The next World Diabetes Congress will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia from 2 to 6 December 2013.
- Download the Advance Programme [2] (pdf, 1.5 MB)
Message from the IDF President
General Information A-Z
Abstract CD-ROM
Abstracts will be on CD-ROM only – abstract books will not be printed. The abstract CD-ROM is distributed from the sponsor’s booth in the exhibition hall.
Congress city
Melbourne, the capital of the State of Victoria, is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier conference destinations. A safe, welcoming and inviting city, Melbourne boasts Australia’s highest concentration of convention facilities located in the central business district. Melbourne is the perfect walking city with over 5.400 hotel rooms within walking distance of the congress centre and supported by an integrated, easy to-use public transport system.
Melbourne has a temperate climate and enjoys abundant sunshine. The average daily temperature in December is 24°C/75°F. More information on Melbourne [3].
Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation for delegates
Applications for Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation for physicians and other healthcare professionals will be presented to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). It is expected that the World Diabetes Congress will be accredited with between 20 and 22 hours of CME credits.
CME certificates will be available to print in the registration area and online as of Thursday 5 December 2013.
CME accreditation for satellite symposia CME accreditation from the EACCME for satellite symposia is not required. “Satellite symposia form part of a congress which has been approved for CME thus do not get separate approval for CME credits by EACCME.” They are considered part of the whole meeting programme and are therefore covered by the congress CME. There is no specific allocation of hours to them.
Correspondence
All enquiries and correspondence in relation to the congress should be directed to:
Congress Secretariat
International Diabetes Federation
Chaussée de La Hulpe 166
B-1170 Brussels Belgium
Tel: +32 2 5431631
Fax: +32 2 4030830
Email: wdc@idf.org [4]
Website: www.worlddiabetescongress.org [5]
Currency
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency of the congress. Some local services may be quoted in Australian dollars (AUD). At the time of printing, the exchange rate with the Euro was EUR 1 = AUD 1.20.
Diabetes Cafe
At the heart of the World Diabetes Congress is the Diabetes Cafe, an open session structure enabling delegates to truly interact with the speakers and network with other delegates. Surrounded by the Global Village, bringing together the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) member associations, the Diabetes Cafe provides the setting for the global diabetes community to present their initiatives, best practices and successful projects.
| Scheduled opening hours: | |
| Tuesday 3 December-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 |
Electricity
Electricity in Melbourne is 220/240 volts AC. Power sockets in Melbourne generally accept the 3 pin plug. If the plug of your appliance has a different shape, you will need an adapter. If your electrical appliance uses lower voltage (110 volts), you will need a converter.
Exhibition
The congress will host an exhibition. Companies from all over the world will present their newest technologies and scientific research in the field of diabetes.
| Scheduled opening hours | |
| Tuesday 3 December-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 |
For participation in the exhibition, booking of a satellite symposium or information on marketing opportunities please contact:
Said Laghmari | Industry and Logistics Coordinator
Tel: + 32 2 5431633
Email: industry@idf.org [6]
Final programme
The fully searchable scientific programme will be available online as of November 2013 at www.worlddiabetescongress.org [5]. The printed version will be distributed on site.
Global Village
The Global Village is an area within the exhibition hall dedicated to IDF member associations. The Global Village will give the more than 200 national member associations the opportunity to interact with the diabetes community at large. Its main objective is to serve as an avenue of exchange between associations and for them to showcase their activities.
| Scheduled opening hours | |
| Tuesday 3 December-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 |
Italian delegates
Sponsors of Italian delegates who need AIFA authorization should contact:
Endogroup International S.r.l.
Via Pian d’Erba 5
22036 Erba (CO)
Italy
Tel: +39 031 646141
Fax: +39 031 646731
Email: accreditamento@endogroupinternational.com [7]
Language
The official language of the congress is English. All sessions will be in English only.
Liability and insurance
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Moreton Hire (the official exhibition builder) or any other supplier active in the congress centre will not assume responsibility for injury and/or damage involving persons or property during the congress. Participants are advised to take out a personal insurance for the congress.
