Australian Healthcare Week 2020 postponed due to coronavirus

Organisers of Australian Healthcare Week (AHW) 2020, IQPC Australia, has had to make the difficult decision to postpone the AHW expo until later in the year in response to the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.

<p>The Federal Government have just announced that non-essential public gatherings or events over 500 people should be cancelled. [Source: Shutterstock]</p> — The Federal Government have just announced that non-essential public gatherings or events over 500 people should be cancelled. [Source: Shutterstock]

The event will be held from the 30 September to 1 October, 2020, and will remain at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney in New South Wales (NSW).

Even though this year’s AHW had a record number of pre-registered attendees and the largest number of confirmed exhibitors in the history of the event, a review of the current situation with COVID-19 warranted the organisers to hold the event at a safer time of the year.

IQPC Australia only made this decision after consultations with the Department of Health, NSW Health, key event stakeholders, exhibitors and partners, and also took into account the travel bans and guidance on large group gatherings which would make running the event in March difficult.

The nature of Australian Healthcare Week is all about health, so the top priority for the expo is to put the wellbeing and safety of customers, partners and employees first.

All current registrations are still valid for the September/ October event and AHW are working with key stakeholders, exhibitors, partners and sponsors to alleviate any inconvenience.

AHW said in a statement, “There has never been a more important time for Australia’s healthcare leaders and broader healthcare community to come together to collaborate, discuss and share ideas about how to prepare our hospitals, services and workforce for unforeseen challenges, such as epidemics.”

Organisers of the event want to continue providing a platform to facilitate leadership in the healthcare community and will work with its partners to continue doing this now and into the future for other healthcare week related events in 2020.

For more information or to discuss your particular circumstances please email info@austhealthweek.com.au or call +61 02 9229 1033.

In light of recent Federal Government announcements, non-essential public gatherings or events over 500 people should be cancelled and it is expected most Australian events will be postponed or cancelled by 16 March. Subscribe to Talking Aged Care to keep up to date with developing coronavirus news.