Program overview
Aged Care Futures: People, Purpose and Progress
The conference theme highlights where the sector is heading and what providers need to focus on next. You will gain insights into workforce, quality care and the innovations shaping tomorrow’s services.
People
Centers on the workforce and empowering the next generation through strong career pathways and capability building. We will focus on attracting talent, growing skills and developing future leaders.
Purpose
Focuses on supporting aged care providers to deliver sustainable, high-quality services, ensuring safety and meaningful outcomes while adapting to funding changes and post-reform requirements.
Progress
Explore innovation, technology and new models of care, showing how providers can adapt, improve operations and remain resilient as the sector changes.
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.
| Program at a glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Monday 29 June | Day 1 pre-event workshop | ||
| 9am - 5pm | Registration open | |
10am - 4pm | Practical AI Tools for Aged Care Sector In this highly practical session, you will gain an overview of AI tools relevant to aged care. Through a live demonstration, you'll see firsthand how AI-powered tools can revolutionise your work and dramatically enhance your effectiveness across a range of common tasks. Gain valuable insights and walk away equipped with actionable knowledge, ready to implement these tools immediately after the session. | |
Workshop schedule | ||
| 10am - 11.30am | “What can AI do today?” A where its being used in aged care plus other sectors and how. | |
| 11.30am - 11.45am | Morning Tea Break | |
| 11.45am 1pm | Set Up and integration. Open your laptops and lets setup your AI. | |
| 1pm - 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm - 3.15pm | Lets Build: | |
| 3.15pm - 3.30pm | Afternoon Tea Break | |
| 3.30pm - 4pm | Lets see what you built and Q&A lets answer all your questions | |
| Program at a glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Tuesday 30 June | Day 2 conference and exhibition | ||
| 8am - 5pm | Registration open | |
9am - 9.15am | Welcome and Opening of Conference
Queensland Ballet: Dance for Health Experience | |
9.15am - 9.20am | Welcome to Country | |
9.20am - 9.35am | State Government Address | |
9.35am - 10.05am | Ageing Australia CEO Address | |
10.05am - 10.55am | Sector Panel: The Future of Aged Care. What will Matter Most by 2030
This forward-looking discussion explores what will define success in aged care by 2030. Bringing together perspectives from provider leadership, consumer advocacy, community inclusion and sector sustainability, the panel will challenge attendees to look beyond immediate reform pressures and consider where the sector must focus its effort, investment and leadership to build a system that is trusted, equitable, financially sustainable and responsive to the expectations of older Australians.
Discussion topics may include:
| |
10.55am - 11.25am | Morning Tea and Networking | |
| 11.30am - 12pm | Ageing Well 2041 Vision and Roadmap
The Ageing Well vision and roadmap sets out a shared approach to support healthy, connected and dignified ageing across the life course. It outlines strategic priorities and partnerships to strengthen community-based care and improve access and equity. It provides the opportunity to identify tangible, practical actions collectively for people to live well, age well and die well. Here is what you will take away from the session:
| |
| 12pm - 12.40pm | Workforce Innovation in Action: Doing More With Less
Providers across Queensland are finding new ways to attract, retain and support their workforce despite ongoing challenges. In this practical session, NoosaCare and Good Shepherd Lodge share the initiatives, innovations and leadership approaches helping them build workforce capability, strengthen culture and deliver quality care. Through real-world examples and facilitated discussion, attendees will gain practical ideas and lessons that can be adapted within their own organisations. | |
12.40pm - 1.40pm | Lunch and Networking | |
| 1.45pm - 3.15pm | Breakout Session: Home Care
Neeley Cordery, Quality Outcomes Manager, Five Good Friends | |
| 1.45pm - 3.15pm | Breakout Session: Residential Care
Session One: The Sector Speaks — Turning Reform Challenges into Change, It’s about time to discuss the elephant in the room
Julie McStay, Partner Thomsons
Session Two: Still Feeling It. Intimacy, Ageing & the Conversations We Avoid
Podcast Hosts: | |
3.15pm - 3.45pm | Afternoon Tea and Networking | |
| 3.45pm - 4.55pm | Debate: AI in Aged Care – Essential Progress or Unacceptable Risk?
