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. Across two days, the program explores reform implementation, financial sustainability, governance, workforce capability, risk management and the leadership needed to navigate a rapidly changing environment. It brings together practical insights, sector experience and future-focused thinking to support providers in delivering safe, sustainable and person-centred care.
People
Focuses on the people driving aged care forward, from frontline teams to executive leaders. Sessions explore workforce capability, leadership under pressure, rights-based care, clinical governance and building cultures that support safe decision making, resilience and meaningful outcomes for older Australians.
Purpose
Centres on the sector’s responsibility to deliver high-quality, sustainable and accountable care under the new Aged Care Act. The program examines reform implementation, compliance expectations, governance, financial sustainability and how providers can balance operational realities with the needs and rights of older people.
Progress
Explores how the sector can adapt and evolve through innovation, collaboration and new ways of thinking. Discussions will highlight practical approaches to risk management, crisis response, cyber resilience, retirement living opportunities and sustainable business models that strengthen the future of aged care.
| Victoria State Conference Program | ||
|---|---|---|
Tuesday 19 May | Pre-event workshop | ||
| 9am - 5pm | Registration open | |
10am - 4.30pm | Leveraging Governance – Meet the Moment Workshop (optional) This comprehensive 5-hour workshop is specifically designed for Directors and Senior Executives of Registered Providers in the aged care sector. Focusing on the pivotal role of the governing body, the session will provide a detailed, practical understanding of navigating the Conditions and Obligations of the Aged Care Act. Facilitated by Cynthia Payne, attendees will gain confidence in essential risk management issues and prepare for successful Registration Renewal. Key Workshop Elements: Unpacking the Aged Care Act – The Governing Body’s Lens
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Workshop Schedule | ||
10am - 10.15am | Welcome, Introductions, and Workshop Objectives | |
10.15am - 11.30am | Session 1: Unpacking the Aged Care Act (Conditions and Obligations) - The Governing Body's Lens | |
11.30am - 11:45am | Morning Tea Break and Networking | |
11.45am - 1pm | Session 2: Rights-Aligned Risk Appetite and Governance | |
1pm - 2pm | Lunch Break and Networking | |
2pm - 3.15pm | Session 3: Key Risks Arising from the New Act and Board Oversight | |
3.15pm - 3.30pm | Afternoon Tea Break and Networking | |
3.30pm - 4.30pm | Session 4: Registration Renewal Readiness - The Board and Executive Team Role and what to expect | |
| Victoria State Conference Program | ||
|---|---|---|
Wednesday 20 May | Day 1 conference and exhibition | ||
| 8am - 5pm | Registration open | |
8am - 4pm | Trade exhibition open | |
9am - 9.10am | Welcome and Opening of Conference | |
9.10am - 9.15am | Welcome to Country | |
9.20am - 9.30am | Ministerial Address Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs | |
9.30am - 10am | Ageing Australia CEO Address | |
10am - 10.35am | Morning Tea and Networking | |
10.40am - 11.20am | Sector Panel: Six Months On – How is the Sector Tracking Under the New Aged Care Act? Six months on from the introduction of the new Aged Care Act, this panel brings together provider, advocacy and legal perspectives to assess how the sector is tracking in practice. Drawing on frontline experience and early implementation insights, panellists will explore what is working, where providers are facing pressure, and how reforms are translating into real outcomes for older people in Victoria. The discussion will cover operational, financial and regulatory impacts, alongside emerging risks and opportunities. With a candid and solutions-focused lens, the session aims to highlight practical learnings and identify where sector effort and policy attention should be directed next. Faye Spiteri OAM, CEO, Fronditha Care | |
11.20am - 11.50am | Beyond Compliance: Partnering for Quality and Trust Under the New Aged Care Act Forward-looking address on the Commission’s strategic priorities, upcoming initiatives, and expectations for the sector. | |
11.50am - 12.20pm | Financial Landscape Stuart Hutcheon, Managing Partner, StewartBrown | |
12.20pm - 1.30pm | Lunch and Networking | |
