The 2nd Western Pacific Mass Gathering Events and Health Symposium uniquely focused on the intersection between mass gatherings (major events, crowded spaces) and health. Building on the success of the inaugural symposium in 2022, people from government, non-government, industry, and academic organisations attended.
Over 110 people attended, representing 49 organisations.
DAY 1 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
DAY 2 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
ORIGINAL PROGRAM and EVENT DETAILS
SYMPOSIUM THEMES
- Emerging threats
- Health outcomes
- Interagency collaboration
- Lessons learnt and case studies
- Public and environmental health
- Risk assessment
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
PROGRAM
Download the Mass Gathering Symposium Program (PDF) as at 23rd June 2024
0830: Registration, Tea and Coffee
0900: Opening Session – Session Chair: Jamie Ranse
0900: Opening remarks from the Symposium organisers – Jamie Ranse
0910: Setting the scence – Jamie Ranse
0920: Keynote speaker – Kris Spaepen
1000: Rural and Remote Mass Gatherings – Session Chair: Jamie Ranse
1000: Finke Desert Race – Craig Garraway, St John Ambulance Australia (NT)
1015: The impact of mass gathering events on remote health care services and communities – Susan Wilkes, Central West Hospital and Health Service, Birdsville, Australia
1030: Morning Tea / Networking
1100: Risk and risk assessments – Session Chair: Leonie Lockstone-Binney
1100: Rethinking crowded places: Creating safe and healthy areas for mass gathering –Sarah Smorhun, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
1115: Strengthening mass gatherings planning: creating a user friendly all-hazards risk assessment tool – Lucia Mullen, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, WHO Collaborating Centre on Global Health Security, Baltimore, USA
1130: Factors affecting patient presentation and transfer to hospital rates during mass gathering stadium events: A scoping review – Nazneen Sultana, Griffith University
1145: Using psychosocial factors to reduce harm and promote health at mass gatherings – Angela Driscoll, Haven Crowd Care
1200: Discussion panel: Risk and risk assessment – Paul Barnes, Lucia Mullen, Kris Spaepen
1230: Lunch / Networking
1330: 2023 Pacific Games: public health preparedness – Session Chair: Peta-Anne Zimmerman
1330: Health threatening hazards risk-assessment approach in mass gathering event, Solomon Islands, November-December 2023 – Salanieta T Saketa, Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
1345: Interagency planning and collaboration to strengthen enhanced surveillance in a multi-sport mass gathering event: The Sol2023 Pacific Games experience – Salanieta T Saketa, Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
1400: Digitalization of syndromic surveillance and timely reporting in the Sol2023 Pacific Games – Bobby Teobasi, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
1415: Sol2023 Pacific Games integrated surveillance system implementation and decision-making – Cynthia Joshua, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
1430: Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance for Sol2023 Pacific Games – Majory Kwaina, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
1445: Risk communication and community engagement for effective mass gathering management, Solomon Islands, November-December 2023 – Anne Toncan Eli, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
1500: Afternoon Tea / Networking
1530: Health capacity and capability – Session Chair: Jamie Ranse
1530: Keynote speaker – Paul Arbon, Torrens Resilience Initiative, Flinders University, Australia
1615: Mass gathering capacities and systems to strengthen GHS: Using the legacy and evaluation of mass gatherings to strengthen health systems, Tina Endericks, UK Health Security Agency
1630: Discussion panel: Emerging threats, Paul Arbon, Alan Eade, Sarah Smorhun
1700: Conclusion
1715: Networking event commences
Location: Uni Bar Gold Coast. The Link (G07), Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport QLD 4215
What is included?
- Upon arrival, you will receive 2 tokens that you can redeem at the bar for drinks (soft drinks, juice, wine, beer).
- A variety of hot and cold finger food options will be available throughout the evening
Should you attend?
Yes. Attendees from the last symposium stated that the Uni Bar networking event was the best aspect of the symposium for making new contacts and catch-up with old friends.
