Australia’s largest ever aged care conference gets underway in Adelaide

Australia’s largest ever aged care conference gets underway tomorrow with almost 2,000 delegates eagerly descending on Adelaide, heralding an ‘age of change’ for a sector charged with caring for older people across the country.

Running from October 25-27, the Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) National Conference will bring together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries, to embrace a future of transformation, striving to better the lives of older Australians and build a sector that we can all be proud of.

“Aged care in Australia is at a crossroads, which brings hope for a brighter future alongside sweeping reforms. Some reforms will be easy and some will be hard. The sheer scale of this conference shows that the broader sector is committed to learning from each other and delivering the aged care we all want to see for older Australians,” ACCPA CEO Tom Symondson said.

“Keeping abreast of developments including leading ideas for care of older Australians, will be the key to future success in this age of change.”

A highlight of the conference will be the appearance of Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, and a panel discussion on the future sustainability of the sector, featuring members of the Australian Government’s Aged Care Financial Sustainability Taskforce.

“Aged care’s single greatest challenge is sustainability, both right now and into the future. As the population ages, demand for aged care will spiral and we need to be ready. We need to make sure our sector is fit for purpose now but also engineered for tomorrow,” Mr Symondson said.

“The ACCPA National Conference is a way for leaders from across the nation, many of whom work at the coalface, to help shape the future of aged care. It’s also an opportunity to learn and share innovations.

“It’s a chance to connect with like-minded industry professionals, interact with suppliers and explore opportunities to create partnerships.”

There will be dozens of sessions, covering governance, leadership, digital solutions, finance, retirement communities, seniors housing, care models, cutting-edge technologies, funding, workforce solutions, critical strategic priorities, and the sector’s long-term viability.

Walkley Award winning journalist Tony Jones will act as Master of Ceremonies. The familiar face of the ABC’s Q&A and Lateline, brings more than 20 years of experience, and a reputation as a master facilitator of thought-provoking engagement.

Celebrated actor, radio presenter and philanthropist Samuel Johnson OAM, will be the Opening Keynote Speaker. Samuel has won AFI and Logie Awards for his roles in ‘The Secret Life of Us’ and ‘Molly’ and he’s both admired and respected for his charity ‘Love Your Sister’.

Another highlight will be the appearance of renowned demographer and futurist, Bernard Salt, outlining the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.

For tickets and to view the program please head to https://conference.accpa.asn.au/ or email . We look forward to seeing you at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 25-27 October for ‘The Age of Change’.

Media contact: Peter O’Dempsey 0499 106 957 or