September 11 — related travel declines and the collapse of Ansett Australia airlines last fall aren't daunting to doctors looking to head Down Under. Earlier this year Sydney was home to medical events including international congresses on cardiology and ophthalmology that brought a total of 15,000 delegates, exhibitors, and guests to town. But that's nothing compared to what's coming down the pike.

The World Congress of Biological Psychiatry is coming to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2004; and the Congress of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism is booked for 2006, as is the Congress of the International Christian Dental Association. All told, the city secured seven new events in just the first four weeks of its financial year. SCVB Managing Director Jon Hutchison says four of the seven events (including the three mentioned) are international science and medical meetings. For more, go to www.scvb.com.au.