51st FNPS Scientific Meeting 2025

We are delighted to welcome you to the 51st annual international scientific meeting of the Fetal & Neonatal Physiological Society in 2025. The meeting will be held at Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), 20 km off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, from 5 pm on Monday 22nd – until 1 pm on Thursday 25th September 2025. 

Rottnest Island is renowned for its natural beauty and active outdoor lifestyle, the abundant numbers of its native marsupial - the Quokka, as well as for what it doesn’t have – traffic!

The Local Organising Committee is aiming to deliver a fun-filled barefoot experience with a scientific program, as well as lots of opportunities to explore and network together.  And of course, the traditional (but highly secret) all-abilities team sporting event will feature. 

Key Highlights:

• Keynote presentations on developmental chronobiology by Dr Shaon Sengupta and on translational perinatal neuroscience by Professor Nikki Robertson 
• Prioritised presentation slots for students and ECR < 5yr post-PhD, including multiple student/ECR prizes
• Cutting-edge insights from leading experts in fetal and neonatal physiology.
• Networking opportunities with peers and collaborators from around the world.
• A beautiful island setting with outdoor activities and social events.

Don't miss the chance to be part of this transformative event, where science, collaboration, and nature come together to create a memorable experience.

Please note that the meeting registration includes:

• Monday 22nd September - Indigenous welcome (smoking ceremony) on North Thompson beach at 5 pm, followed by a keynote lecture from one of our invited speakers, drinks and a native-ingredient buffet-style dinner at the Rottnest Picture Hall on Monday 22nd September 2025. 
• Full participation in the remaining scientific program at the Rottnest Island Golf Clubhouse: Tuesday 23rd of September 2025 - 1 pm Thursday 25th September) (excl. accompanying persons)
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea during the scientific program (excl. accompanying persons)
• Afternoon sports activity and a casual BBQ dinner at the Golf Club on 23rd September 2025 
• Formal dinner at Pinky's Beach Club on 24th September 2025
• Return ferry to and from Rottnest Island on the Rottnest Express
• Rottnest Island admission fees for extended stay

Accommodation 

Accommodation options will primarily target Rottnest’s unique self-contained cabins in Bathurst, North Thomson Bay and Geordie Bay, each of which are just a few minutes walk away from our venue for the scientific program. 
The cabin accommodation options are as follows:

• Twin share accommodation (2 single beds per room), shared bathroom, living and kitchen area – suitable for same gender allocation. Twin share accommodation will only be offered in 2-4 bedroom chalets with 1-2 shared bathrooms (maximum 7 people in 1 chalet)
• Own room in 3/4 bed chalet, 1 shared bathroom, living and kitchen area, with a premium view of the bay
• Own room in 2/3 bed chalet, 1 shared bathroom, living and kitchen area, on the beachfront with an ocean view

A few more traditional courtyard hotel rooms will also be made available at the newly refurbished Wadjemup Lodge. All hotel rooms have an ensuite bathroom. 

Early-Mid Career Researcher workshop on Friday

We will also be hosting an interactive EMCR workshop on the morning of Friday, 26th of September 2025. The Theme of the Workshop (in response to earlier survey feedback) will be "Grant Writing for Success" and will feature tips and tricks from renowned senior investigators, and information about opportunities for funding in the US and the UK from our FNPS invited speakers Dr Sengupta and Prof Robertson.

• The workshop will be held either at The Kids Research Institute Australia ("The Kids" - formerly known as TKI) or The University of Western Australia and will include opportunities to network with local EMCR and tour facilities at local Research Institutes including The Kids.
• This workshop is a free event and includes lunch. 
• Please be aware that if you intend to this event you are expected to arrange your own accommodation for Thursday the 25th of September 2025 and any subsequent nights thereafter.

At this stage, we are just looking for an indication of interest in attending this workshop from our FNPS EMCR community as it will assist our organisation.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Prices are in AUD and are subject to GST (10.0%). International visitors may be able to reclaim the cost of any GST expenses through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) by lodging a claim at the airport at least 30 min prior to departure from Australia.
• There are a limited number of EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS - these will be OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT (AWST) ON 17th MAY 2025 unless allocations are exhausted earlier.  Get in quickly to secure your spot!
• ACCOMMODATION BOOKINGS CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON 15th JUNE 2025, as we need to return all unallocated accommodation to the Island Authority/Hotel after this time to make it available for public bookings. Thereafter delegates and accompanying persons will need to book their own accommodation on the island.  Hotel accommodation on the Island is expensive hence we encourage you to consider the self-contained accommodation. 
• Group discounted ferry tickets are included in the registration. Please send us your preferred ferry times by emailing us at fnps2025@thekids.org.au. 
• There are a limited number of ferries travelling to and from the island in September.  The last Rottnest Express ferry to the island each day leaves from Fremantle (30 min Uber drive from airport) at 3:15 pm, arriving at 3:45 pm.  Please keep this in mind when booking your airtravel, as the next ferry will not depart from Fremantle until 7:30 am the next morning and you will miss the smoking ceremony, initial keynote talk and the welcome networking event and will need to arrange alternative accommodation in Fremantle for the evening. 
• You can view the Rottnest Ferry Timetable at https://secure.rottnestexpress....  Please remember to select the correct date in the drop-down box as the Ferry Timetable changes from season to season.  The best ferry for the departure home to the mainland after the meeting concludes will leave at 2:15 pm/
• We encourage you to arrive early on the 22nd and spend the day enjoying the island before the meeting commences at 5 pm.  Please contact us if you would like recommendations for low-cost accommodation in Perth or Fremantle on the evening of the 21st September.  IF there are sufficient numbers interested we are happy to arrange a group discount at the Wonil Hotel.