1.35pm - 2.05pm | Liquidity Under Reform - From Compliance to Financial Sustainability Costa Nomikoudis, Director Audit & Assurance, Grant Thornton | |
2.05pm – 2.35pm | Scale Without Merging - Collaborative Models for Financial Sustainability Amber Cartwright, Senior Director, Ansell Strategic | |
2.35pm – 3.15pm | Building Strong and Sustainable Business Plans in Aged Care Ashley Miller, Partner - Financial Advisory, Grant Thornton | |
3.15pm – 3.45pm | Afternoon Tea and Networking | |
3.45pm – 4.25pm | Building an organisation that provides aged care to older people experiencing homelessness Bryan Lipmann AM, Recipient of the Victorian Senior Australian of the Year | |
4.25pm – 4.35pm | 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. | |
| Victoria State Conference Program | ||
|---|---|---|
Thursday 21 May | Day 2 conference and exhibition | ||
| 8am - 5pm | Registration open | |
8am - 2pm | Trade exhibition open | |
9am - 9.05am | Opening Remarks and Welcome Back | |
9.05am – 9.35am | Real Incidents, Real Decisions - Insights from First Responders for Aged Care Chris Lee, Community Portfolio Manager, Victoria Police Centre | |
9.35am – 10.05am | Managing Evacuation - A Provider Case Study from Victoria’s Fires When bushfires threatened regional Victoria in January 2026, Abound Communities evacuated residents and staff from their retirement village, Currie Park in Euroa to Shepparton and back. This session shares an honest account of how we managed the response, what we learnt along the way, and the practical lessons we want every provider to take home. Key Takeaways
Katherine Burton, CEO, Abound Communities Tim Nelson, Executive Manager, Marketing, Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement Narelle Kent, Executive Manager, Quality, Risk and Compliance | |
10.05am – 10.45am | Enabling Choice and Decision Making in a Rights-Based Aged Care System Should an 89-year-old be allowed to smoke in a residential aged care home? Have a beer at lunch, even though the Dr has suggested no alcohol? Start a new relationship in the dementia In a rights-based aged care system, the answers aren't always tidy. This panel explores what a rights-based approach to aged care looks like in day-to-day practice. It focuses on how
Phillip Goulding, General Manager Residential Aged Care, Wintringham Ben Rogers, CEO, COTA Victoria Birgit Goetz, CEO, Martin Luther Homes Moderator: Belinda Allen, Chief Member Experience Officer, Ageing Australia | |
10.45am – 11.15am | Morning Tea and Networking | |
11.20am – 11.50am | Responding to a Cyber Crisis - Provider Insights from a Data Breach Allyson Warrington, CEO and Company Secretary, Community Based Support Co presenters: Craig Triffitt, Executive Manager Service Delivery, Community Based Support Erin Wise, Executive Manager Corporate Services, Community Based Support | |
11.50am – 12.20pm | Wage Underpayment - Managing Risk and Strengthening Practice | |
12.20pm – 1.30pm | Lunch and Networking | |
1.35pm – 2.05pm | Managing Risk While Enabling Choice - A Clinical Governance Approach Carla Beheram, Practice Lead - Risk Advisory, Anchor Excellence | |
2.05pm – 2.35pm | Update on Legislation, Growth and Opportunity in Retirement Living | |
2.35pm – 3.25pm | Closing Keynote Just before 8 am on Boxing Day 2004 a Magnitude 9.3 Earthquake occurred with its epicentre just off the west coast of Banda Aceh. This was the strongest earthquake ever recorded earthquake in Asia and the third strongest of all time. The Earthquake caused a massive tsunami with waves up to 30 metres in height. Eventually it would be determined that the earthquake and tsunami together resulted in injuries to over 100,000 people, the deaths of over 200,000 people, as well as the displacement of about 1.75 million people. But none of that detail was available during the early part of the response. Bill Griggs was aboard the first overseas aid plane to land in Banda Aceh after the tsunami. His talk documents the first ten days or so of his experience of coping with the chaos and of trying to assess needs and provide appropriate responses for a city of 400,000 people with about half the population dead or injured. His talk will cover the importance of timely decision making despite minimal information, the need to be flexible and to constantly adapt, and the importance of using strong underlying values to inform those decisions and actions. | |
3.25pm - 3.30pm | Conference Close | |
3.30pm - 5pm | Networking drinks and canapes | |
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.