Shaping the future of dementia care though personalised practice, behavioural understanding, and a culture of safety and trust
11-12 November 2025
Swissôtel, Sydney/Eora
The 2025 Aged Care Dementia Conference is now CPD Accredited. Attendees will receive 7 points per day, with a certificate immediately following the event.
.png)
Dementia is one of the most urgent challenges facing Australia’s aged care system. In 2023, over 411,000 Australians were living with dementia – a number expected to more than double by 2058. It is now the second leading cause of death in Australia, and the leading cause of death for women.
More than 50% aged care residents have dementia, yet the sector remains underprepared to meet their complex needs.
The Aged Care Dementia Conference brings together clinical leads, care managers, dementia specialists and providers to build dementia-inclusive care. Gain practical tools and strategies to lead with confidence and improve care outcomes.
With the new National Dementia Action Plan Framework due for release in mid 2025—alongside the Aged Care Act 2025 in November—now is the time to prepare for system-wide change.
Aged Care Dementia Conference | Sydney
DEMA
What challenges will we tackle together?
-
Policy, practice and reform:
Unpack the real-world implications of the National Dementia Action Plan and the Aged Care Act 2025—and how to prepare your team to meet new expectations.
-
Reframing language to empower the care environment
How do we reframe “challenging behaviours” as unmet needs, and empower our teams to respond with compassion and confidence?
-
Designing Dementia-Friendly Environments:
Discover how thoughtful design can transform aged care settings into safe, comforting, and familiar spaces.
-
Leadership and Person-Centred Care:
Explore how leaders can model and embed individualised dementia care into everyday routines.
-
Technology and Innovation:
Explore how AI, smart tools, and pain detection technologies can enhance personalised dementia care.
Our Advisory Board
Our program is developed in close collaboration with leading dementia care experts who form our advisory board. Their guidance shapes the agenda, identifies key topics and speakers, and ensures the content reflects the evolving realities of dementia care in aged care settings.
In the lead-up to the event, board members contribute critical insights, help frame key discussions, and guide the forum’s direction—ensuring it is practical, evidence-informed, and grounded in the lived experience of dementia care delivery.
Simon Pedzisi
Head of Dementia Care
Opal
Sarah Yeates
Chief Executive Officer
Caladenia Dementia Care
Cathy Strachan
Dementia & Palliative Care CNC
Whiddon
Featured Speakers
Emily Harper
First Assistant Secretary, Market and Workforce Division – Ageing and Aged Care Group
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
Kaele Stokes
Executive Director, Services, Advocacy and Research
Dementia Australia
Professor John O'Brien
Head of Old Age Psychiatry Research Group & Honorary Consultant
University of Cambridge
Deborah Karam
Chief Residential Officer
Catholic Healthcare
Simon Pedzisi
Head of Dementia Care
Opal
Kate Swaffer
Researcher, Activist, PhD Candidate
University of South Australia
Daniel Jameson
Dementia Design Lead
Hammond Care
Dr. Perminder Sachdev
Professor of Neuropsychiatry
UNSW
2025 Sponsors
REASONS TO ATTEND
This event is ideal for senior professionals from the aged care sector involved in safety, quality and risk, clinical governance, operations, nursing, people and culture, care coordination, and service management.
Learn how the National Dementia Action Plan Framework (mid-2025) and the November Aged Care Act reforms will improve person-centred dementia care and resident protections
Emily Harper, First Assistant Secretary, Market and Workforce Division – Ageing and Aged Care Group, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
Learn best-practice approaches to reduce overmedication and improve dementia-related symptom management
Simon Pedzisi, Head of Dementia Care, Opal
Gain insight into the latest research on Lewy body dementia and explore best practices for diagnosis and management
Professor John O'Brien, Head of Old Age Psychiatry Research Group & Honorary Consultant, University of Cambridge
Learn practical leadership strategies to empower staff, model best practices, and embed truly individualized care into everyday routines
Tanya Critchlow, Executive Manager Nursing and Clinical Governance, Uniting
Learn strategies for leaders and frontline teams to be empowered to reduce harm and build a culture of dignity, safety, and respect
Katrina Crump, Clinical Nurse Consultant (Dementia and gerontology), Uniting
Jodi Havill, Head of Residential Aged Care, Southern Cross Care
Deborah Karam, Chief Residential Officer, Catholic Healthcare
Learn evidence-based strategies to reduce stress, strengthen team resilience, and build a workplace culture where dementia care staff feel truly supported and valued
Sarah Yeates, Chief Executive Officer, Caladenia Dementia Care
Maree Healey, Chief of People & Culture, Warrigal
Perceive challenging behaviour as unmet needs and learn the importance of language reframing to improve care quality, empathy, and team culture in dementia support
Jillian Kidd, National Manager – Behavior and Wellbeing Support, Regis Aged Care
Jacqueline Wesson, Senior Lecturer Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Sydney School of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine & Health
Esther Westra, Executive Services, Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & Vic)
Jenny Houston, Dementia and Behaviour Support Specialist, Uniting
Ensure that long-term case spaces feel safe, familiar, and comfortable, like home
Daniel Jameson, Dementia Design Lead, Hammond Care
Leverage technology for pain detecting and implement predictive AI into detecting early signs of agitation, appetite loss, and behavioural shifts
Nadeem Ahmed, Chief Information Officer, James Milson Village
A well-run event providing a great opportunity to network with other industry professionals and share learnings, given the challenges faced are often similar regardless of location or organisation size.
Head of Organisational Capability, Bolton Clarke Group
Venue
Swissôtel | Sydney/Eora
11 - 12 November
Address: 68 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Conference Room: Baxland
Wilson Parking : 383 Kent Street Car Park
Swissôtel Sydney has partnered with Wilson Parking to offer a discounted rate of $60 per 24 hours.
How to redeem:
-
Park at Wilson Parking, 383 Kent Street
-
Collect an exit ticket from the hotel concierge to access the discounted rate