Team Essential Progress (FOR)
Team Unacceptable Risk (AGAINST) Grant Simpson, CEO, Noosa Care
Moderated by Rachael Cook, CEO, Inclusee
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping aged care, but is it essential progress or an unacceptable risk? In this high-energy debate, speakers will go head-to-head on the opportunities, risks and realities of AI adoption across the sector.
Moving beyond high-level AI commentary, the session will explore practical provider scenarios, including workforce pressures, operational efficiency, compliance, safeguarding and digital readiness. With live Slido polling, audience interaction and rapid-fire debate, expect strong opinions, real-world examples and plenty of audience engagement. | |
| 4.55pm - 5pm | Day Wrap Up and Closing | |
| 6.30pm - 7pm | Pre-dinner drinks | |
| 7pm - 11pm | Conference Dinner sponsored by HESTA Wrap up day one by joining fellow delegates at the conference dinner, an evening of great food, engaging company and entertainment | |
| Program at a glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Wednesday 1 July | Day 3 conference and exhibition | ||
| 8am - 5pm | Registration open | |
9am - 9.10am | Opening Remarks and Welcome Back | |
9.10am - 9.50am | Opening keynote: The Demographic Forces Reshaping Aged Care to 2030 | |
9.50am - 10.20am | Navigating the Next Phase of Aged Care Reform | |
10.20m - 10.50am | Beyond Compliance: Partnering for Quality and Trust Under the New Aged Care Act | |
10.50am - 11.20am | Morning Tea and Networking | |
11.25am - 11.55am | Registered Provider Boards and the Next Phase of Reform: Risks, Responsibilities and Strategic Challenges for Boards and Board Members
A highly practical session on the key risks and issues that are emerging for aged care boards (and board members) 6 months post implementation of the new act and how to manage them.
The session will:
| |
11.55am - 12.25pm | Financial Sustainability Under Reform | |
12.25pm - 1.25pm | Lunch and Networking | |
1.30pm - 2pm | The 25 Drivers of your Culture DNA
Jacqui’s presentation will outline the 25 sets of practices that over 1 million employees have identified as the Drivers of their behaviours and decisions. Most employees are attracted to an organisation by the Tangible Benefits, and they stay for the Intangible Benefits, but as soon as the Work Enablers start to break down … then their engagement with the organisation also starts to break down.
Delegates will walk away with:
| |
2pm - 3pm | Workforce Priorities for the Next 12 Months
The aged care sector has spent years discussing workforce shortages, attraction, retention, and sustainability. This session starts where those conversations usually end. And the key question is: what’s preventing progress? Through live polling and facilitated discussion, providers will identify the workforce challenges having the greatest impact, explore what barriers are preventing progress, and prioritise the actions needed to move the sector forward. New ideas will also be shared.
Together, we will identify:
This is not just a discussion about workforce challenges. It’s a conversation about making change happen. Be prepared to contribute, challenge thinking and help shape future workforce priorities. | |
3pm - 3.30pm | Afternoon Tea and Networking | |
3.35pm - 4.15pm | Fireside chat:
Older Australians are becoming more informed, connected and vocal about the care and services they receive. In this candid fireside chat, we explore how consumer expectations are evolving and what providers will need to do to remain relevant, trusted and responsive by 2030.
The discussion will examine:
| |
4.15pm - 4.55pm | ‘The Power of Five’
The ‘Sharing with Friends’ cohousing model offers a powerful example of ageing well through connection, choice and community. This innovative model brings residents together to intentionally create a supportive community. The first project is nearing completion in Darra, and this session explores what the sector can learn from alternative housing approaches that place belonging and wellbeing at the centre of ageing.
3 key takeaways:
| |
4.55pm - 5pm | Conference Close | |
5pm - 6pm | Networking Hour | |