2026 WA State Conference 2026 Wrap Up
Over three days in Perth, the WA State Conference 2026 brought together more than 400 delegates, alongside 25 participants in the pre-conference workshop. Supported by 8 sponsors and 38 exhibitors, the event delivered valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration and sector connection.
The 2026 WA State Conference brought together aged care providers, leaders, clinicians and sector professionals over three days of substantive discussion, debate and genuine connection – united by the conference theme of People, Purpose and Progress.
Live poll
The conference opened with remarks from WA-NT State Manager Liz Behjat, before delegates were asked a live poll question to set the scene:
If aged care were a movie genre right now, what would it be?
The top response was Drama, followed by Thriller and Feel-Good Story, offering a revealing snapshot of the challenges and complexity facing the sector today.
Day one overview
The conference officially began with a Welcome to Country from Jayden Boundry on behalf of the Wadjak, Balardong, Yued, Wilman Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji peoples, before Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson set the national context in his sector address – covering the risks of price caps, long home care waitlists, and the importance of fostering innovation, AI adoption and a stronger, more confident narrative about the sector’s achievements. A Ministerial address from the Hon. Simone McGurk MLA followed, signalling the WA Government’s commitment to working collaboratively with providers to improve outcomes and recognise good practice.
Economist Conrad Liveris reframed the workforce challenge with a rigorous, evidence-based look at pay, productivity, technology and work design – the kind of session that changes how you think about the problem. A sector panel moderated by Tom Symondson then brought provider, financial and corporate perspectives together to take a candid look at how the sector is tracking under the new Aged Care Act, covering funding models, geography, workforce pressures and home care design.
Leadership and quality featured strongly across the program. Emeritus Professor Gary Martin made a compelling case for a broader set of leadership capabilities in a reforming, people-centred sector. Scott Rumbold from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission explored what genuine partnership for quality and trust looks like beyond compliance. And Cassie Mason from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provided a direct and useful update on reform progress – noting that despite the challenges, older Australians are reporting feeling more respected and supported.
An interactive workshop on the hospital-to-aged care discharge pathway brought aged care and health system perspectives into the same room to examine where transitions break down and what practical improvements look like. A fireside chat with David Sharpham and Russell Bricknell explored what WA providers can learn from the aged care systems of the Netherlands and Norway.
Day one photos
Dinner snapshots
The conference dinner, proudly sponsored by HESTA, was attended by more than 200 delegates. The evening began with pre-dinner drinks and networking, followed by dinner and further opportunities for attendees to connect with peers from across the sector. Entertainment was provided by Adam and The Velvet Playboys, helping to round out a relaxed and enjoyable evening.
Day two overview
Day two opened with Chief Reporter Ben Harvey from The West Australian offering a behind-the-scenes look at the modern newsroom and practical advice for providers on navigating increased media scrutiny. A fireside chat with Basil Zempilas MLA, Leader of the Opposition, brought a candid conversation about communication, public trust and the political landscape.
Workforce, technology and innovation took centre stage through the mid-morning – with sessions on measurable training impact from Dementia Australia, a real-world AI pilot case study from Silverchain, and a joint session on palliative care strategy from Melville Cares and Palliative Care WA. Stuart Hutcheon from StewartBrown provided a practical breakdown of funding changes under the new Act and what providers need to do to adapt.
The afternoon brought a data-driven panel on WA’s ageing future – connecting population trends with lived experience and exploring what service demand, workforce and models of care could look like by 2030. Andrew Hayward and Laura Sutherland then led an interactive workforce session that moved the conversation from naming barriers to building collective solutions. Nick Elmitt and Dr Deepan Krishnasivam closed the discharge pathway thread with key learnings and actionable takeaways for providers.
Amy Gildea delivered the closing keynote – Orchids Don’t Flower Every Day: Finding Hope, Humanity and Resilience in the Hardest Places – drawing on two decades of humanitarian and health leadership to reframe resilience not as endless endurance, but as our capacity to reconnect with purpose, perspective and each other. The room was still for a long time after she finished.
Day two photos
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