Sponsored by 1300MEDICS
1900: Networking event conclusion
0830: Registration, Tea and Coffee
0900: Olympics – Session Chair: Jamie Ranse
0900: Opening remarks and day one summary – Jamie Ranse
0910: Opening remarks from Griffith University – Caroline Riot, Director, Games Partnerships and Engagement, Griffith University
0925: Keynote speaker – Tina Endericks, UK Health Security Agency
1015: Learning from Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022: Mitigating Spread of Respiratory Diseases at Future Olympic Games –Lucia Mullen, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
1030: Morning Tea / Networking
1100: Youth and mass gatherings – Session Chair: Alison Hutton
1100: LGBTQIA+ events: An examination of identity enactment and wellbeing – Faith Ong, School of Business, The University of Queensland
1115: Recreational drug use and checking patterns prior to outdoor music festivals: A survey of young adult festival attendees – Alison Hutton, Western Sydney University, Australia.
1130: Safer Schoolies Initiative: Gold Coast Response – Tracey Chase, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts, Queensland Government
1145: Promoting Health at Gold Coast Youth Events – Katherine Cacavas, Gold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Health
1200: Discussion panel – Interagency collaboration: Alison Hutton, Tim Piatkowski
1230: Lunch / Networking
1330: Lessons learned and case studies – Session Chair: Jamie Ranse
1330: Rogue Operators in Event First Aid – Jaala Downes, Senior Scientific Officer, WA Department of Health
1345: Do current mass casualty incident models fit in mass gathering events? Jamie Mann-Farrar, St John Ambulance Australia (Queensland)
1400: Ningaloo Total Solar Eclipse 2023 – Stacey Abbott, St John WA
1415: Filling a gap of mass gatherings medical planning: development of a model based on the WHO Emergency Medical Teams’ (EMT) methodology [pre-recorded presentation] – Ninglan Wang / Flavio Salio, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization
1430: Clinical Governance – A Journey – Ethan Dooley, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, 1300MEDICS
1445: Enrolled Nurses in mass gathering leadership? – Frazer Petrie, St John Ambulance Australia (Queensland)
1500: Service Synergy – “Bringing a Team Together” – Kate Carmody, National Clinical Manager, 1300MEDICS
1515: Afternoon Tea / Networking
1545: Public and environmental health – Session Chair: Sharon Jurd
1545: Enhanced Surveillance at the 7th MACFEST in Port Vila – Wendy Williams, Vanuatu Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu
1600: Syndromic surveillance: Identifying and interrupting the spread of infectious diseases at mass gathering events – Victoria Marriott, Gold Coast Public Health Unit, Queensland Health and The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University
1615: Day in the Life of an Environmental Health Officer During a Mass Gathering Event – Alysse Regan, Metro South Public Health Unit, Queensland Health
1630: Discussion panel: Lessons learned – Tudor Codreanu, Tina Endericks, Kristy Austin
1655: Closing remarks – Jamie Ranse
Mass Gathering focused
Enhanced public health surveillance in the mass gathering for the XVII Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, November–December 2023 – Cynthia Joshua
DATES and LOCATION
24 and 25 June 2024
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Location: Griffith University Auditorium. Building 40, Level 4. Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland (Campus map here)
GETTING THERE
Arriving by air: Both Brisbane airport and Gold Coast airport provide options for travel.
Arriving by train / light rail: TRANSLink provides rail services between Brisbane Airport / Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast. You can then catch the G:link, Gold Coast Light Rail service to the Gold Coast University Hospital station.
Arriving by car: Casual parking is available in G55 on the Griffith University campus. Closer parking is available at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
ACCOMMODATION
Closest: Mantra Sharks (a 10min walk). Book now and receive 15% off the Mantra Daily Rate. Use promo code: CE2024. This discount is only applicable to phone [(07) 5603 3200] or e-mail [[email protected]] bookings.
Alternative: The Gold Coast has a large number of accommodation options along the G:link, Gold Coast Light Rail line. Accommodation might be booked out fast this week due to the school holidays.