Arrival and Registration  

Welcome and Introductions 

Ongoing negotiations between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments over Australia’s public hospital funding framework have intensified scrutiny of hospital capacity constraints heading into 2026.

At the centre of these discussions is the escalating issue of hospital bed block, where patients who are medically ready for discharge remain in acute settings due to downstream system limitations.

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This includes constrained access to residential aged care, Specialist Disability Accommodation, Supported Independent Living , and broader NDIS and housing supports.

These structural gaps continue to place pressure on hospitals, creating flow-on impacts across emergency departments, inpatient wards, and elective care capacity.

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This session examines how intergovernmental funding arrangements directly influence hospital throughput and discharge efficiency, and how policy and funding misalignment contributes to system congestion.

Delegates will explore the operational reality of discharge delay, the interface between health, disability, aged care and housing systems, and emerging models designed to improve coordination and restore flow through integrated discharge pathways.

Hospital discharge is a pivotal transition point in the care journey, where outcomes are shaped not only by clinical readiness but by the strength of collaboration across health, aged care, disability, and housing systems.

This session explores the central role of hospital social workers in coordinating this complex interface and strengthening pathways that enable safe, timely, and person-centred discharge.

Hospital social workers sit at the intersection of multiple systems, working across organisational and sector boundaries to align services and support continuity of care.
They play a critical role in care coordination, risk assessment, advocacy, and discharge planning, translating complex system requirements into practical, individualised outcomes for patients, families, and carers.

The discussion will also explore the realities hospital social workers face in managing complex discharges, including the systemic barriers that arise when health services, aged care, disability supports, and housing systems are not effectively aligned.

It will highlight how effective cross-sector collaboration can reduce fragmentation, strengthen continuity of care, and improve discharge outcomes for individuals and families.

Break  

Hospital discharge delays continue to place significant pressure on acute health systems, particularly for individuals requiring disability supports or interim accommodation.

This session examines rapid response models designed to enable discharge within 24–48 hours through coordinated access to Short Term Accommodation (STA), Medium Term Accommodation (MTA), and immediate workforce deployment.

The discussion will focus on operational frameworks that enable swift mobilisation of housing and support services, while maintaining clinical safety, governance standards, and participant wellbeing. Key themes include discharge readiness protocols, funding alignment, brokerage-style service coordination, and the logistical requirements for delivering rapid, compliant transitions from hospital to community settings.

This session explores Victoria’s Pathways to Home initiative, a government-led program supporting people with disability to transition from hospital into temporary accommodation while longer-term housing and support arrangements are secured.

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The model reflects a structured, cross-sector response integrating health, housing, and disability systems to reduce delayed discharge and improve patient flow.

It highlights how coordinated referral pathways, interim accommodation solutions, and transitional supports are being used to bridge gaps between acute care and long-term community living.

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Key discussion points include eligibility pathways, system coordination between hospitals and community providers, and the role of transitional supports in reducing avoidable hospital occupancy.

Q & A  

Lunch 

Commencing in October 2026, the Australian Government’s Support at Home program -led by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing—represents a fundamental shift in how in-home care is delivered, with direct implications for hospital demand, discharge pathways, and community-based care models.

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Replacing legacy programs, Support at Home introduces a more flexible and responsive framework for delivering personal care and support services, with a strong policy focus on keeping people well at home and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

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This session explores how the reform is reshaping hospital avoidance strategies and enabling earlier discharge through expanded in-home supports, integrated care pathways, and improved service responsiveness.

It will examine how in-home care is increasingly being positioned as an extension of the health system, rather than a separate downstream service.

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Key areas include the role of in-home supports in reducing length of stay, supporting post-acute recovery, and bridging the gap between hospital and long-term care, as well as the operational implications for providers delivering services in more complex, clinically informed environments.

As Australia implements its most significant aged care reform in decades, the introduction of a strengthened Aged Care Act and the transition to Support at Home is redefining provider obligations, regulatory expectations, and service delivery models.

In this practical and insight-driven session, Lisa Baker unpacks what these reforms mean in operation - not just policy. Attendees will gain clarity on the new rights-based, person-centred framework, including strengthened Quality Standards, enhanced compliance obligations, and the transition to a single, risk-based provider registration model.

