See our Day Hospitals Australia National Conference 2026 program below.
Day 1 - WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2026
The Day Hospitals Australia Conference always provides a broad program of professional opportunities to delegates, including optional site visits on Wednesday before the Conference begins.
Site visits are a great opportunity for delegates to tour another facility, and take practical ideas back to your own workplaces.
Registrations open at 12pm
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Join us to kick start the Conference with a delicious lunch in the exhibition hall, before we begin presentations at 1:30pm on Wednesday 26 August 2026.
When: Wednesday 26 August 2026 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Where: Trade Exhibition Area, Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Cost: Included in full conference registration
Dress: Smart casual or business
Presentations begin at 1:45pm
Jane Griffiths (BAppSc (Dist), MCNA, AIMM, RN) was appointed to the inaugural CEO position of Day Hospitals Australia on 1 July 2014. Previously she was the Day Hospitals Australia President from 2010 to 30 June 2014 and served on the Board of Directors and the former Management Committee of Day Hospitals Australia since 2008.
Prior to this, she was the Business Manager/DON of Perth Dermatology Clinic and conducted JG Consulting. Prior to that Jane was the Business Manager of The Women’s Clinic Day Hospital for 7½ years, McCourt Street Day Surgery for 7 years and Nursing Coordinator, Perioperative Services at St John of God Hospital Subiaco for 10 years. Whilst a Senior Nursing Executive at St John of God, Subiaco Jane was sent on 7-week sabbatical to the USA in 1997 to explore latest trends in same day surgery visiting California, Illinois, & Pennsylvania.
In 2021 Jane was appointed as one of the three Australian representatives on the International Association of Ambulatory Surgery (IAAS) General Assembly.
Jane is passionate about same day surgery and care.
Mega trends in Health. How are oranisations responding and what does it look like to collaborate with insurers?
Healthcare is undergoing significant change, creating new opportunities to rethink how care is delivered, funded and experienced.
In this keynote session, David Worldon will explore the health megatrends shaping the sector and what meaningful collaboration between healthcare providers and insurers can look like. Centred on the principles of right care, right setting and right incentives, the discussion will consider how the DHA Reform Blueprint provides an important foundation for future-focused reform.
David Worldon
Award-winning author & host of the Innovation Insider podcast. Founder & Principal, Accelerated Innovation
Founder and Principal of Accelerated Innovation, David is a recognised healthcare and private health insurance strategist specialising in innovation, future trends and insurer-provider collaboration.
He has worked with Bupa, HCF, nib, CBHS, Police Health and other insurers, helping leadership teams navigate complexity and turn strategy into practical action. He is also the creator of the Innovation COMPASS™ and PHI FACTORS™ frameworks, author of industry innovation reports, and host of the Innovation Insider podcast.
Employment Law Essentials for Hospitals
Hear Warwick and Sophie explore how to stay ahead of the latest workplace challenges in healthcare.
Warwick Ryan
Employment Law Partner at Hicksons Lawyers
Warwick is a recognised specialist in employment law and workplace relations, with extensive experience advising businesses on workforce management, compliance and complex employment matters.
He is a member of Hicksons’ Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety team and is also the lecturer for Employment Law in the Master’s Program at the University of New South Wales Business School. Warwick provides practical, commercially focused guidance across areas including workplace relations, employee management, restructuring, contractor arrangements, underpayments, and managing ill or injured workers.
Sophie McCowan
Executive Counsel at Service Industry Advisory Group
Sophie McCowan is Executive Counsel with SIAG Legal, and has spent almost 30 years helping employers navigate challenging workplace issues. She works predominantly with health services, aged care providers and not-for-profit organisations, advising on everything from compliance and workplace investigations to disciplinary processes, and employment litigation including unfair dismissal and general protections claims.Sophie is known for translating complex employment laws into practical, common-sense advice that clients can confidently apply in the workplace. Drawing on her extensive experience, she brings practical strategies that help organisations reduce risk while managing their people fairly and effectively.
Q&A facilitated by Dr Andrew Rochford
Join us for Happy Hour at our Evening Reception, a dedicated networking event for delegates, exhibitors, and presenters. This relaxed gathering offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, engage with suppliers, and forge new business relationships.
Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere in the Exhibition Hall, where light canapés and beverages will be served.
When: Wednesday 26 August 2026 – 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Where: Trade Exhibition Hall, Adelaide Convention Centre
Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets available to purchase.
Dress: Smart casual / business attire
Day 2 - THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2026
From Elite Sport to Healthcare Leadership: Lessons in Performance, Purpose and Resilience
In this engaging keynote, Dr Paulo Maestro will explore what it takes to perform, lead and collaborate at the highest level, especially during periods of change and challenge.
