DAY ONE | TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2025
7:45
Registration Opens
8:45
Welcome to Country
9:00
Chairperson's Opening Address
THE NEW AGED CARE ACT
9:10
What does the new Aged Care Act mean for the future of talent acquisition?
With residential aged care homes required to deliver an average of 215 care minutes per resident per day, how can providers attract and retain a stable workforce?
Examine changes in government policies to create sustainable staffing solutions that balance compliance with high-quality care.
Adam Priest, Head of People & Culture, Southern Cross Care
9:40
Reserved session
10:00
Government Keynote: Strengthening the aged care workforce
How is the government tackling workforce shortages through funding initiatives and policy reforms?
Gain insight into the long-term goals of government policy and its impact on workforce stability and growth.
10:30
Speed networking
10:50
Morning tea & coffee
11:10
Interactive roundtables
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.
WORKFORCE RETENTION
12:10
Panel: What is the impact of increased care minutes on staff retention?
With the increase in care minutes, how can providers ensure workforce stability and prevent staff turnover?
Explore strategies to improve career longevity and staff commitment through improved retention-focused initiatives
Moderator: Lauren Meredith, Executive Director of Aged Care Services, Mercy Care
Rad Popowicz, Talent Acquisition Manager – Aged Care, The Salvation Army Aged Care
Paul Sadler, Consultant Aged Care, Paul Sadler Consultancy
Rachel Argaman, Chief Executive Officer, Opal
12:50
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, Service Manager, Mercy Health
1:20
Networking lunch
ANSWERING RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES & CREATING A TALENT PIPELINE
2:20
Will recent wage increases keep staff engaged?
Despite two wage increases in 2025, are salaries enough to make the workforce stay?
Explore how career progression and purpose-driven work drive staff attraction and long-term engagement.
Michael Rasheed, Executive People and Culture, Southern Cross Care
2:50
Balancing flexibility & stability: Casual vs. permanent work
How can aged care employers strike the right balance to attract and retain workers while ensuring operational continuity?
Navigate the trade-offs between offering flexibility and higher pay in casual roles versus providing job security in permanent positions
3:20
Integrating migration with domestic workforce development
With an annual shortfall of 30,000 aged care workers, how can we balance skilled migration (currently filling 40% of roles) with domestic workforce development for long-term stability?
Strategies to optimise international recruitment while building a sustainable talent pipeline.
3:50
Reserved session
4:10
Strategies to attracting local and young talent
With a growing demand for care professionals, how can we reshape the perception of aged care to attract more local talent?
Learn strategies to enhance your organisation’s appeal, and its benefits of making a meaningful impact, especially for younger talent.
4:40
Afternoon tea
TRANSFORMING WORKFORCE ACCESS WITH TECHNOLOGY
5:10
Unlocking workforce access: How can technology enable better care
Learn how to transform workforce challenges into opportunities
How to reliably and cost effectively access clinical and allied health teams to improve clinical outcomes
Sue Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, McLean Care
5:40
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
5:45
Networking Drinks
DAY TWO | WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2025
8:20
Registration Opens
9:00
Chairperson's Opening Address
WORKFORCE TRAINING & UPSKILLING
9:10
Tackling workforce challenges in remote and rural communities
Explore successful strategies for training in remote communities: case study of a mobile skills lab van
Transform the perception of traineeships and build on industry collaboration as a foundation for successful training and upskilling
Robert Peoples, Teaching Education Manager - Health & Community Services, South West TAFE
9:40
Reserved session
10:00
Investing in continuous professional development
How can training programs focus not only on clinical skills but also on soft skills like communication, empathy, and resilience, especially for staff working with complex care needs?
Explore the most effective ways to incorporate continuous professional development into the daily workflow of aged care staff
Susan Wray, Chief Executive Officer, Edgerley Assisted Living
10:30
Morning tea & coffee
11:10
Mentorship and strengthening of career pathways
How to structure mentorship programs that effectively upskill and engage talent
Explore career pathways that foster growth and strengthens the aged care workforce
THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
11:30
Reducing the compliance burden while improving care quality monitoring
With the increased administrative compliance with the national mandatory quality indicator program, how can technology help staff to be more efficient?
Discover effective use of technology to streamline administrative tasks and reduce compliance burnout while delivering better quality information to monitor and improve care quality
Johanna Westbrook, Professor of Health Informatics and Patient Safety, Macquarie University, Director Centre for Health Systems & Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation
12:00
Reserved session
12:20
Maximising efficiency with HR information systems and Operations Insights Suite
Explore different HR information systems to help automate complex tasks, simplify record-keeping and ensure timely compliance
Discover Operations Insights Suite (OIS) - a cloud-based analytics system that provides predictive reporting and decision-making support, simplifying data into visual reports and actionable insights to help monitor key operational drivers
Stephen Becsi, CEO, Apollo Care
Alissa Walsh, Chief Performance Officer, Apollo Care
12:50
Networking Lunch
BURNOUT AND WELL-BEING
1:50
Panel: What can be done to support good mental health practice for staff in high stress environments
Addressing the emotional toll that aged care workers face daily, including grief, high stress, and burnout
Equip staff with the right mental health support programs, trauma-informed care and stress reduction techniques to foster resilience and keep providing high-quality care.
Moderator: Mark Green, National Director Mission & People, Calvary Health
Victoria Winsall, Independent Living Manager, Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative
Sharon Blackburn, Executive Director, BallyCara
Mason Gismondi, Head of Psychosocial Safety, Bupa
2:40
Protecting aged care workers: Addressing occupational violence
With 40% of aged workers having faced a form of workplace violence, how can we create a safer environment?
Discover best practices such as de-escalation training, stronger workplace policies, and legal protections to enhance safety and support for aged care staff.
Cara Williams, Head of Safety and Wellbeing, Bolton Clarke
3:10
Afternoon Tea
3:40
Leadership's role in addressing and improving well-being of staff
How can strong leadership enhance workplace well-being by fostering open communication, balanced workloads, and a supportive environment?
Learn key strategies to support workforce by promoting work-life balance
4:10
Reserved session
ROLE OF DIVERSITY
4:30
Enhancing patient outcomes through diversity
How can a diverse workforce improve patient satisfaction and care quality?
Explore actionable strategies to build and support diverse teams, and their critical role in improving healthcare delivery
Diana Horvatovic, Chief Executive Officer, St. Basil's Aged Care NSW & ACT
5:00
Chairperson’s closing remarks
5:05
Close of Forum