World Federation for Mental Health Biennial Congress 2003, Melbourne, Australia

THE HON. JOHN HOWARD, MP PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

I am delighted to extend an invitation to all those involved in the World Federation for Mental Health to attend the 2003 World Congress in Australia. The Congress is the next in a series of biennial Congresses that I understand have become the premier Mental Health events in the world. The Congress will build on the success of previous Congresses, which have promoted global Mental Health to a large and diverse international audience. The 2003 Congress will provide the forum to communicate current developments and advancements in the field of Mental Health and psychiatry. It will facilitate discussion of important global issues relating to clinical, social, political, spiritual and ethical Mental Health concerns.
I am very pleased that Australia is hosting such an important event as the World Federation for Mental Health Congress. This is the second time the Congress has come to Australia, the first being in 1975.
The theme for the 2003 Congress, Partnerships in Health, recognises the importance of all levels of the community working together to deal effectively with the complex issue of Mental Health. The Congress will provide an opportunity for all participants to strengthen ties and form partnerships within the Mental Health field, while improving community awareness of Mental Health and prevention of mental illness.
I wish everyone that attends the World Federation Mental Health Congress an enjoyable and enriching experience on both a professional and personal level.

JOHN HOWARD

WFMH PRESIDENT

As President of the World Federation for Mental Health, it is my very great pleasure to invite you to the World Federation for Mental Health Congress 2003 in Melbourne, Australia from 21 to 26 February, 2003.
The Congress is a biennial international meeting which provides a unique opportunity for regional organisations to communicate advancements in the Mental Health field and to discuss the global challenges that face us in the future. The Scientific Committee in consultation with the International Advisory Committee is preparing a program about the latest developments in the promotion and prevention of Mental Health and will also emphasise the different issues in many regions of the world, a special feature of a World Congress.
The Congress theme for 2003 "Partnerships in Health" recognises the importance for all levels of the community to work together and collectively develop Mental Health programs that will effectively deal with the diversity of Mental Health issues.
Melbourne, the venue for the Congress is a unique destination offering a major incentive to prolong your stay.
Even a good piano needs a tuner, that makes the playing a pleasure. Each one of us can do things and has knowledge about different issues, but the information and the experiences need to be "tuned" from time to time. This makes it a pleasure to work again.
I very much hope that you will come and share your practice and experience in Mental Health from around the globe in Melbourne, February 2003.
Welcome to Australia!

Pirkko Lahti
WFMH PRESIDENT

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

I am delighted to extend an invitation to all international and national delegates to the World Federation for Mental Health Biennial Congress 2003, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation of Australia to be held in Melbourne, Australia from 21 to 26 February, 2003.
The theme of this Congress will be "Partnerships in Health" a broad theme which is particularly appropriate to the emerging Australian focus on partnerships in all levels of our community working together to deal with the perplexity of Mental Health. The 2003 Congress will provide the forum to communicate current developments and advancements in the field of Mental Health and psychiatry. Plenary sessions will deal with a variety of topics including Research & Development, Economy, Productivity, Education and Information, Quality of Life and Psychiatric Disability, Multicultural and Indigenous Mental Health and Age and Gender. The Program will also include concurrent sessions, workshops, poster and multimedia presentations and public debates promoting global Mental Health to a large and diverse international audience. I would also like to invite you to submit your current work as abstracts for poster or free communication presentations.
Complementing the scientific program will be a series of social events that will showcase a taste of Australia with magical locations and colourful performances combined with the beautiful voices of Australia. Delegates will also have the opportunity to enjoy multicultural Melbourne as well as the outstanding attractions that the State of Victoria has to offer. These include the phenomenal views of the coastline of the Great Southern Ocean, the picturesque wineries of the Yarra Valley, the enchanting Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, surfing at Bells Beach and the bottlenose dolphins in Port Philip Bay.
For delegates who wish to explore other parts of our varied continent, Melbourne is well placed as a starting point for trips to the Red Centre,Tropical North Queensland, Sydney and the amazing West of Australia.
The World Federation for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation of Australia look forward to welcoming you to this very special Congress.

Professor Graham D Burrows AO KCSJ
CONGRESS CHAIRMAN

Secretariat: wfmh2003@icms.com.au Homepage: http://www.icms.com.au/wfmh2003
c/- ICMS Pty Ltd, 84 Queensbridge Street, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9682 0244 , Facsimile: +61 3 9682 0288