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Aged Care Reform Forum

Preparing for Change: Navigating the New Aged Care Act & the Road to July 1

16 – 17 June 2025 | Crown Promenade, Melbourne

Register Your Interest Download Brochure BOOK NOWNATIONAL DEMENTIA CONFERENCE

Early bird expires on 2 May 2025

overview

New for 2025 – Aged Care Reform Forum

The New Aged Care Act will respond to the issues facing older people, aged care providers, workers, and the broader sector.

In response, we’re delighted to bring this multidisciplinary forum focused on improving the way services are delivered to older people in their home, community, and aged care setting. Running concurrently with the 1st day of the National Dementia Conference, 16th June 2025, at the Crown Promenade, Melbourne.

The forum will deliver dynamic, practical, and solution-driven discussions on effective programs, supports, invaluable insights, and key learnings.

Who attends?

The forum will bring together all those connected to the aged care system including: aged care providers, aged care workers, older people, their families and cares, the broader care sector, federal and state government services, and policy makers.

The new Act will affect everyone connected to the aged care system, including:

Key discussion areas will include:

  • Workforce: recruitment and care minute requirements
  • Transition of timeframes and overcoming strain
  • Government funding and capabilities
  • Organisational funding and priorities within
  • The reform journey
  • Case studies
  • Support for smaller, medium, and larger providers
  • Rural, regional, and remote providers
  • Innovative ways to overcome increasing costs for delivering services
  • Money, margins, and growth areas
  • Investing in technology
  • Sustainability and quality of care

Co-located with:
💡 National Dementia Conference
One pass gives you access to two conferences!
You will have the flexibility to pick and choose your preferred sessions and tailor your experience to your needs. You’ll also have access to shared networking opportunities and the exhibition space, allowing you to connect with professionals from both the dementia and aged care sectors.

Speakers

Mel Metz

Deputy Commissioner, Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy Division, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Robert Day

Assistant Secretary, Dementia, Diversity and Design, Australian Government Department of Health

Dr Rutger de Graaf

Health Care Innovator, Zorggroep Zaanstreek Netherlands

Natalie Siegel-Brown

Inspector-General of Aged Care, Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care

Loren deVries

Senior Practitioner, Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practice Unit, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Sarah Ferguson

Clinical Governance and Client Experience Manager, Hazel Home Care

Guy Vinden

Guy Vinden, Practice Group Leader - Property, Retirement Villages and Aged Care, Vinden Lawyers

Professor Michael Pervan

CEO, Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

Professor Henry Cutler

Director, Macquarie University Centre for Health Economy

Jason Eldering

CEO, Southern Cross Care Queensland

Matthew Martin

Head of Business Strategy, Southern Cross Care Queensland

Dr Jill Gallagher AO

CEO, VACCHO

Matt Kowald

General Manager, Barossa Village

Susan Wray

Chief Executive Officer, Edgarley Assisted Living

Toby Kell

IT Team Lead - Cloud & Systems, Information Communication Technology, Baptcare

Dr Simon Grof

Chief Medical Director, JewishCare

Dr Kaele Stokes

Executive Director Services, Advocacy & Research, Dementia Australia

Kate Symons

Director of Innovation, Silver Chain Group

Luke Greive

CEO, Infin8Care

Professor Tanya Buchanan

Chief Executive Officer, Dementia Australia

David Galbally AMKC

Retired Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, NSW, Perth, Tasmania & The Republic of Ireland

Diana Horvatovic

CEO, St Basil’s NSW/ACT

Ramesh Raghavan

Head of Digital, Innovation & Experience, Uniting NSW.ACT

Dr Medha Gunawardana

Manager - Community Strengthening, Australia Multicultural Community Services

Lara McIntyre

Nurse Practitioner & Senior Palliative Care Lead | Practice Quality and Risk, Catholic Healthcare, Chair, Palliative Aged Care Network (PACN)