Media
The media centre will serve the needs of print, radio, and broadcast journalists covering the World Diabetes Congress 2013. Services provided to accredited journalists include: computer work stations, internet connections, ISDN lines, printers, telephones, fax and photocopy machines. A multi-lingual communications team will be available to assist journalists with editorial, technical and logistical support. Rooms will also be available for interviews and for official daily briefings and third-party press conferences.
The media centre will be centrally located at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
| Scheduled opening hours | |
| Monday 2 December | 14.00-17.00 |
| Tuesday 3 December-Thursday 5 December | 08.00-18.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 08.00-14.00 |
Only accredited journalists will have access to the media centre. Online media registration is available at the congress website, www.worlddiabetescongress.org [5], as of February 2013.
For specific media enquiries regarding the World Diabetes Congress, please contact:
Sara Webber
World Diabetes Congress Media
International Diabetes Federation
Tel: +32 2 5431639
Fax: +32 2 4030830
Email: congressmedia@idf.org [8]
Medicine and first aid
The majority of medicines used worldwide are available in local pharmacies and hospitals in Melbourne. A first aid unit will operate in the congress centre during congress opening hours.
Opening Hours
|
Group registrations Collection of congress materials (badges, vouchers) at pre-arranged times |
Sunday 1 December | 08.00-18.00 |
| Satellite Symposia | Monday 2 December | 08.00-16.00 |
| Tuesday 3-Thursday 5 December | 17.15-19.15 | |
| Individual registration | Monday 2 December-Thursday 5 December | 07:00-18:00 |
| Friday 6 December | 07.00-13.00 | |
| Exhibition | Tuesday 3-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 | |
| Global Village | Tuesday 3-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 | |
| Programme | Tuesday 3-Thursday 5 December | 08.30-16.30 |
| Friday 6 December | 08.30-14.00 | |
| Diabetes Cafe | Tuesday 3-Thursday 5 December | 10.00-17.00 |
| Friday 6 December | 10.00-14.00 |
Social responsibility
Where possible, IDF strives to promote social responsibility and ethical practices towards the environment and the global community. IDF makes every effort to take decisions that reflect these ethics to fulfil our role in society. IDF plans to support and encourage the environmental policy adopted by the congress venue and follows an environmentally friendly approach.
Check out for Diabetes
“Check Out for Diabetes” is a humanitarian campaign specifically designed for the World Diabetes Congress. The campaign will unite Melbourne hotels and congress delegates to raise awareness of the diabetes epidemic and help fund IDF’s humanitarian programme,Life for a Child. Recommended World Diabetes Congress hotels will be invited to make a donation to the campaign, with all money raised providing life-saving treatment and resources to children with diabetes in developing countries. Congress delegates will also be able to contribute to the Life for a Child programme when booking their hotel through the online reservation portal. In addition, the campaign will use educational materials to spread awareness of the risks and burden of diabetes.
Tax
A 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is incorporated into the price of all goods and services sold in Australia except some basic items. International tourists may be eligible for a GST refund on some goods bought in Australia. For more information visit www.customs.gov.au [9] or phone +612 6275 6666.
Time zone
Melbourne will be 11 hours ahead the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (UTC/GMT +11 hours) during the congress.
Transport
Airport
Melbourne International Airport (airport code MEL) is located 20km or 25 minutes from the central Melbourne.
Airport transfers
Please note that IDF will not organize shuttle buses to/from the airport for the congress. Taxis are available at the arrivals terminal at all times, a taxi fare is approximately AUD$40.
A shuttle bus service, SkyBus, operates 24 hours a day between the Airport and the city centre. The service runs approximately every 30 minutes at a cost of AUD$ 16 each way. Drop off points are located throughout the city centre close to hotels and facilities.
Public transport
The Melbourne public transport system is well-serviced by metro trains, trams and buses. For more information visit: www.mcvb.com.au/melbourne-guide/melbourne-transport.aspx [10].
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed in the street if their sign is illuminated. An orange light indicates that the taxi is not for hire.
Venue
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is a 20-30 minute drive from Melbourne International Airport.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
2 Clarendon Street
South Wharf
Victoria 3006
www.mcec.com.au [11]
Visa
All visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel and enter the country. Congress attendees are strongly advised to apply for their visa well in advance as visa applications could take up to two months to process. More information on visa applications [12].