Health and Aged Care Symposium

Everyone has the right to make decisions about their life, the care and services they receive and the risks they are willing to take including people living with dementia or other cognitive conditions. Some people may want or need support in making certain types of decisions. This is called supported decision-making (OPAN 2025 https://opan.org.au/toolkit/supported-decision-making/).

In December, Adelaide PHN was proud to present the 4th Health and Aged Care Symposium in partnership with the Department of Health and Aged Care, SA Health and Country SA PHN. 

Over 200 participants from across primary, tertiary, aged and community care sectors joined online for a 2 hour symposium focussed on supportive decision making for older people. 

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified the importance of supported decision-making to ensure people have control and choice over their own life and care. The new Aged Care Act (1 July 2025) will respond to this with a legal framework to help protect the autonomy of older people through a supported-making model. 

We welcomed industry and academic speakers to share their knowledge and local South Australian resources available to support clinicians and workers in health and aged care. Speakers shared information on supported decision-making practice, what good practice looks like and how to work with older people to maintain their independence through the process. Participants had the opportunity to pose key questions and real life scenarios and hear from the panel 

Feedback from participants: 

• I had basic understanding of supported decision making- this symposium has advanced my knowledge
• A reminder to engage in thorough consultation with our elderly patients to seek an in-depth understanding of the person's story and wishes.
• How to support and looking at what is needed to make clients feel as supported as possible
• There is help out there and we can get information in different ways.

Initiated in 2023, the symposiums have sought to bring together clinicians, operational managers and team members from health and aged care sectors to support cross sector knowledge transfer for better outcomes. Adelaide PHN looks forward to working partner  with our Symposium partner’s, Department of Health and Aged Care, SA Health and Country SA PHN, to continuing to support our colleagues across health and aged care with future Health and Aged Care Symposiums. . 

Missed the event? – Access recording: Health and Aged Care Interface Symposium - Supported Decision Making

Below are the names of all presenters.