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VHA 2025 Conference
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The VHA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of unceded lands throughout Australia.
We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Our offices are located on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people.

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Day 1
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Day 2
Wednesday, 29 October 2025

7:30 am - 8:45 am - 29 October 2025

Registration and coffee

Session - Exhibition - Foyer

7:30 am - 8:30 am - 29 October 2025

VHA Member CEO Breakfast

Session - Exhibition

7:30 am

Member CEO Breakfast
The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas - Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services - Victorian Government
Esteemed speaker the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services joins our Member CEO Breakfast.

8:45 am - 10:15 am - 29 October 2025

Session 6: Opening and keynote

Session - Presentation - Grand Ballroom

8:45 am

Day 2 Opening
Opening: Dr Leigh Clarke, CEO Victorian Healthcare Association 

9:00 am

Panel: Consumer voice
Kym Arthur - Executive Director of Population, Women’s Health and Strategy - Victorian Government Department of Health, Lisa Robins - Chief Executive Officer - Patients Australia, Mackala Ines-Rose Cornelius - Lived Experience Panellist
Lived experience of medical misogyny in healthcare

9:30 am

Keynote address
Dr Helen Bevan OBE - Professor of Practice in Health and Care Improvement - University of Warwick
Lighting the way: leadership in health reform 

10:15 am - 11:00 am - 29 October 2025

Morning tea

Session - Exhibition - Sofi's Lounge

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - 29 October 2025

Session 7: Concurrent sessions

Session - Presentation - Sydney - Brisbane - Perth

11:00 am

Navigating health systems: The imperative of cultural safety
Sheree Lowe - Executive Director SEWB, The Balit Durn Durn Centre and Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing - VACCHO, Nicole McCartney - Victorian Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser - Department of Health, Andrea Sloane - Director Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion - Bendigo Health , Jessica Payne - First Nations Health Advisor / Registered Nurse - Grampians Health
Room: Perth

11:00 am

A panel on shaping excellence in care: Leading clinical governance for quality and safety
Louise McKinlay - Chief Executive Officer - Safer Care Victoria, Michael Gorton AM - Board Chair - Monash Health, Prof. Christine Kilpatrick AO - Chair - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care | ACSQHC | Royal Children's Hospital | Healthdirect Australia , Dr Anand Ponniraivan - Chair - RACMA Victorian Jurisdictional Committee
Room: Sydney

11:00 am

Future-proofing health: Evidence-based policies driving preventative care
Prof. Mark Stoove - Head of Public Health - Burnet Institute, Rita Butera - CEO - BreastScreen Victoria, Prof. Anna Peeters AM, PhD - CEO - VicHealth, Elizabeth Sinclair - CEO - Yea and District Memorial Hospital
Room: Brisbane

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - 29 October 2025

Session 8: Concurrent sessions

Session - Presentation - Brisbane - Perth - Sydney

12:00 pm

A strong regional and rural workforce: Innovating funding, skills and systems to meet the challenge
Dr Sue Harrison - Board Member - Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Peter Breadon - Health Program Director - Grattan Institute, Emma King OAM - CEO - Humanability Pty Ltd
Room: Perth

12:00 pm

Patient engagement in action: Leading practices, inspiring examples, and pathways for success
Prof. Kirsten McCaffery - Director of Policy and Prevention - The University of Sydney, Alix Candy - Director, People & Patient Experience, Jan Milliken - Lake Colac Bush Nursing Centre , Rachel Fuller - Manager, The Family & Child Hub - Sunraysia Community Health Services
Room: Sydney

12:00 pm

Insights from the experts: Primary Care reform
Dr Stephen Duckett AM - Honorary Professor - University of Melbourne, Leanne Wells - Associate Consultant - Prestantia Health, Mia Dhillon - General Manager - APNA
Room: Brisbane

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm - 29 October 2025

Lunch

Session - Exhibition - Sofi's Lounge

1:45 pm - 3:00 pm - 29 October 2025

Session 9: Masterclass

Session - Presentation - Grand Ballroom

Lighting deep change
Dr Helen Bevan OBE - Professor of Practice in Health and Care Improvement - University of Warwick
Leading transformational change in healthcare systems

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm - 29 October 2025

Conference close

Session - Presentation - Grand Ballroom
Close: Prof. Sue Matthews, Chair, Victorian Healthcare Association | Chief Executive Officer, The Royal Women’s Hospital 

The VHA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of unceded lands throughout Australia.
We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Our offices are located on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people.