An estimated 900 experts working in the field of ageing will converge on Melbourne next week for the Ninth Asia/Oceania Regional Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
The Congress, which was secured for Melbourne by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 23 to 27 October, 2011. It will cover a range of critical issues that highlight the latest developments in ageing and will draw significant international attendance from delegates spanning 30 countries, including Taiwan, China, Korea, Malaysia, and Japan, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Keith Hill, Chairman of the Congress, said the event had four main topics – clinical medicine, biological sciences, social and behavioural sciences and social research and planning.
“Bringing together researchers, practitioners, service providers and policy makers is crucial in this rapidly changing field,” he said.
“As the world faces population growth coupled with an ageing workforce, it is important to bring together the movers and shakers to discuss issues which affect everyone – family, friends, the broader community and those working in the area.”
He said the main emphasis of the Congress was to show how it is possible to age well together, as its theme highlights.
“All too often we get inundated with sad and bad stories about growing old but there are so many positive stories to tell also,” said Professor Hill.
Keynote speakers include Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life Course at the World Health Organisation, who will be calling on Australian cities to join the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities.
Professor Graeme Hugo, ARC Australian Professorial Fellow and Professor of Geography at the University of Adelaide, will discuss the tricky question of immigration and ageing, a major challenge facing the Australian Government currently.
Professor Colin Masters, from Victoria’s Mental Health Research Institute, will discuss Alzheimer’s disease. His work in the field has had a major influence on Alzheimer’s disease research worldwide, and has led to the continued development of new drugs and treatments.
Professor Hill said that he was delighted with the range of topics that will be discussed during the Congress, adding that it was exciting to see a wealth of postgraduate students delivering papers.
“From safe sex, death and retirement, through to ‘meals on wheels’ and the use of video sports games, we will have every issue facing people over 50 covered,” he said.
