From Stalemate to Strategy: Hospital Funding and Discharge Pathways across Aged Care, NDIS, and Supported Living

In late 2025, negotiations between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments over Australia’s next five-year public hospital funding agreement reached a critical impasse. State and territory health ministers rejected the federal government’s revised funding proposal—valued at more than $20 billion and including targeted measures to address hospital bed block—arguing it fell short of prior commitments and was insufficient to meet escalating demand across the health system.

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At the centre of this funding deadlock is a deepening hospital discharge crisis.

Thousands of Australians, particularly older people and individuals with disability, remain in public hospital beds despite being medically ready for discharge. Inadequate access to residential aged care, supported accommodation, Specialist Disability Accommodation, and NDIS-funded supports has intensified pressure on acute services and exposed long-standing structural failures in how hospitals interface with aged care, disability, and community systems.

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This opening session will examine how the funding stalemate has crystallised systemic weaknesses in discharge planning and cross-sector integration.

Leaders from government, health administration, aged care, and the disability sector will explore the policy, economic, and operational implications of the impasse, and what it reveals about the urgent need for coordinated funding pathways and integrated discharge models.

Attendees will gain a clear national overview of the challenges facing Australia’s hospital system in 2026 and beyond, setting the foundation for the conference’s focus on practical, collaborative solutions to unblock hospital capacity and create safe, person-centred pathways from hospital to home.

Time to Think: A Western Australian Model for Compassionate Hospital-to-Aged Care Transition 

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This session will explore Western Australia’s Time to Think program, a nation-leading initiative designed to support older Western Australians who are medically ready for discharge but need additional time to make informed decisions about their long-term care and living arrangements.

The program provides dedicated short-term aged care beds across multiple providers, enabling patients to transition out of hospital with dignity while freeing up much-needed hospital capacity. Since its launch, Time to Think has already supported its first 100 patients and freed more than 1,100 hospital bed days, demonstrating measurable impact on both patient outcomes and hospital flow.

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Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how the program delivers a person-centred, compassionate approach to aged care transitions, the operational model and governance partnerships that underpin its success, and how it integrates with broader WA initiatives, including hospital-to-home pathways, community-integrated care hubs, and residential respite pilots.

The session will highlight practical lessons learned, enablers for scaling the model, and the role of targeted investment and cross-sector collaboration in reducing hospital congestion while supporting older Australians to make informed care choices.

By the end, delegates will appreciate how WA’s approach balances patient-centred care with system efficiency and provides a blueprint for sustainable, high-quality hospital-to-aged care transitions.

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Hospital discharge processes: Insights from patients, caregivers, and staff in an Australian healthcare setting

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This session will examine hospital discharge as a critical point in healthcare delivery, influencing patient outcomes, continuity of care, and hospital resource utilisation.

Drawing on qualitative research conducted in an Australian medical ward-including interviews with patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff, and structured observations - the study identified three key themes: communication, system pressure, and continuing care.

Challenges included inconsistent information sharing, gaps between hospital teams, and patient confusion regarding follow-up care. System pressures to expedite discharges, particularly during weekends or out-of-hours periods, contributed to perceptions of premature discharge and unplanned readmissions.

The findings highlight the tension between patient-centred care and service efficiency, underscoring the need for improved communication, stronger community-based support, and structured systems for tracking referrals and post-discharge care.

Delegates will gain practical insights into strategies for optimising discharge processes, enhancing patient experience, and improving safety and continuity of care.

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Hospital to Home: Supporting Mental Health Recovery through Community-Based Transition Programs

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Transitioning from hospital back into the community following a mental health-related admission can be overwhelming and challenging.

Many individuals face the risk of distress, social isolation, or readmission when the right support is not in place at the critical early stages of discharge.

This session explores evidence-informed approaches to optimising hospital-to-home transitions for people experiencing mental health challenges.

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Delegates will learn how structured, community-based support programs can assist individuals in regaining confidence, building resilience, and navigating the mental health system post-discharge. Key strategies include peer-led support, tailored follow-up contact, guidance in accessing community resources, attending appointments, and facilitating referrals to ongoing care.

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The discussion will also examine how such programs can reduce readmissions, support sustainable recovery, and enhance patient wellbeing while alleviating pressure on hospital systems.

Attendees will gain insights into practical implementation models, how to integrate transitional support within broader mental health services, and the benefits of providing timely, person-centred care that bridges hospital and community environments.

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By the end of this session, delegates will understand how targeted hospital-to-home support pathways can improve outcomes for people leaving mental health inpatient services, strengthen community reintegration, and contribute to safer, more efficient hospital operations.

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Closing the Revolving Door: How SDA Funding and NDIS Transitions influence Hospital Readmissions and flow

Across Australia, delays, changes, or interruptions in Specialist Disability Accommodation  and related NDIS housing and support funding are contributing to a growing cycle of hospital readmissions and prolonged hospital stays.

When Participants are medically ready for discharge but cannot access appropriate SDA or supported living arrangements in a timely way - due to delayed decision-making, funding adjustments, or changes in accommodation plans- they often remain in hospital beds longer than necessary or are readmitted shortly after discharge.

These repeated transitions place further strain on hospital capacity, contribute to bed block, disrupt continuity of care, and increase costs in an already stretched health system.

This session will explore how SDA funding pathways, plan reviews, and transitional support arrangements intersect with hospital discharge planning and post-discharge stability.

Delegates will gain insight into the systemic impact of delayed SDA approvals, the challenges of accommodating people with complex support needs in community settings, and the downstream effect on emergency departments, inpatient units, and discharge coordinators when housing and supports are unstable or withdrawn.
 

The discussion will also examine strategies to reduce readmissions and improve continuity of care through stronger collaboration between hospitals, NDIS providers, and housing stakeholders.

Topics will include early identification of Participants requiring SDA or supported living, streamlined transition frameworks, housing predelivery planning, and integrated care pathways that support sustained discharge outcomes rather than short-term exits.

By understanding and addressing the “revolving door” phenomenon, delegates will be better equipped to enhance hospital flow, reduce unnecessary bed occupancy, and support participants to live safely and sustainably in the community.

Support at Home 2026: Building an Integrated Hospital-to-Home Ecosystem for Older Australians

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As hospitals continue to face delayed discharges and long-stay patients, the 2026 Support at Home reforms represent a transformative opportunity to improve hospital-to-home pathways for older Australians.

This session will explore how government-set price caps, eight tailored funding classifications, and strengthened consumer protections will directly influence discharge planning, care coordination, and safe transitions from hospital to home.

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Delegates will gain insight into practical strategies for aligning hospital discharge processes with the new Support at Home framework, optimising home-based support, and reducing hospital bed block.

The session will also highlight how NDIS providers, disability services, allied health, and community support organisations can actively participate in this ecosystem, offering coordinated services that complement aged care supports and enable older Australians—and younger people with disability—to live safely and independently at home.

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Through case studies and real-world examples, Delegates will learn how cross-sector collaboration, data sharing, and integrated care models can create a seamless hospital-to-home ecosystem, enhancing patient outcomes, maintaining dignity, and improving system efficiency.

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By attending, delegates will leave with actionable insights to streamline hospital-to-home transitions, engage multi-sector partners, and implement the 2026 Support at Home reforms effectively, ensuring a sustainable and person-centred pathway from hospital care to home or community support.