DAY ONE | TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2025
7:45
Registration Opens
8:45
Welcome to Country
9:00
Chairperson's Opening Address
Garry Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer, Kurrajong Nursing Home
NAVIGATING THE NEW AGED CARE ACT: GOING BEYOND COMPLIANCE
9:10
Government keynote: Future proofing: How does the new Act shape the long-term vision for the sector?
With a $17.7 billion investment over five years, the Australian government is driving significant aged care reforms. How will this funding shape the sector’s five-year plan, influencing policy and quality of care?
How will the new policies redefine care standards and risk management strategies, to ensure a sustainable and high-quality aged care system?
9:40
Reserved Session
10:00
Panel: Beyond compliance: From minimum standards to innovation
Moving beyond merely “ticking the box” approach towards creating meaningful and resident–centered care
How can the new Act go past being just bureaucratic measurement toward driving better outcomes and inspiring innovative ways of transforming aged care?
Moderator: Geraldine Lannon, Deputy Chair, Ageing Australia
Sandra Glaister, Chief of Quality and Governance, Southern Cross Care
Sabrina Scandurra, Director of Quality & Clinical Governance, Montefiore
Dr Rebecca Bilton, Program and Research Director, ARIIA
Claire Miastkowski, Quality of Care Transformation program, Quality Assurance and Organisation Governance Lead, Uniting NSW.ACT
10:40
Speed Networking
11:00
Morning Tea & Coffee
11:20
Interactive Round Tables
Join us for 4 small-group roundtables looking deep into the latest challenges and solutions. These small group sessions allow for more dynamic, engaging and discussion-based conversations and are always a highlight of the forum.
Roundtable A – presented by Riskonnect
Using integrated software to streamline risk and processes organisation wide
Matthew Meldrum, Senior Sales Engineer, Riskonnect
Roundtable B – presented by Indeed
Your Brand, Their Choice: The Secret to Winning Talent in Aged Care
Lauren Anderson, Senior Talent Strategy Advisor, Indeed
12:20
Navigating the new regulatory landscape
Unpacking the impact of strengthened aged care standards
How can aged care providers prepare most effectively for a seamless and effective transition?
Belinda Wood, General Manager Quality Practice & Performance, Baptcare
12:50
Networking Lunch
ADDRESSING CHALLENGES IN THE STAR RATINGS SYSTEM
1:40
Balancing star ratings & high-risk resident admissions
Addressing the unintended consequences of star ratings on high-risk resident admissions and provider decision-making
Strategies to support providers in delivering equitable care for all residents while maintaining strong performance ratings and quality benchmarks
Terese Gatt, Director of Nursing, Kurrajong Nursing Home
2:10
Innovating metrics to improve care
Rethinking resident survey design, which accounts for 33% of the overall rating, including question relevance, frequency, sample size and actionability for a more effective evaluation
Ensure that ratings reflect meaningful care quality and resident experience in real time
Rachel Garcia, Chief Strategy Officer, Catholic Healthcare
2:40
Quality indicators & their influence on ratings
Examining factors (i.e. pressure injuries, higher risk of falling, medication management, environmental restriction) that automatically lowers the star ratings and the challenges of reverse-engineering to determine the specific cause
Strategies for improved star ratings while maintaining high levels of person-centered care
Tim Hicks, Executive General Manager Policy & Advocacy, Bolton Clarke
3:10
Afternoon Tea
ADVANCING QUALITY OF CARE
3:40
AI & Digital tools for quality and safety
Implement predictive analytics for fall prevention, health deterioration, and medication management
AI-driven alerts and monitoring – real-time tracking for resident safety and staff efficiency
Garry Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer, Kurrajong Nursing Home
4:10
Dignity of risk vs. duty of care
Balancing residents' autonomy to make their own independent decision along with safety responsibilities
Create effective risk agreements that respect individual choice while ensuring legal and ethical compliance
Helen Ainley, Operations Manager, Amana Living
4:40
End-of-life & palliative care best practices
Ways to ensure compassionate, high-quality care in the final stages of life
Address ethical and practical implications of VAD and best practises for implementation
Margaret O'Connor AM, Emeritus Professor, Monash University
5:10
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
5:20
Networking Drinks
DAY TWO | WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2025
8:20
Registration Opens
9:00
Chairperson's Opening Address
ADVANCING WORKFORCE CAPABILITY
9:10
Upskilling & continuous learning to elevate care standards
Implement interactive and proactive learning methods beyond just presentations (i.e. scenario-based training, learning cards) to enhance staff engagement and ensure high-quality care
Integrate continuous education into daily workflow to upskill staff, improve decision-making, and drive better resident outcomes
Gretta Wallis, General Manager, Health Care Quality, Amana Living
9:40
Reserved Session
HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTER RISK & DATA SYSTEMS
10:00
Centralised data & risk management
Standardising data across aged care, healthcare, and government for integration.
