An official welcome was made to attending delegates on Sunday evening, October 8, 2006 by Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC, Governor of Queensland. The official opening of the Forum took place on Monday morning, October 9, by the Hon. Dr. Sharman Stone, Australian federal Minister for Workplace Participation.

 Approximately 350 participants representing 15 countries attended plenaries and workshops over the three days of the conference.  Dr. Graham Hughes, Chair, Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, stated at the close of the conference, “The 3rd IFDM was an outstanding success in drawing together quality keynote speakers and presenters from both hemispheres.  The outcomes from the Forum covering identified policy changes in various countries will progressively advance the solutions of issues affecting persons with disabilities generally.”

The official handoff to Germany for the 4th IFDM in 2008 took place on Wednesday afternoon to Dr. Joachim Breuer, Managing Director, German Federation of Workers Compensation Boards (HVBG) and Erika Huxhold, Director, Disability Policy Division, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany.