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Past Agenda

DAY 1  |  Wednesday, 11 September 2024 

7:45am

Registration

8:50am

Welcome to Country

9:00am

Welcome Address from Aventedge

9:05am

Chairperson's Opening Address

Kasia Bail, Professor of Gerontological Nursing, University of Canberra

AGED CARE UPDATE

9:15am

Departmental Address: Building a highly skilled, well-rewarded and valued aged care workforce

  • Building better working conditions and higher job satisfaction for aged care workers

  • Improving training and education in aged care to deliver quality, safe care


Emily Harper, First Assistant Secretary, Market and Workforce Division, Department of Health and Aged Care

9:45am

Enhancing Aged Care with Intelligent Workforce Solutions

  • Implementing automated scheduling practices to improve resource utilisation and care quality

  • Using real-time staffing data to optimise workforce deployment and care outcomes

  • Demonstrating significant improvements in staff retention and satisfaction


Emma Hossack, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Software Industry Association

10:15am

Speed Networking: Engage in rapid-fire conversations to expand your professional contacts

10:40am

Morning Tea & Barista Coffee brought to you by Paywise

INNOVATIONS IN WORKFORCE TECHNOLOGY & AI 

11:10am

Interactive Roundtables

A: The Skills Mix BUDDY® workforce strategy to empower staff and advance high-quality care


Michael Bonner, Chief Executive Officer, Choice Aged Care


B: Streamlining Staff Deployment: Strategies for Optimising  Compliance and Reducing Agency Costs


Andrew Farmer, Chief Executive Officer, Mirus Australia


C: How can aged care providers harness international recruitment to minimise risks, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of care?


  • Preparing for the Future: International Recruitment Trends and Opportunities in Aged Care

  • Examining emerging trends in international recruitment and how they align with the evolving needs of the aged care sector. Offering insights on building strategic partnerships, leveraging technology, and staying ahead in a competitive landscape.

  • Benefits of Sponsoring Directly vs Labour Hire

  • Visa options for Aged Care

  • Enhancing Retention of International Recruits: Building Long-Term Commitment


Taylen Erickson, Founder & Director, Diligent Health


Elizabeth Miller, Workforce Solutions Manager, Diligent Health

12:20pm

Advancing Aged Care: RN Professional Development Strategies for Workforce Leaders

Dr Kasia Bail, Professor of Gerontological Nursing, University of Canberra

12:50pm

Networking Lunch  brought to you by vSure   

RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES & CHALLENGES

1:50pm

Panel: Navigating the Talent Shortage: Innovations in Recruitment

  • Creating a compelling Employee Value Proposition to attract skilled workers

  • Reshaping perceptions: Enhancing the appeal of careers in aged care for graduates, skilled workers, informal workers and volunteers

  • Unpacking recruitment struggles in remote areas

  • Education pathways into aged care


Michael Rasheed, Executive People and Culture, Southern Cross Care


Dan Sandiford, Co-founder & CEO, Groworx


Rad Popowicz, Talent Acquisition Manager – Aged Care, The Salvation Army Aged Care

2:40pm

Case Study: How IRT solved its worker shortage with pre trained international nurses and care workers - Lessons learned on how to handle large scale deployments and transform regional towns in the process

Join us in discovering the fascinating journey of how IRT, in their first year, worked with international manpower firm, Groworx Global to;

  • Pre-train offshore and deploy over 150+ floor ready Filipino nurses and care workers across 18 sites

  • Work with Government to build concessions and which led to the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)

  • Realise slashed agency fees and an enviable worker retention rate over 98% all while creating a sustainable care capability for the communities it serves.


Dan Sandiford, Co-founder & CEO, Groworx


Tania Tsiamis, Senior Leader & General Manager, IRT Group

3:00pm

Attracting and retaining employees in the Aged Care sector: What can we do differently to increase desirability of the sector

  • What methods can we use to effectively attract new employees to the sector?

  • How can we encourage retention across the Aged Care sector?


Sharon Blackburn CBE, Executive Director, Ballycara

3:10pm

Afternoon Tea

TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3:40pm

Creating effective succession plans to develop, upskill and retain workers

  • Creating a psychologically safe and supportive learning and working environment

  • Encouraging long-term commitment to aged care by showcasing career progression opportunities

  • How can we effectively reduce time off-floor during training?

  • Collaborating with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to enhance the skills of workers while ensuring their continued engagement as substantive staff members


Cher Lopresti, Executive Manager People & Culture, ACH Group

4:10pm

Panel: Implementing outcomes from FWC findings and their impact on direct and indirect Aged Care workforces

  • How will the increase in pay for direct and indirect carers impact the aged care sector?

  • Mitigating the financial risks associated with an increased staff requirement

  • Developing workforce strategies to ensure an appropriate distribution of health professionals and care workers in rural, regional, and remote Australia

  • How can providers use FWC findings to drive positive and effective change within the sector?


Dr Anat Hassner, Chief People and Strategy Officer, Uniting NSW.ACT


Maree Healey, Chief People & Culture Officer, Warrigal


Cameron McPherson, Chief Executive Officer, Medical and Aged Care Group


Tamara Paton, Senior Executive Officer, Vasey RSL Care

5:00pm

Chairperson's Closing Remarks

5:10pm

Networking Drinks

DAY 2  |  Thursday, 12 September 2024 

WORKFORCE RETENTION & ENGAGEMENT

9:05am

Chairperson's Opening Address

Professor Christopher Poulos, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales

9:15am

Case Study: Building an Aged Care Workforce with Longevity

  • How can showcasing talent and creating opportunities for growth foster interdepartmental collaboration, enhance staff confidence, and increase staff retention?

  • Developing staff leadership skills through an inclusive team-based management structure

  • Highlighting the ongoing impact of an experiential learning program and unpacking key learnings


Stephen Becsi OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Care


Sue Jauncey, Chief of Culture, Apollo Care

9:55am

Case Study: Innovating Aged Care: How Infinite Aged Care Empowers Their Workforce to Meet Evolving Demands

  • How can Aged Care workforces better cater to the changing needs of Australians in Residential care?

  • What challenges do providers face in supporting and preparing their workforce for changing demographics?

  • How can providers use technology to better support staff through ongoing regulatory and policy changes?


Rebecca Pacey, Chief People and Transformation Officer, Infinite Aged Care

10:30am

Morning Tea & Barista Coffee brought to you by Paywise

MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

11:00am

Panel: Fostering Mental Health and Wellbeing through workload management and stress-reduction strategies – making the Aged Care a sector where people want to come to work

  • How have the Fair Work Commission Findings impacted the wellbeing and mental health of Aged Care Workers?

  • Addressing communication, recognition, and inclusive practices to create a supportive workplace

  • Creating a culture that destigmatises mental health discussions and encourages open dialogue


Moderator: Professor Christopher Poulos, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales


Cara Williams, Head of Safety & Wellbeing, Bolton Clarke


Arianna Mason, General Manager of People, Culture and Strategy, Fresh Hope Communities


Dirk Tulp, Head of People and Culture, CraigCare

12:00pm

Supportive Approaches: Nurturing Staff Well-Being Amidst Death and Trauma in Aged Care

  • Strategies for cultivating a workplace culture that values empathy, understanding and mutual support

  • Unpacking the diverse ways individuals cope with traumatic situations

  • Providing guidance on effective self-care practices for staff and the importance of recognising and addressing one’s own emotional well-being


Stephen Thomas, Chief People Officer, Amana Living

12:40pm

Networking Lunch

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

1:40pm

Sourcing and attracting foreign labour to meet staff shortages

  • How can sourcing overseas workers help to enhance workforce capabilities?

  • What are the challenges and considerations needed when sourcing foreign labour?

  • What are the benefits to a culturally diverse workforce?


Sara Allotta, Group International Sourcing Manager, Bolton Clarke

2:10pm

Panel: Ensuring ethical aged care recruitment in creating diverse and inclusive workforces

  • What strategies can providers use to address the shortage of workers in the aged care sector while maintaining ethical recruitment standards?

  • Realising improved CALD care outcomes

  • Identifying barriers and challenges to diversity and inclusion in the aged care workforce, and mitigating unconscious bias in recruitment, training, and daily interactions


Lucy Murphy, Executive Manager – People, Culture, Quality and Change, Annecto


Gavin Mackey, Executive Manager, First Nations Strategy and Outcomes, Uniting


Dr Rosy Walia GAICD, Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Care

3:00pm

Embedding Cultural Safety in First Nations Aged Care

  • The importance of trauma-informed approaches in aged care for First Nations people

  • Delivering culturally-safe pathways and access to aged care

  • Fostering open communication and continuous respect of First Nations perspectives


Jarin Baigent, Chief Executive Officer, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care


Auntie Norma Ingram, Chairperson, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care

3:30pm

Afternoon Tea

FUTURE WORKFORCE PLANNING

4:00pm

Case Study: Strategic Workforce Expansion: Embracing Innovative Recruitment and Training Solutions in Aged Care

  • Exploring the role of structured traineeship programmes in developing skilled, committed staff for the future of aged care.

  • Understanding how labour agreements can be leveraged to attract and retain skilled professionals

  • Efficient strategies for international recruitment


Jessica Morrissey, National Manager Talent Solutions, Calvary Health Care

4:25pm

Panel: Effective strategies for sourcing talent and building sustainable regional and remote workforces

  • How can providers encourage rural and remote recruitment and work through effective education and training programs?

  • How can “fly-in, fly-out” strategies and financial incentives help to minimise costly agency reliance and build committed in-house workforces?

  • What rostering changes could help to ease staff shortages and provide better compliance with new policies and legislation?


Graeme Sloane, Chief Executive Officer, Adina Care


Robert Peoples, Senior Educator, South West Tafe

5:05pm

Chairperson's Closing Remarks

5:15pm

Close of Forum

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