Anita Westera
President Australian Association of GerontologyAnita Westera is President of the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG). A self-described “political gerontologist,” Anita acknowledges the interaction between public administration reforms and the development/implementation of policies and programs that impact older people, including the need to strengthen the nexus between research, policy and practice. She is an academic, registered nurse and former adviser to the Commonwealth and NSW Governments and NSW Parliament.
Ageing Transformation, March 11
10:10 AM Keynote Panel Discussion: The Next Frontier of Aged Care: How to Meet the Needs of a New Generation at Home and Beyond
Australia’s aged care sector is undergoing a fundamental shift as a new generation of older people demand greater choice, independence, and quality in how and where they age. With rising expectations for in-home care and personalised services, providers must rethink traditional models and redefine value. Transformation requires more than compliance, it calls for bold organisational strategy, honest reflection on past shortcomings, and a renewed commitment to delivering flexible, human-centred care that truly meets people where they are.
- Reimagining organisational strategy to align with shifting consumer expectations for autonomy, home-based care, and service personalisation
- Identifying and addressing systemic shortcomings that lead to service gaps, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational risk
- Adopting flexible, scalable service models that support care delivery across diverse home and community settings
- Building trust and long-term engagement through transparent communication, values-driven leadership, and continuous service improvement
Community Seminars, March 11
12:30 PM Evidence-Based Policy for Older People’s Health
We all know Australia’s health and aged care systems face increasing challenges to provide quick and effective support for our ageing population. There’s consensus that policies and programs supporting older people, along with their services, should be grounded in solid evidence. However, as shown by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety - and ongoing media reports – evidence often isn’t effectively translated into practice. How can we do better?
For over six decades, the Australian Association of Gerontology has been bringing together research, policy and practice to improve the lives of older people. This presentation will provide an overview of the current evidence available to support the development of evidence-based policy and programs, and the barriers that impact implementation into practice. Importantly, it also highlights the benefits and opportunities that arise for older people, the health and aged care services that support them, as well as the community more generally, when evidence-based healthy ageing initiatives are promoted.
Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Anita.
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