At LEADERS SUMMIT 2024, delegates heard from innovative and successful leaders who shared their insights, ranging from the delivery of home care at scale, operating regional aged care sustainably, and how to get government to listen.
Chris Baynes CEO DCM opened with a presentation on Leadership and Responsibility.
Anika Wells Aged Care Minister contributed a video presentation, in which she thanks those who consulted with the "hugely important" Aged Care Taskforce and said the Government is still going through feedback, which will be factored into the new Aged Care Act they will bring to parliament.
Mike Baird CEO HammondCare and former NSW Premier, although stepping down from his aged care role later this year, said reforms are needed to ensure the sector can access the $35 billion it needs in capital investment by 2030 to build new aged care beds. Mike said there are opportunities now, while the government is listening, but the key thing in aged care is the "powerful" and "life changing" power of care, which will attract people to work in the sector. There was barely a dry eye in the conference room when he told the story of resident Judy, and the care she received at the end of her life. It's the reason they do what they do, Mike said.
Tom Symondson CEO of ACCPA reminded the audience this was the second time he had presented at Leaders Summit, and the first time was when he first started in the role. "I'm a little bit more bruised. I've got a few more scars than I had when I started, and I think I'm a bit more realistic about where we are and where we're going," he said. But he said the conversation has changed during his tenure, and today there is far more consensus and media attention on finding solutions to the problems in the sector. He said the sector needs to keep delivering a consistent message in a constructive and positive way, and retirement living is part of the conversation and under ACCPA's remit.
Simon Miller CEO Anglicare told delegates aged care reforms have come "too late" and the sector will not be able to build enough residential beds to meet rising demand, and consumer demand and need is changing. Anglicare is building more villages and putting care, restaurants, clubs, and gyms into them. "We are effectively creating wellness campuses with embedded care where people can be as independent as they want or as dependent as they need", he said. They are experimenting with two models - one in Botany Bay in southern Sydney and one in lower-socio-economic western Sydney, where there will be community housing as well. Lessons learnt from the one-year trial, will be adapted and then rolled out more broadly.
Grant Corderoy Senior Partner StewartBrown said there was real optimism in the room. He said the government created the Taskforce in recognition of the fact that the sector was underfunded and was prepared to listen to Taskforce members. He said while the recommendations are important, the real detail will be in what is enshrined in Government policy. After Grant spoke, Rachel Argamon CEO Opal Healthcare, stood up and thanked Grant for his enormous contribution in getting a workable solution for the sector through the Taskforce.
Ian Yates Acting Inspector-General of Aged Care listed 10 problems that are not being addressed in the current aged care reforms.
Penelope Eden Partner MinterEllison and Deanna McMaster Partner MinterEllison spoke on the implications of the new Aged Care Act for retirement living and aged care operators - including the inclusion of retirement villages in the Aged Care Act for the first time.
Darren Gossling CEO and Managing Partner Rohling International discussed the main IT challenges facing both large and small providers.
On day two, Mark Bindon Founder Oak Tree Villages shared that after building up a business of 34 retirement villages over 20 years, he has learnt that successful operations start with a board that understands its customers. He supported the idea of new homes reaching a higher-end customer to meet the higher cost of construction.
Stephen Becsi CEO Apollo Care told delegates regional aged care operators are in "massive pain". Apollo now has 11 aged care homes, and parachutes their expertise in. Their systems are 'in the cloud' and branding does not change after a takeover to maintain community ties. Apollo Care has capital works of more than $50 million on their current stock.
Prue Bowden CEO Home Health with Australian Unity, which has just acquired MyHomeCare to create a home care behemoth, said they have more than 50 staff working on transformation, which is costing them up to $30 million. They are breaking away from the traditional home care model, with a focus on wellness and multidisciplinary teams. Scale will enable Australian Unity to build its capabilities.
Richard de Haast CEO Scalabrini Villages said it's an "exciting time" to be in aged care because the sector is "fundamentally altering what the future looks like". Scalabrini is focusing on products and services, not capital intensive property.
A panel from the Commonwealth Bank - including Brian Wong Executive Manager CommBank Health - National, Belinda Hegarty Executive Manager Commercial Banking Health – NSW, Scott Meredith Relationship Executive Major Client Group – QLD, Kate McKendrick Relationship Executive Commercial Banking Health – VIC, and Andrew Dunjey Relationship Executive Commercial Banking Health – WA - discussed the funding appetite for aged care, retirement living, and land lease in a rapidly changing environment.
Tamar Krebs, Founder and Executive Director Group Homes Australia, which has been credited with having the greatest dementia care model in the world, explained how she disrupted the industry by raising capital, charging fees of up to $230,000 per annum, and building homes in the community for six to 10 residents. NDIS and home care packages can go towards the fees, which can be paid as lump sums or co-contributions to suit the consumer.
Noral Wild International Direct Head of Alternatives - Asia Pacific Cushman & Wakefield said there is good interest in investing in retirement living and land lease communities, but aged care is more difficult to attract attention to because of the administrative difficulties. Cushman & Wakefield forecasts 6,300 units per annum will be required to keep up with demand for the ageing population - a position the sector is "nowhere near" providing.
In a highly entertaining discussion, Simon Miller and Christopher Pyne Chair Council on the Ageing (COTA) Partner Pyne & Parnters and former Minister for Ageing, discussed 'how Canberra works'. Christopher said the media is essential to getting your message out and it's important to engage with them. He said people who want to pay more for aged care should be able to - and providers shouldn't be "straightjacketed" so they can't do that.
The conference closed with Ross Humphreys Direct Glenbridge who is a proponent of retirement communities in high rise strata apartment developments.
