Conference Name: 14th World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses Quadrennial Congress
Dates: 22 - 25 July 2025
Host organisation: World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses (WFNN) & the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA)
Number of delegates: 203 delegates
Delegate origin: Delegates travelled from 21 countries across six continents
NT location: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Conference venue: Darwin Convention Centre
PCO / Event Planner: AA&P Events, Darwin, Northern Territory
Congress overview
The World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses (WFNN) Quadrennial Congress was hosted in Darwin, the capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT). It was attended by global healthcare professionals who specialise in the field of neuroscience nursing. Delegates comprised clinicians, managers, nurses, physicians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurse scientists, researchers and educators.
WFNN is an international nursing organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of neuroscience nursing worldwide. It brings together a range of member organisations representing approximately 8,000 nurses from 22 countries. A key activity of the WFNN is facilitating the World Congress every four years.
More recent host cities have included Opatija in Croatia (2017), Gifu in Japan (2013), Toronto in Canada (2009) and Barcelona in Spain (2005). In its 55-year history, the WFNN Congress first came to the Southern Hemisphere when it was held in Sydney in 2001 - the Darwin Congress in 2025 represented only the second visit.
The Darwin Congress was hosted by WFNN in collaboration with the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA), the peak body for neuroscience nursing in Australasia. ANNA was formed in 1974 and has operated for over 50 years.
The Congress was held at the Darwin Convention Centre, located in the picturesque Darwin Waterfront Precinct. Delegates were accommodated at the nearby Adina Vibe Waterfront Hotels as well as the Hilton Darwin, Hilton Garden Inn Darwin, DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin and the Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel, all of which are a short stroll from the CBD.
Singapore Airlines, which operates daily services to Darwin from Singapore, provided an exclusive airfare deal for international delegates flying to and from the congress – this offer was also accessed by many delegates coming from Europe.
An international congress program
The Congress drew together delegates from across the world, enabling them to strengthen existing relationships and foster new connections under the theme of “Create, Imagine, Inspire, Discover”.
Australia’s Governor General, Her Excellency, The Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, joined remotely to officially open the Congress, providing her own personal insights on Darwin and the NT in her address.
The four-day program comprised six plenaries, 69 concurrent sessions, two panel discussions and 26 posters on display. Sponsored satellite breakfast sessions were also held on two days of the Congress.
Speakers and session moderators from a range of countries contributed to the international educational perspectives. 80 session moderators were from 21 different countries, with 45 being from Australia, including two speakers representing Royal Darwin Hospital.
A feature on the first day was a display of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) aeromedical simulator, a full-size replica of their King Air B200 aircraft. A medical sector icon in Australia, the not-for-profit RFDS commenced operations in the NT in 1939. The simulator provided WFNN delegates with an immersive experience along with insights into the critical role RFDS delivers by providing life-saving care to remote and rural communities throughout the NT and Australia.
The Congress also included an optional field trip to the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) which is headquartered in Darwin. This world-class facility is renowned for providing emergency medical and disaster response and training, trauma management, and critical care in Australia and further afield. Delegates were given a unique opportunity to see first-hand how the NCCTRC operates and learn about its role in both national and international emergency responses.
Social elements
A President’s Reception for 31 guests was staged by the WFNN Executive on the evening prior to the official Congress opening and was held at Wharf One Food and Wine, located at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct. Presidents from various member neuroscience nursing organisations were invited, along with Congress Plenary and Panel speakers. This introduction and networking event featured seasonal NT cuisine.
The Congress Welcome Reception, which was also a sponsor ‘thank-you’ event, was held at Crocosaurus Cove, a popular attraction located in the heart of Darwin’s CBD. The venue features live exhibits of the notorious saltwater crocodile for which the Northern Territory is globally renowned. Crocosaurus Cove is also home to the world's largest exhibition of Australian reptiles featuring over 70 different species and a 220,000-litre freshwater aquarium which displays numerous Top End fish varieties.
The attraction’s world-renowned ‘Cage of Death’ provided an exciting spectacle as two delegates safely encased in a perspex cylinder took the plunge into a pool containing a huge saltwater crocodile.
Delegates also enjoyed an “After Dark” networking evening which included a tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility, which is situated on Stokes Hill Wharf, only 500 metres from the Darwin Convention Centre. The facility showcases two iconic stories – one being the founding of the RFDS and the other the Bombing of Darwin which occurred in 1942. These two events helped forge the resolve and resilience of Northern Territorians and provide fascinating historical insights.
Catering for the event was provided by Daily Eatz Catering and during the evening, delegates were able to make purchases from the facility boutique, raising close to $4000 for the RFDS on the night.
A visit to Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach Sunset Market was also arranged, giving delegates an opportunity to explore more than 200 market stalls which featured multicultural cuisine, art and hand-crafted mementos. The experience culminated in the viewing of a spectacular over-water Darwin sunset which delegates watched from the beachside vantage point.
Darwin Convention Centre (DCC) team receive praise
Organisers indicated that the DCC was a world-class venue which would outrank many convention centres around the world. With liaison taking place over a number of years prior to the event finally being staged in 2025, the DCC team were noted as being consistently helpful and engaging throughout all stages including pre, during and post event. Extensive compliments were also received with regard to the convention centre’s catering, describing it as “the best conference buffet food ever!”.