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A central focus will be the transition from existing programs—including Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)-into the new Support at Home framework. Practical guidance will be provided on maintaining continuity of care, managing participant transitions, and aligning services to the new funding and delivery structure.

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Critically, this session will explore the growing interface between the National Disability Insurance Scheme and aged care systems. As more participants transition out of the NDIS, providers must adapt to dual-system operation, evolving funding models, and differing compliance regimes.

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Key themes include governance alignment, audit readiness, workforce capability, and strategies for delivering consistent, person-centred outcomes across both systems in an increasingly integrated care environment.

As reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme continue to reshape funding decisions and eligibility in 2026, a growing number of participants with high support needs are experiencing disruption to previously approved housing pathways—including access to Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

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This has given rise to an emerging “revolving door” dynamic, where participants who have exited hospital into SDA or Supported Independent Living (SIL) arrangements are later forced to exit those settings due to funding changes, plan reassessments, or delays in approvals.

In the absence of viable alternative supports or housing, some individuals are re-presenting to hospital systems - contributing directly to bed block and system congestion.

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This session examines the downstream impact of funding uncertainty across the hospital-to-SDA pathway, including the effect on discharge planning, tenancy stability, and participant wellbeing.

It will explore how breakdowns in continuity of funding create risk not only for individuals, but also for providers, support coordinators, and SDA investors managing vacancy exposure and service sustainability.

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Key discussion areas include the interface between hospital discharge teams and NDIS planning processes, risk mitigation strategies for maintaining housing continuity, and the structural gaps that emerge when health, disability, and housing systems are not aligned.

Delegates will gain insight into emerging approaches to stabilise transitions, reduce re-admissions, and support

long-term, sustainable housing outcomes for participants with complex needs.

Break 

This session will showcase national and Victorian initiatives that are improving hospital-to-home pathways. Examples include the Pathways to Community Living Initiative (NSW), Mental Health-Housing In Reach Service (MH-HIRS), HASI and HASI Plus programs, and Victoria’s peer-led Lived Experience Residential Service in Moolap. Delegates will explore how integrated, recovery-oriented approaches reduce hospital admissions, support independence, and enhance continuity of care.

The discussion will examine strategies for hospitals, housing providers, NDIS planners, and mental health services to collaborate effectively, leverage transitional and short-term accommodation, and implement centralised discharge pathways.

Delegates will gain practical insights to reduce bed block, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen community-based care.

​As hospital systems across Victoria continue to face sustained capacity pressure in 2026, the discharge of high-acuity patients - particularly bariatric individuals with complex clinical and mobility needs - has emerged as a critical challenge in addressing bed block and improving patient flow.

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Bariatric discharge is no longer solely a clinical consideration; it requires coordinated planning across infrastructure, equipment, workforce capability, and transport logistics.

Safe transition from hospital to home or alternative care settings depends on the availability of specialised equipment, appropriate housing environments, and clinically supported care models that can be rapidly mobilised.

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This session examines how system-wide initiatives such as Health.vic’s Better at Home approach and the expansion of Hospital in the Home (HITH) are supporting earlier discharge through home-based acute care, virtual monitoring, and multidisciplinary outreach.

It will also explore the role of the Better Health Channel’s Transition Care Program (TCP) in providing short-term restorative care for patients requiring ongoing support following hospitalisation.

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Key operational challenges will be addressed, including limited availability of bariatric-capable equipment and housing, delays in home modifications, and the complexity of arranging safe non-emergency patient transport.

The session will also highlight governance considerations, including discharge responsibility timeframes, safety and environmental assessments, and the coordination required across health, aged care, and disability systems.

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Delegates will gain insight into how providers and health services are responding to these challenges through integrated discharge planning, specialised service pathways, and investment in home-based care models- ensuring safe, dignified, and timely transitions for one of the most complex patient cohorts in the hospital system.

Hospital discharge is a critical juncture in patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations such as people with disabilities, mental health conditions, and the elderly

Inadequate assessment, planning, or follow-up can result in serious harm or death, raising complex legal questions around duty of care, clinical negligence, and hospital accountability.

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This session will explore the legal implications of discharge decisions, examine Australian case law and coroner findings, and highlight best-practice strategies to safeguard patients while mitigating legal risk.

Attendees will gain insights into how hospitals, clinicians, and policymakers can ensure safe, evidence-based discharge processes that protect patients and reduce liability.

Networking and depart 

Networking and depart