Sean Bilton

CEO and Managing Director, Estia Health

Dr Stephen Ginsborg

GP and Founding Board Member, Compassionate Communities Australia

Duncan McKimm

CEO, Clarence Village

Mel White

Quality Director, Bupa Villages and Aged Care – Australia

Faye Spiteri OAM

Chief Executive Office, Fronditha Care

Tim Humphries

CEO, Homestyle Aged Care

Isabelle Meyer

Executive Director, Dementia Training Australia

Agenda

JOINT PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION | PROMENADE ROOM

8:30 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

Opening Remarks From the Chair

Faye Spiteri OAM, Chief Executive Office, Fronditha Care

9:10 am

OPENING ADDRESS | My Life with Dementia

David Galbally AMKC, Retired Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, NSW, Perth, Tasmania & The Republic of Ireland

9:30 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | National Dementia Action Plan 2024 – 2034

Professor Tanya Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer, Dementia Australia

10:00 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | An Update on the Reforms

10:30 am

  • What does the New Aged Care Act & National Dementia Action Plan really mean for our organisations?
    • Supporting the person to make informed choices
    • Person centred care: what does this mean?
    • Promoting equity and human rights for people living with dementia and the older person
  • What does this mean for our teams and us operationally?
  • How can we overcome workforce challenges?
  • Open disclosure and mandatory reporting

11:15 am

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

AGED CARE REFORM FORUM | MEETING ROOMS 3 & 4

11:45 am

Opening Remarks From the Chair

Tim Humphries, CEO, Homestyle Aged Care

Reflecting upon recent changes within the new Aged Care Act and ensuring that aged and home care for First Nations Australians in culturally safe, have person-centred care and trauma aware. Explore innovative approaches for culturally safe care for First Nations Australians, mitigate risks, build a culturally intelligent workforce, and measure impact. This session will explore how all organisations can excel in providing culturally safe aged and home care.

12:15 pm

Reflecting upon recent changes within the new Aged Care Act and ensuring that aged and home care for First Nations Australians in culturally safe, have person-centred care and trauma aware. Explore innovative approaches for culturally safe care for First Nations Australians, mitigate risks, build a culturally intelligent workforce, and measure impact. This session will explore how all organisations can excel in providing culturally safe aged and home care.

12:45 pm

This session will be hosted by a former economist and current aged care CEO who will look at how aged care policy determines what’s getting invested and where that’s taking us. Real, actionable policy reforms will also be set out to change the direction we’re headed in for the better.

1:15 pm

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

2:15 pm

  • How can we leverage innovative recruitment strategies to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market?
  • What creative approaches can we implement to drive innovation while meeting stringent care minute targets?
  • Is international recruitment through visa sponsorship a viable solution to address our workforce gaps?
  • How can strategic collaborations with Registered Training Organizations rapidly upskill our workforce?
  • What unique strategies can we employ to attract and retain talent in regional, rural, and remote areas?

3:00 pm

A Community-Centred Vision for the Future requires:

  • Listen First: Engaging the Community in Decision Making
  • Trusted Partners: Building Collaborative Relationships
  • Integrated Communities: Facing Outward, Not Inward

3:30 pm

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

4:00 pm

As we move closer to the July 1 implementation of the Support at Home (SAH) program, aged care providers, clinicians, and care managers need practical tools and strategies to ensure they’re ready for the shift. This session will provide clear, actionable insights on how to navigate the transition, improve clinical governance, and ensure older Australians continue to receive the highest standard of care.

  • Improving quality of care: where can we do better? Where can we gain more interaction with the older person?
  • Clinical programs and strengthening programs
  • Standardising training and workforce

4:45 pm

  • Innovative ways to overcome increasing costs for delivering services
  • What if new technologies are not assisting with revenue growth?
  • Low tech innovations

5:15 pm

Closing Remarks from Chair

5:20 pm

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

6:20 pm

DAY 1 CONCLUDES

AGED CARE REFORM FORUM | MEETING ROOMS 3 & 4

8:30 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

Opening Remarks From the Chair

Luke Greive, CEO, Infin8Care

10:00 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS |The New Aged Care Act Regulatory Model

Robert Day, Assistant Secretary, Dementia, Diversity and Design, Australian Government Department of Health

10:30 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Navigating the new Aged Care Act

Mel Metz, Deputy Commissioner, Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy Division, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

11:00 am

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

12:15 pm

  • New assessment and care planning process places the consumer/older person at the heart of decision-making – capturing their voice, goals, and preferences in their own words
  • Rights based approached and the new Act, ensuring person centred care

12:45 pm

  • Care transitions between community and the interface of aged and dementia care services
  • How are regional, rural, and remote providers innovating to reshape aged care services?
  • What strategies can we employ to leverage partnerships for local economic and community growth?

