CASE STUDIES
Considerate planning for alcohol and addictions Congress
EVENT
3rd World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions (ISBRA APSAAR 2024)
DATES
23.09.2024 – 26.09.2024
LOCATION
Melbourne / Australia
Background
The World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions aims to promote research on alcohol, addiction and related phenomena via plenary lectures by international experts, parallel streams of symposia, together with roundtable discussions, oral papers and posters.
The successful bid to host the 3rd World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions was spearheaded by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) in partnership with The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and supported by the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.
Co-hosted by the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) and the Asia-Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR), the Congress attracted researchers, practitioners and those with lived experience from across the world.
challenge
Research from the last Congress held in Australia in 2006 was directly used to form government policy regarding safe drinking guidelines, as well as help form the diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol disorder. Organisers for this Congress wanted to receive the same level of government and stakeholder support for the 2024 edition.
Furthermore, it was important to consider ISBRA and APSAAR’s mission through all elements of Congress planning – from advancing research to encouraging collaborations while also being mindful of any lived experience among attendees or onsite staff.
solutions
- Forming a diverse, gender-balanced organising committee with scientists from various career stages, cultural backgrounds, and those with lived experiences was essential, as the significance of drugs and alcohol can differ greatly among individuals.
- Engaging government in discussions with researchers and practitioners to encourage further collaboration and cohesive approach to policy-making.
- Creating a dedicated First Nations people congress stream, including provision of funding for invited First Nations attendees
- Utilising MCB’s First Peoples Engagement Guide, a valuable resource aimed at assisting event planners in creating culturally enriching business events and fostering positive social impact.
- Providing 10 travel scholarships for clinicians and young investigators funded by Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs as well as the NSW Ministry of Health.
- Supporting early career researchers with a mentor-mentee ‘speed dating’ sessions.
- Negating possible triggers among attendees with lived experience by offering non-alcoholic beverages at the Opening Ceremony and removing winery tours from the social program.
- Welfare checks for venue staff to safeguard their wellbeing, including thorough risk assessments to ensure they were aware of the Congress content and potential triggers.
OUTCOMES
At the opening ceremony of ISBRA APSAAR 2024, Minister Ingrid Stitt, Victorian Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, emphasised the importance of evidence-based research in shaping government policies, including alcohol decriminalisation, and highlighted Victoria’s ongoing investment in drug support services. Minister Stitt also recognised the role of international events in fostering collaboration to inform future life-changing policy decisions.
All sponsorship and attendance targets were surpassed, hitting 195% and 109% of targets respectively.
All staff received welfare training prior to the Congress and 20 new connections were made via the mentor-mentee ‘speed dating’ session. As a result of the sponsorship, several First Nations people attended the Congress and contributed to discussions on the future of alcohol and addictions research.
In total 15 travel scholarships were accepted by employees of NSW Health, Department of Health Victoria, students and non-government organisations to attend the Congress. The Congress also recognised Early Career Investigators announcing 5 ECI Award winners throughout the event.
Arinex CEO Nicole Walker said: “When we’re dealing with sensitive content matter such as alcohol and gambling addictions, it is important that we get it right. The Local Organising Committee have gone above and beyond to ensure that ISBRA APSAAR 2024 deals with these issues delicately and I’m sure it has been a memorable Congress for all participants.”
MCB Chief Executive Officer Julia Swanson said Melbourne’s renowned global standing in public health and mental health research, along with the Victorian Government’s commitment to advancing the city’s healthcare precincts, has positioned Melbourne as a top destination for hosting public health conferences.
“This event has served as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, fostering significant progress in building on the understanding of mental health and public health issues, including approaches to minimise harm from alcohol. Healthcare conferences play a key role in promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing, often leading to breakthroughs that drive substantial improvements in health outcomes,” Ms. Swanson said.