Community engagement and sustainability
On the outdoor forecourt of the Darwin Convention Centre, Trent Lee, owner and operator of Saltwater Cultural Tours, delivered a warm Welcome to Country to delegates on behalf of the Larrakia People, the Traditional Custodians of the Darwin region. A little later, his niece provided a further Welcome as the opening ceremony got underway.
Conference satchels for delegates featured NT artworks and were locally-made by Indigenous-owned Paperbark Woman, which specialises in fabrics designed and hand-printed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The satchels contained a range of iconic Australian items such as Vegemite, a novelty branded crocodile squeeze and locally-sourced WFNN pins. Gifts for plenary speakers were Aboriginal-designed scarves from Aboriginal Bush Traders whilst panel speakers were presented with water coolers featuring Indigenous designs from Mbantua Gallery.
WFNN Congress legacies
Organisers advised that invaluable networks forged during the Congress would carry forward connections for research, advice and protocol management for many countries, increasing quality patient care.
These networks will provide a pathway for the exchange of not only ideas but also visits and short-term residencies across the globe, enabling further education and building a greater neuroscience nursing community. The combined research partnerships will provide various future meetings and conferences of relevance with invaluable global neuroscience content.
Destination support
Preliminary discussions regarding the Congress coming to the NT resulted in WFNN and ANNA representatives participating on a health sector-specific familiarisation to Darwin in 2016 which was hosted by NT Business Events (NTBE). The famil program included a visit to the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility and Mindil Beach Sunset Market, with all of these ultimately being included in the 2025 WFNN Congress program, along with a range of other social and leisure activity options.
Organisers indicated that the familiarisation visit in 2016 was very helpful in enabling a first-hand look at Darwin as a potential host destination and significantly influenced the decision to come to the NT.
A joint bid was prepared by NTBE in conjunction with Darwin Convention Centre on behalf of ANNA and presented, along with a rival bid from the USA, at the WFNN Congress in Croatia in 2017. The NT bid was successful and the Congress was originally scheduled for 2021 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was subsequently postponed until 2025.
Feed-back from organisers indicated that the destination’s appeal strongly influenced Darwin’s selection, in combination with significant backing and support from ANNA, as well as that provided by the host city convention bureau, NT Business Events.
Organisers note Darwin's destination strengths
In addition to the location, climate, venue, people, culture, activities, experiences, food and accommodation, organisers said the ease of access to everything in Darwin was one of the stand-out features, with nothing ever more than a short walk away.
Pre and post touring
Destination information was included in all Congress marketing and promotion, with tour operator AAT Kings providing delegates with access to discounted post-Congress tours. Many also embarked on pre-Congress tours to iconic locations such as Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks, whilst others chose to travel to Darwin aboard the legendary train known as The Ghan, which delivers one of the world’s great railway journeys.
In their words
WFNN Congress organisers shared that Darwin was one of the best Congresses in WFNN’s history. They also spoke highly of their Professional Conference Organisers, AA&P Events, indicating that “they were brilliant”, providing invaluable expertise and local flair.
On behalf of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses:
“The 14th Quadrennial WFNN Congress held in Darwin, Australia truly embodied the spirit of global collaboration and innovation that defines neuroscience care. Days were filled with learning from exploring neuroanatomy, current research in delirium and stroke, the role of nurses in media, and reevaluating educational modules.
Evenings offered a chance to experience Darwin’s rich culture and discuss local care models. We swam with crocodiles and explored the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service through immersive simulation. What stood out most was the opportunity to build lasting global partnerships. I left Darwin energized by the exchange of ideas rooted in evidence, compassion, and cultural awareness.”
Cathy Cartwright
President, World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses, USA
From the WFNN 2025 Congress Organising Team:
“The 14th Quadrennial WFNN Congress has been quoted by many as ‘the best Congress ever!’. It has been great – Darwin is a place like no other. The informal gatherings facilitated an exchange of ideas on local and international models of care. The immersive experiences, such as the simulated encounter with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the tours of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre offered unique insights into the region’s health care context and history.”
“Hotel accommodation, convention centre, restaurants and water activities are all together and it’s easy to walk to places. The social plans were excellent, showcasing Darwin and the NT, with delegates having an opportunity to experience the rich cultural landscape of Darwin.”
Vicki Evans AM
14th Quadrennial WFNN Congress Chair
And a word from the delegates:
The WFNN Congress in Darwin was both energising and inspiring. Professionally, it was a privilege to connect with global neuroscience nurses. Personally, experiencing the cultural and natural beauty of Darwin added to the overall experience.”
Rachel Malloy,
Director of Clinical Application, Natus Neuro, USA
“Darwin and the NT provided a true reflection of Australian culture, especially Indigenous culture, for our international visitors as well as the Aussies. I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to visit and understand how the amazing services of the RFDS and NCCTRC contribute to our rural and remote areas.”
Marilia Pereira,
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Mindil Beach Sunset Market.