1:15 pm

Hosted with the National Dementia Conference in the pre-function area

2:15 pm

  • How can your organisation proactively adapt to the unknown implications of the New Aged Care Act?
  • What opportunities does the revised Chapter 4 present for elevating your service quality and compliance strategies?
  • How will these changes empower you to enhance the lives of older Australians in your care?

2:45 pm

  • Strategies to prevent hospital admissions whilst respecting the rights-based approach and older persons choice
  • Workforce shift: progressive conversations
  • Learnings from the ground up: collaborating for effective care transitions
  • Community and service engagement: ‘who’s got my back?”
  • Palliative care and end of life care

3:20 pm

Closing Remarks from Chair

3:25 pm

CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Workshop

POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
18 JUNE 2025 | 9:00AM – 12:00PM
CROWN PROMENADE MELBOURNE

Implementing best practice behaviour support to prevent the inappropriate use of RP

Workshop Facilitators:
Loren de Vries, Senior Practitioner, Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practice Unit, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Megan Cox, Director, Restrictive Practices Unit, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Book Now

BOOK NOW

National Dementia Conference

Now in its 16th year, the National Dementia Conference 2025 will bring together leading experts to discuss best practices and strategies for improving person-centered care for those living with dementia.

We are excited to co-locate the inaugural Aged Care Reform Forum alongside the 16th Annual National Dementia Conference!

By registering for either event, you gain access to both conferences, with the flexibility to pick and choose your preferred sessions and tailor your experience to your needs. You’ll also have access to shared networking opportunities and the exhibition space, allowing you to connect with professionals from both the dementia and aged care sectors.

KEY TOPICS OF NATIONAL DEMENTIA INCLUDE:

  • Latest Emerging Trends in Dementia Research
  • Dementia Diagnosis and Early Intervention Strategies
  • Innovations in Dementia Care and Support
  • Person-Centered Approaches in Dementia Care
  • Building Dementia-Friendly Communities
  • Assistive Devices and Digital Solutions
  • Dementia Caregiver Support and Resilience
  • Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Dementia

View national dementia website

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

The AGED CARE REFORM FORUM which is colocated with the National Dementia Confernece. Don’t miss this opporutnity to network with these interlapping audiences! Are you interested in learning more?

There are many opportunities for networking including social events such networking function, refreshment breaks and lunches, making this not just a conference… but an all encompassing industry “experience”. Don’t miss you opportunity to stand out!

Event sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organisation to:

  • Build relationships with potential and existing clients
  • Generate leads from a high-level, targeted audience
  • Close sales in a more personal manner than via phone
  • Demonstrate your product in person
  • Network with the industry
  • Build brand awareness

To see what is on offer please contact:

Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +61 (2) 9080 4318

Insights

Lessons from an onsite residential aged care pharmacist
In 2018, Goodwin Aged Care Services made history when it employed Australia’s first ever residential aged care pharmacist. Since the deployment, Goodwin has…
Read more >>


How feasible are residential aged care pharmacists?
Onsite pharmacists will soon become a regular fixture of the residential aged care system, with a dedicated government grant coming into effect in July this year…
Read more >>

Event Code of Conduct

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.

when & where

16 - 17 Jun 2025

Crown Promenade Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
(Queensbridge St end of Crown Complex)
(03) 9292 8888

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
We have secured a special accommodation rate from $240* per room per night, room only, for conference attendees at the Crown Promenade for the nights of the 15-16 June 2025 inclusive.

To book this rate, click here.

* Room availability and rates are subject to availability and valid until 7 days prior to the event, unless sold out prior.
Book early to avoid disappointment.

contact

Still have a question?

General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 2 9080 4307
[email protected]

Speaking Enquiries
Katrina Bowns
Senior Conference Producer
+61 2 9080 4322
[email protected]

Sponsorship & Exhibition Enquiries
Danielle Newman
+61 2 9080 4318
[email protected]

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
[email protected]

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