2025 WA State Conference program | Ageing Australia conferences

The WA State Conference features a unique program designed specifically for aged care providers in Western Australia, bringing together professionals from across the sector. This dynamic two-and-a-half-day event offers a rare opportunity for leaders, innovators and changemakers to connect, collaborate and help shape the future of aged care in Western Australia.

With engaging discussions, thought-provoking presentations and plenty of time to network, attendees will walk away with fresh perspectives, practical strategies and valuable new connections.

Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett AM

Co-founder Wheelchairs For Kids and
Senior Australian of the Year 2025

Gihan Perera
Futurist, Speaker,
Author, AI Researcher

Amber Crosthwaite
Partner, Lavan

WA State Conference Program
9am - 5pm	Registration open
2pm - 2.10pm	Conference opening Liz Behjat, State Manager WA-NT, Ageing Australia
2.10pm - 2.20pm	Opening ‘Acknowledging Country Together’ cultural immersion Sharon Wood-Kenney, Executive Cultural Navigator Consultancy South West Kinships, Cultural Immersions Co-design Community Engagement Lead
2.20pm - 2.30pm	State Minister welcome Hon Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Creative Industries; Heritage; Industrial Relations; Aged Care and Seniors; Women
2.30pm - 3.00pm	Senior Australian of the Year 2025 Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett AM, Co-founder, Wheelchairs for Kids and Senior Australian of the Year 2025
3pm - 3.30pm	Financial sustainability for aged care providers Stuart Hutcheon, Partner, StewartBrown
3.30pm - 4pm	Afternoon tea
4pm - 5pm	Transition to the New Aged Care Act panel session The introduction of the New Aged Care Act marks a significant shift for providers, bringing new regulatory requirements, operational changes, and consumer expectations. Facilitated by Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson, this panel will explore the practical implications of the transition, share insights from aged care providers already navigating the changes, and provide perspectives on effective implementation strategies. Tom Symondson, CEO, Ageing Australia Stuart Hutcheon, Partner, StewartBrown Russell Bricknell, Chief Executive Officer, Juniper Aged Care Mark Gummer, CEO, Astley Care Clare Mullen, Executive Director, Health Consumers Council WA Bianca McGoldrick, Partner Property & Real Estate, Jackson McDonald
5pm - 5.05pm	HESTA sponsor address
5pm - 7pm	Welcome reception

WA State Conference Program
8am - 5pm	Registration open
9am - 9.10am	Welcome to day two Liz Behjat, State Manager WA-NT, Ageing Australia
9.10am - 9.45am	CEO address Tom Symondson, CEO, Ageing Australia
9.45am - 10.15am	The road ahead: understanding government reforms in aged care Trish Garrett, First Assistant Secretary, Service Delivery Division, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
10.15am - 10.45am	The next chapter in Aged Care Quality and Safety Janine Renna, Acting Senior Director, Audit - Regulatory Operations Division, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
10.45am - 11.15am	Morning tea
Concurrent Sessions
11.15am - 12.45am	Concurrent one - Home care and support at home
11.15am - 11.45am	Statement of rights and statement of principles Tracy Buchholz, Member Advisor, Home and Community Care, Ageing Australia
11.45am - 12.15pm	Security of tenure Elizabeth Tylich, Chairperson & Partner \| Corporate Commercial Jackson McDonald
12.15pm - 12.45pm	Navigating transition, delivering quality Anita McStay, Senior Policy Advisor, Ageing Australia
11.15am - 12.45pm	Concurrent two - Residential care readiness
11.15am - 11.45am	Regulatory compliance – Practical insightsCare Minutes – Is there only one model? Cheryl Edwards, Head of Member Support & Advisory, Ageing Australia
11.45am - 12.15pm	Care minutes - the challenges of meeting compliance Facilitator: Cheryl Edwards, Head of Member Support & Advisory, Ageing Australia Sean Mahoney, General Manager, Geegeelup Genn Carao, Regional Manager Residential Aged Care, Bethanie Irene Mooney MLBM, BN, FAAQHC, CEO, MYVISTA
12.15pm - 12.45pm	Balancing dignity of risk with compliance - Strategies for effective decision-making Andreas Geronimos, Associate, Lavan
12.45pm - 1.45pm	Lunch
1.45pm - 2pm	StewartBrown retirement living benchmarking survey Stuart Hutcheon, Partner, StewartBrown
2pm - 2.30pm	Quality standards: Managing the intricacies Gretta Wallis BN, General Manager, Health Care Quality, Amana Living
2.30pm - 3pm	Governance in the age of reform Amber Crosthwaite, Partner, Lavan
3pm - 3.30pm	Data, dials and dashboards - Determining clinical direction Dave Ramsay, GM Care & Services, Bethanie
3.30pm - 4pm	Afternoon tea
4pm - 5pm	WA’s aged care workforce: Bold solutions for the aged care sector - Panel session Facilitator - Andrew Hayward, Head of Workforce Strategy, Ageing Australia Dr Catherine Stoddart PSM, Chief Executive Officer, Brightwater Care Group Ltd Clare Grieveson, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Cross Care WA Laura Sutherland, Director, Founder & Consultant, Above and Beyond Group I 3D Recruit Richard Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Carers WA Dr Michael Page, President, AMA (WA) Bernadette Kenny, CEO, WA Primary Health Alliance
6.30pm - 7pm	Pre dinner drinks
7pm - 11.30pm	Conference dinner

