Cairns Movement Disorders Symposium.

As convener of our Atherton Tableland and Cairns Dystonia Support Group in Far North Queensland (FNQ), I am delighted and very proud to announce Allergan Australia and also Ipsen Australia have provided us with educational grants to host a Neurological Movement Disorders Symposium in Cairns. The event will be held at the Cairns Colonial Club Conference Centre commencing at 6.30 p.m. on World Voice Day, Wednesday 16th April 2008.

Registration, attendance and dinner, are free to all medical professionals, allied health professionals and people with a diagnosed neurological movement disorder. Pre-confirmation of attendance is essential. Numbered tickets will be issued to all eligible attendees following initial contact and a fabulous door prize will be drawn towards the close of the evening.

The Cairns Colonial Club offer very comfortable accommodation that will be at a very reasonable cost for those attending the Symposium. Details of accommodation rate will be posted closer to the time of the event.

We invite all local health professionals to take this opportunity of being involved in this promotional and educational dinner by providing information to the participants by taking advantage of the poster and trade displays and the complimentary packets containing brochure information. We also invite you to advertise the event in to your network.

Our target audience group will primarily include medical and allied health professionals, members of the community in Far North Queensland who have a movement disorder and their carer or a close relative. These people may be geographically isolated from up-to-date information and liaison with others.

For your information and interest, specific goals for the event are:

a. to present the opportunity for the medical / health professional community in FNQ to increase their knowledge from specialists regarding movement disorders,

b. to communicate with the medical / health professional community in FNQ educational and promotional material specific to movement disorders,

c. to establish a network of medical / health professionals in FNQ interested in Movement Disorders,

d. to establish a Movement Disorders network / support group in FNQ,

e. to increase support from the community by raising awareness of movement disorders and,

f. to increase resources for individuals to access
· timely referrals,
· specialist assessments,
· management services and,
· appropriate equipment and support.

Over the coming weeks I will post information on this site about the progress of our planned event. We have excellent speakers from Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, who are specialists in their field of neurology. We will announce our guest speakers following final confirmation from them on specific topics of presentation.

A brief summary of the Far North Queensland Movement Disorders Symposium is as follows:

The purpose of the Far North Queensland Movement Disorders Symposium on World Voice Day, 16th April 2008, is to offer the opportunity for medical and allied health professionals in this geographical area of Far North Queensland, Australia, to extend their knowledge and practice about a variety of movement disorders from specialist speakers and panel members. Professional practitioners attending the event will be eligible for Continuing Professional Education points.

Programme:

6.30PM – Registration table open:

· Meet and greet on Lockhart verandah, Cairns Colonial Club Resort Conference Centre.
· Welcome drinks and canapés on Lockhart verandah.
· Complimentary juice, soft drink and iced water.
· Bar available to self-purchase alcoholic beverages.
· Poster, trade and pharmaceutical displays.


7.00PM – Move through to Lockhart dining room.

. Continuation of poster, trade and pharmaceutical displays.
. Buffet dinner with banquet style seating.
. Guest speaker presentations.
. Panel forum receiving and responding to questions.
. Completing evaluation forms and collection of same.

If you live in this geographical area or further afield and would like to attend this very exciting event you may contact us as follows:

Atherton Tableland and surrounding areas: Maureen (land line telephone or email),
0740 917137; mumkoala(at)bigpond(dot)com(dot)au

Cairns and surrounding local areas, other areas of Queensland and interstate: Sue (mobile 'phone, SMS text or e-mail), 0407 624 578;

Overseas: Sue's mobile +61407 624 578.

E-mail: s(dot)j(dot)bayliss(at)bigpond(dot)com(dot)au

For your information, both Maureen and I have laryngeal dystonia, hence - 'funny voice'!

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.