brings a grounded, no-nonsense approach to helping operators manage their people. From wage rates and award conditions to tricky staffing issues, she’ll highlight the real-world challenges members are facing and how she’s helping them find straightforward solutions. |
| 3.30pm | Warren Clark, NatRoad CEO | Closing | |
| 4.00pm | Close |
Conference details
Important dates
- Nominations for NatRoad Awards close 1 August 2025
- Registration closes – Thursday 28 August 2025
- Industry Gala Dinner – Thursday 11 September
- Conference Sessions – Friday 12 September
2025 NatRoad Awards
2025 NatRoad Awards
The annual NatRoad Awards, sponsored by NTI, recognise those in our industry who are making a difference. You can nominate a mate or a fellow worker in the road transport industry to acknowledge their contribution to your workplace and our industry. The Winners of the 2025 NatRoad Awards will be announced at the Industry Gala Dinner on Thursday 11 September.
Travel & accommodation
Travelling to the conference
- Plane: The nearest airport to Shepparton is Bendigo (BXG) Airport which is 104.2 km away. Other nearby airports include Albury (ABX) (143.9 km) and Melbourne (MEL) (151.4 km).
- Train: There is a daily train service that runs between Melbourne (Southern Cross Station) and Shepparton. Travel time is around 2 hours and 45min.
Accommodation
We’ve selected a range of accommodation options offering discounted rates during the conference. Below is a selection of providers extending special deals for attendees.
To access the rates listed here, please contact the hotel directly and mention that you are booking under the ‘Corporate’ rate.
Please note: All rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking. Reservations must be made and paid for directly with the accommodation providers. NatRoad is not responsible for managing bookings or handling payments.
The Carrington Hotel
505 Wyndham Street Shepparton VIC 3630
- Deluxe Room – $215
- Executive Room – $250
Contact Details
Website – The Carrington Hotel
Telephone number – 03 5821 3344
Quality Hotel Parklake
481 Wyndham St Shepparton VIC 3630
- Deluxe Suite $185
Contact Details
Website – Quality Hotel Parklake Shepparton
Telephone number – 03 5821 5822
Quest Shepparton
177-183 Welsford Street Shepparton, VIC
- Studio – $220
- 1Bedroom – $270
- 2 Bedroom – $310
- 3 Bedroom – $410
Contact Details
- Website – Quest Shepparton
- Telephone number – 03 5814 4800
Contact details
If you have any questions regarding ticketing or require further details, call 1800 272 144 or email [email protected].
Thank you to our conference sponsors