WA State Conference Program
8am - 4pm	Registration open
9am - 9.05am	Welcome to day three Liz Behjat, State Manager WA-NT, Ageing Australia
9.10am - 9.40am	The evolution of Sister Kate's - working side by side to deliver Perth's first Aboriginal health and aged care facility Daniel Prior, Chief Development Officer, Hall & Prior Aged Care Group Wendy Ashwin, Aboriginal Health Coordinator, Hall & Prior Aged Care Group Seán McGivern, Director, Kerry Hill Architects
9.40am - 10.30am	Beyond words: Delivering inclusive aged care in CALD communities - Panel session Yvonne Timson, Chief Executive Officer, Community Vision Mark Kinsela, CEO, COTA WA Emerita Prof Samina Yasmeen AM, University of WA Andrea Creado, CEO Ishar Multiculutral Women’s Health Centre
10.30am - 11am	Morning tea
Concurrent Sessions
11am - 11.45am	Concurrent three - Home care fishbowl
11am - 11.45am	Home and community care transition and implementation Facilitator: Cheryl Edwards, Head of Member Support & Advisory, Ageing Australia Tracy Buchholz, Member Advisor, Home and Community Care, Ageing Australia
11am - 11.45am	Concurrent four - Dementia
11am - 11.45am	Optimising dementia care in aged care: insights from allied health professionals Facilitator: Susan Williams, NT State Manager, Client Services, Dementia Australia Naomi Moylan, Occupational Therapist and Dementia Support Specialist, Brightwater Care Group Ellie Newman, Head of Physiotherapy and Dementia Lead for the Armadale Kalamunda Group in Perth
12pm - 12.30pm	Older adult integrated healthcare Dr George Eskander, Executive Director, Clinical Performance & Transformation, Department of Health, WA Health
12.30pm - 2pm	Lunch
2pm - 2.45pm	Compassionate conversations: Navigating end of life and palliative care in aged care Facilitator - Liz Behjat, State Manager WA-NT, Ageing Australia Dr Elissa Campbell, President, Palliative Care WA Professor Davina Porock, Director, Centre for Research in Aged Care, ECU Catherine Spini, ELDAC Program Officer, Ageing Australia Renae Lavell, Executive Director, Silverchain Garth Wolfenden CN, Wheatbelt Specialist Palliative Care, WA Country Health Service - Wheatbelt
2.45pm - 3.45pm	The future of aged care Gihan Perera, Futurist, Speaker, Author, AI Researcher, Keynote Speaker
3.45pm - 3.50pm	Conference close Liz Behjat, State Manager WA-NT, Ageing Australia
3.50pm - 4.15pm	Afternoon tea

Disclaimer: Please note that this conference program is subject to revisions and updates. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, changes may
occur prior to the event. Attendees are encouraged to regularly check for updates on the conference website. Thank you for your understanding.