• Welcome
• Cost & Registration
• Call for Abstracts
• Program Outline
• Workshops
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Social Functions
• Accommodation
• About the Venue
• About Newcastle
• Getting to Newcastle
• Keynote Speakers
• Speakers
• Sponsors

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www.asam.org.au

Thanking our Sponsors

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Welcome

Invitation to attend the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine's 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting

Above: Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Day

Above: Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Dusk

The Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ASAM) is the authoritative professional body whose role is to cultivate and promote aerospace medicine and related disciplines in Australasia.  Comprising nearly 800 members from many fields of medical practice, the Society has been in existence for more than 60 years and has provided professional development for its members by regularly hosting successful scientific meetings.

As Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2011 conference I invite you to attend the 2011 ASAM Conference.  This year’s meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle, NSW from 6 to 9 October, 2011.

Newcastle is Australia’s sixth largest and second oldest city.  It is built around a large working harbour and is lauded for its surf beaches, a sun-drenched subtropical climate, and diverse dining, nightlife and art-culture.  Newcastle has a rich aviation history with RAAF Base Williamtown nearby and the largest RAAF flying boat base in the southern hemisphere during World War II based at Rathmines on the shores of Lake Macquarie.  Not only is Newcastle ideally located just 2 hours by road or rail, or 30 minutes by plane or seaplane from Sydney, it is also the gateway to Lake Macquarie, Hunter Valley Wine Country and Port Stephens.  Newcastle was rated by ‘Lonely Planet’ as one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit for 2011 and the Newcastle Golf Club is ranked as one Australia’s top 15 golf courses.

This year’s conference focus is on endocrinology and ophthalmology with the theme 'Keeping your eye on the ball'.  With the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and the recent implementation of CASA’s protocol for Class 2 pilots with Diabetes requiring insulin, the theme-related topics are most timely and very relevant to DAMEs, DAOs and credentialed optometrists.
We have been most fortunate to secure Dr Raymond Johnston as the 2011 John Lane Orator.  Dr Johnston is an endocrinologist with a private pilot’s licence from the United Kingdom and only recently retired as Head of the CAA-UK’s Aviation Health Unit.  As well, our colleagues from New Zealand will be sponsoring the Patterson Trust speaker, Associate Professor Peter Liu.  Associate Professor Liu is an endocrinologist and andrologist with an interest in sleep medicine.  Read more

As usual, we aim to provide a diversity of topics that will appeal to the membership and there will be sessions on aviation medicine other than endocrinology and ophthalmology as well.  There will also be a CASA session for Designated Aviation Medical Examiners and Designated Aviation Ophthalmologists. 

The Conference Organising Committee and the Federal Committee of ASAM look forward to welcoming you to Newcastle for what promises to be a professionally rewarding and socially enjoyable meeting in the spectacular surroundings of the Hunter region.

Dr Ian Cheng
Convenor of the 2011 Organising Committee

Newcastle on Lonely Planet's Top 10 Cities for 2011

#9 on the Top 10 Cities for 2011: Newcastle

Newcastle flies under the radar of Aussies and international travellers in part because it’s overshadowed by its bigger, bolder and better-known sibling, Sydney, 150km south. But, at around one-tenth the size, Australia’s second-oldest city has Sydney-like assets: surf beaches, a sun-drenched subtropical climate, and diverse dining, nightlife and arts. Not only is Newcastle ideally located just two hours by road or rail or 30 minutes by plane or seaplane from Sydney, it's less than an hour's drive west to the Hunter Valley wineries, south to sailboat-filled Lake Macquarie, north to whale-watching and sharkfeeding at Port Stephens and to sandboarding at Stockton Beach (the southern end of the 32km-long beach is a five-minute ferry ride across Newcastle’s harbour).