Wrap-up: Northern Sydney Regional Forum, May 2020
Our annual Regional Forums have always provided attendees with not only a great opportunity to learn and be inspired by hearing from brilliant thought leaders, but they have always been a much-looked forward to networking opportunity – a time to step away from our office, our computers, and for some, from our clients, to get together with our other time-poor colleagues.
This year we were blindsided by Covid-19, and our usual face-to-face format was not possible. It is in crisis times that we get to see how flexible, nimble and adaptable we truly are. Covid-19 forced us to think outside the box, and hence our first online Regional Forum Webinar was born! The theme of this year’s forum was “Synergy in Aged Care.”
We received 146 registrations, with 101 individuals logging in from across the Sydney metropolitan area. We were both surprised and pleased by this response, but this shows that we as a sector are ready and prepared to take the chance to trial new service models and ways of doing business to ensure that our stakeholders and client’s needs are met.
The objective of the webinar was to assist community service providers to understand the current gaps and challenges, and the opportunities facing innovative, forward thinking organisations that are prepared to lead the way.
It gave attendees the opportunity to think about what they can start doing to enhance system sustainability and create social benefits by enabling and facilitating people to access the right care, in the right place at the right time, thereby creating a more seamless health system.
These important issues were covered by the following speakers:
SAFE, SEAMLESS & SECURE: CREATING SYNERGY BETWEEN AGED CARE & HEALTH CARE
Darrell Price – Principal, Grant Thornton Consulting
Darrell’s presentation discussed the challenges and opportunities for service providers in a complex aged care ecosystem. It also touched on the importance of language, Advanced Care Directives, Telehealth and what we have learnt from the recent Covid-19 outbreak.
INTEGRATED CARE: WHY IT SHOULD BE EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS
Cynthia Stanton – General Manager, Primary Care Advancement & Integration SNHH
Cynthia’s presentation covered the role and function of PHNs, and the importance of Integrated Care due to escalating health care costs, the ageing Australian population, the increasing complexity and multi-morbidity of patients, and the fragmented delivery systems. While Integrated Care aims to overcome fragmentation in the organisation of care, and to better co-ordinate care around people’s needs, it is not the end itself, but a means to achieve improved population health outcomes and better patient and provider.
CARER GATEWAY
Jane Meccelli – Relationships Manager, Your Side
Jane’s presentation covered the Carer Gateway – a National Carers service that includes online information and advice, phone services and face-to-face services delivered by local delivery partners. Carers can access the Carer Gateway by calling 1800 422 737 or visiting: www.carergateway.gov.au
If you missed out on attending last week’s Northern Sydney’s Regional Forum webinar, or would like to review it, you can access it by CLICKING HERE.
The webinar is recommended for all community service providers.
Rosanna Commisso
Home Support & Partnership Coordinator
rosannac@yourside.org.au