Discover risk-adjusted benchmarking to measure and improve care outcomes.
Lahn Straney, Chief Scientific Officer, MOA
10:30
Morning Tea & Coffee
RISK MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE IN AGED CARE
11:00
Managing clinical risks amid increased resident acuity
Identify emerging risks due to higher resident acuity and complex health needs
Implement adaptive strategies to ensure high-quality care
Victoria Traynor, Professor of Dementia Care, Warrigal, Professor of Healthy Ageing, University of the Sunshine Coast
11:30
Case Study: Serious Incident Reporting (SIRS): Trends & strategies
Address the increase in SIRS notifications & key trends (e.g., neglect (26% rise), unreasonable use of force). Why are these incidents on the rise? Are there underlying systemic issues, staff shortage, or gaps in training contributing to these increases?
What proactive measures has Anglicare taken to reduce incidents and strengthen reporting accuracy and accountability?
Analou Cariaga, General Manager – Quality, Safety & Risk, Anglicare
12:00
Reserved Session
12:20
Building a risk-ready workforce in aged care
What does a "risk-ready" workforce look like in today’s aged care environment?
Discover practical and inspiring leadership approaches to strengthening care quality and building safer systems across aged care settings
Phillip Mellas, Work & Healthy Safety Manager, Aeralife
12:50
Networking Lunch
1:50
Reducing hospital transfers: Minimising risks & improving resident outcomes
Addressing the risks associated with frequent hospital transfers, including higher complexity of cases, longer stays and worse health outcomes (i.e. 2.7-fold higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to non-transferred patients)
Strategies to strengthen care within aged care facilities, reduce avoidable hospitalisations, and alleviate bed blockages in the healthcare system, leading to better patient outcomes and cost savings
Julia Lawrence, Executive General Manager, Service Delivery, St Vincent’s Care Services
STRENGTHENING PATIENT-CENTERED & CULTURALLY SAFE CARE
2:20
Promoting resident autonomy & upholding human rights
Strategies to support residents’ autonomy in daily routines, care decisions, and overall facility experience
Learn how to embed human rights principles into operational and care practices to empower residents and ensure their voices are central to care improvements
Vivian Orji, Quality and Compliance Manager, Anglicare
3:00
Afternoon Tea
3:30
Cultural safety in aged care staffing
How to ensure your workplace is culturally safe and inclusive for migrant aged care workers and residents?
Better understand and meet the cultural needs of aged care workers to enhance well-being, retention, and quality of care.
Kath Horton, Independent Business Owner, Aged Care Curriculum SME and NDIS Recipient Support Coordinator
4:00
Reserved Session
4:20
Case Study: Designing dementia-centered environments: Enhancing quality of life
Create dementia-friendly spaces that reduce distress and agitation and promote safety, independence and wellbeing
Learn from Dementia Australia how to foster engagement through familiar routines, sensory stimulation and personalised care approaches
Kaele Stokes, Executive Director, Services, Advocacy and Research, Dementia Australia
4:50
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
Juliette Spurrett, Executive Director, Community Services #1
4:55
Close of Forum