A five day medical and health congress which finished last week (April 23) in Adelaide has injected $4.5 million into the South Australian economy by attracting over 900 delegates from 47 different countries.

The 19th World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) World Congress, which was held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, featured presentations and workshops by medical and nursing specialists from many countries including UK, USA, China, Sweden and Australia. It’s only the second time the congress has been held in Australia.

The five day congress took place at the Adealide Convention Centre and included over 900 delegates.

Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert said the Centre had received very positive feedback from the congress organisers and delegates.

“Delegates were impressed by the facilities at the Centre, its proximity to local hotels and the ease of which they were able to travel through the city,” said Gilbert.

“Most of the delegates had never been to Australia before so it was great to get them to Adelaide on their first trip.

“A number of the delegates also took the opportunity to also take in other parts of South Australia with Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley the most popular destinations.

“$4.5 million over 5 days is a significant injection into the local economy and was only possible because of the continued operation of the Centre during the expansion.

“South Australia is reaping the benefits of the expansion’s staging strategy which allows us to operate at full capacity over the next 6 years.”

The WCET Congress brought more than financial benefit though with international delegates impressed by Australia’s world leading treatment and nursing practices in ostomy, wound and continence needs.

Chair of the Congress Organising Committee Fiona Bolton said strong networks have been formed between Australian medical and Stomal Therapy nursing professionals and their counterparts from around the world which will benefit people being treated in Australia.

Elizabeth English, WCET 2012 Congress Liaison and Conventions Adelaide Ambassador reported that the Congress also funded 23 scholarships for nurses from developing countries to allow them to attend and to help improve the treatment and welfare of people in their own country.

“The next WCET Congress will be held in Sweden in 2014 and they’ll have a hard job to match the experience given to delegates in Adelaide.”
During 2012, the Adelaide Convention Centre will host 67 international, Asia Pacific and Australian conferences and congresses, which are expected to bring more than 31,000 delegates into Adelaide.

The economic benefit of the Adelaide Conventions Centre’s operations this year are expected to exceed $73 million.