ANZ Prevocational Medical Education Forum 2024
11-14 November 2024
4-day
conference program.
300+
delegates.
5
concurrent sessions.
About the forum
More than 300 prevocational medical education professionals gathered at the Darwin Convention Centre for ANZPMEF 2024, a scenic waterfront venue located within a 10-minute walk to the CBD.
Over four days, conference attendees participated in meaningful discussions centred around the theme Rising to the Challenge: Sustainability, Community, and Culture, with up to five concurrent breakout sessions held throughout the venue each day.
Aligning with the forum theme, the event program highlighted all First Nations keynote speakers presenting on topics ranging from health justice and climate change to supporting prevocational doctors working with Aboriginal and Māori communities throughout the Australia and New Zealand region.
An important deliverable of the forum was facilitating special interest group meetings on-site. This involved bringing together medical education officers, hospital administrators, executive staff, clinical educators, supervisors, and prevocational medical officers in a series of breakout sessions.
Additionally, an intimate exhibition area was created with 18 booths to allow attendees to engage and facilitate conversations with Territory-themed activities.
A green thinking business events venue
The Darwin Convention Centre (DCC) was selected as the conference venue for a second time after PMAS, NT Health held a successful event in 2015. In the lead-up to ANZPMEF 2024, the planning team placed a strong emphasis on holding an environmentally responsible and low-impact event for its attendees.
As part of delivering a successful forum, local event management company Agentur was engaged to collaborate with the Darwin Convention Centre to bring the brief to life, which included identifying ways to minimise the event’s impact on the destination.
“As sustainability was part of the forum theme there was a hyper focused commitment to deliver an environmentally responsible event.” Agentur Managing Director Britta Decker said.
“To support these efforts, two sponsorship opportunities were launched: the Waste Reduction Partner – Platinum Sponsor and the Sustainability Champion – Gold Sponsor.”
Environmental outcomes included the delivery of a paperless forum with a tailored app that provided access to the conference agenda, sent daily notifications to delegates, and was used to engage the audience throughout the Q&A sessions.
The Darwin Convention Centre displayed LCD screens with the daily program information and efforts were made to reduce single-use plastics with additional water stations made available and environmentally friendly name tags used to reduce waste.
The Centre’s innovative partnership with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation recycles coffee waste from each event as fertiliser for the surrounding precinct gardens.
The venue also works with Darwin Plastic Makers Space to collect plastic bottle caps for educational art workshops. Cans and bottles collected through the Northern Territory’s Cash for Containers scheme are donated to the Down Syndrome Association NT.
Space to think, room to focus in a unique destination
On the first day of the forum, attendees gathered in the open-air Frangipani Plaza in front of the Darwin Convention Centre to participate in a traditional Smoking Ceremony led by Trent ‘Bundirrik’ Lee, a representative of the Larrakia Nation.
The welcome then continued in the Auditorium for a performance by The Youth Mill Performing Arts Company, which included a First Nations musical dance and a Welcome to Country, followed by the opening address made by NT Health Chief Executive Chris Hosking.
Taking to the stage as the first keynote speaker, Central Arrernte woman and 2022 Northern Territory Australian of the Year Leanne Liddle shared her knowledge in Aboriginal justice, offering attendees an opportunity to learn about one of these important social determinants of health.
Darwin-based MC and media personality Richard Margetson seamlessly facilitated the transitions between keynote guest speakers and interactions with attendees, aligning with the forum themes of sustainability, community, and culture.
Concurrent breakout sessions were held in private seminar rooms covering medical education topics ranging from how to achieve a sustainable workforce, to the rise of ‘green doctors’ and learning ways to connect medical professionals to address the needs of First Nations communities on Country.
Territory-style cocktail evening
The closing evening kicked off with pre-dinner drinks in Hall 4 at the Darwin Convention Centre, followed by a networking dinner sponsored by Charles Darwin University.
The dinner menu featured locally sourced produce from the Top End, including wild barramundi and premium beef, as part of the Darwin Convention Centre’s collaboration with Territory producers.
The evening’s entertainment highlighted an energetic performance by Arnhem Land performer and 2024 NT Australian of the Year, Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala, along with traditional dancers from Numbulwar.
To cap off an unforgettable dinner event, a group of local medical professionals called ‘The Cheeky Docs’, with the backing of professional musicians, kept guests on the dance floor through to the end of the night.
Locally supported to achieve a stellar event
The Darwin Convention Centre’s dedicated in-house team were on-hand throughout the four days to ensure a seamless event, from the AV and technology support to the build of the exhibition pop-up space and the delivery of catering to more than 300 people each day.
“The Darwin Convention Centre team was amazing as usual. Always there and on-hand during the entire conference, and with early starts, they were always there to help. Smooth delivery overall and the support from the event coordinator was very thorough,” said Decker.
“The event was very successful. It was interactive, engaging and audiences enjoyed the First Nations keynote guest speakers. Truth-telling was an important part of the forum sessions.”
A comfortable chill-out space was made available throughout the forum, offering mindful activities and opportunities to take a break when needed.
Prior to arriving in Darwin, travel information was shared with attendees highlighting things to do around the city with a dedicated page on Tourism Top End’s website. Additionally, local information on how to travel the short distance from the accommodation to the event venue was provided in pre-event newsletters.
In their words
“The forum wasn’t just a gathering–it was a journey. We set the scene for exploration, a space where innovators and thought leaders could navigate bold ideas together. From the inspiring keynotes to the interactive sessions, our mission was clear: create an environment that sparks new perspectives. The venue and location were well-received, with attendees praising the comfortable environment, affordability, and scenic surroundings of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct. As one delegate noted. 'The venue was great—everything was well-priced, and the networking opportunities were fantastic'."
“Overall, the forum fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas, strengthened professional connections, and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing prevocational medical education across Australia and New Zealand—all set against the vibrant and uniquely tropical backdrop of the Top End.”