Through the lens of full engagement, resilience and human potential, this session will challenge delegates to consider how they can strengthen themselves, their teams and their organisations for the future.
Dr Paulo Maestro
Drawing on more than 30 years’ experience working with elite athletes, coaches, executives and organisations around the world, Paulo will share insights into the mindset, behaviours and conditions that help individuals and teams achieve sustained success.
Delegates are invited to join our sponsors and exhibitors for morning tea in the Exhibition Hall
Keynote – Brian Kelleher, Assistant Secretary Private Hospitals Branch, Department of Health, Disability & Ageing will present on Private Health System Reform – Prioritising the interests of patients in a challenging operating environment for hospitals.
This session will end with a panel discussion facilitated by Tim Traill, MD of Hobart Eye Surgeons
- Brian Kelleher, Department of Health, Disability & Ageing
- A.Prof the Hon Anthony Lynham AO – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Nick Bailey – Senior Executive Healthcare Funding & Policy, Medibank
Delegates are invited to join our sponsors and exhibitors for lunch in the Exhibition Hall
Innovations in Clinical Care
Lauren Whiting, Founder & CEO of Lift Cancer Care will explore the latest Innovations transforming cancer care.
Lauren Whiting is Co-Founder and CEO of Lift Cancer Care Services and an oncology physiotherapist with a special interest in the use of exercise as part of cancer treatment and care. After identifying a gap in service delivery for people with cancer through her clinical work, Lauren co-founded Lift Cancer Care Services in 2018.
Lauren now leads the continued growth of Lift and its multidisciplinary model of cancer care. She has been recognised as a South Australian 40 Under 40 emerging business leader and a finalist in the Telstra Best in Business Awards, and is passionate about expanding access to innovative cancer care and improving outcomes for people diagnosed with cancer.
A/Prof William Tam, Head of Department, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital will discuss artificial intelligent applications in endoscopy.
A/Prof William Tam is Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and holds an academic appointment at the University of Adelaide. A highly experienced gastroenterologist, he has undertaken advanced international training in endoscopic imaging and minimally invasive therapeutic endoscopy in Tokyo, Amsterdam and London.
His clinical and research interests include gastrointestinal malignancies, endoscopic imaging and interventional endoscopy, with a strong focus on improving quality and safety in clinical practice. A/Prof Tam is a past Chair of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia’s Endoscopy Faculty and former President of the Australian Medical Association (South Australia).
Q&A facilitated by Dr Andrew Rochford.
Strengthening Your Workforce: Recruitment, Recognition, Reward & Retention
Matthew McInnes, Partner, OCM Advisory
Building the kind of workplace people choose
Day hospitals are drawing from the same talent pool as larger public and private health providers while managing rising costs, growing operational demands and increasing expectations for sustainability.
Drawing on more than 30 years of health leadership experience and his work supporting organisations across the health sector, Matthew McInnes will explore what leaders can do to create workplaces people choose to join, contribute to and stay in.
Much of Matthew’s career involved leading allied health, community and intermediate care services where attracting and retaining skilled professionals often depended on more than remuneration alone. More recently, he has worked alongside health organisations across Australia facing many of the same workforce, operational and sustainability challenges confronting leaders today.
This session shares practical observations about the organisational factors leaders can influence every day and what consistently appears to make the greatest difference in attraction, engagement and retention in practice.
Matthew McInnes
Partner, OCM Advisory
Matthew McInnes is a Partner at OCM and leads the firm’s Strategy & People practice. With more than 30 years of experience across health and human services, he has led services, multidisciplinary teams and organisational improvement initiatives through periods of significant workforce, operational and system pressure.
His leadership experience included allied health, community and intermediate care services where attracting and retaining skilled professionals often depended on factors beyond remuneration alone, including leadership, culture, flexibility, professional opportunity and purpose.
Today he works alongside boards, executives and leadership teams across Australia to improve organisational performance, strengthen leadership capability and translate strategy into practical action, and measurable impact.
Drawing on both operational leadership experience and his work supporting organisations across the health sector, Matthew has developed a particular interest in the organisational conditions that help people and organisations perform well together. He brings a practical perspective on creating workplaces where people want to contribute, grow and stay, and on the role those conditions play in organisational performance and sustainability.
Jo Farrugia
Chief People & Culture Officer, Nexus Hospitals
Jo Farrugia is the Chief People & Culture Officer at Nexus Hospitals, one of Australia’s leading day hospital groups. With more than 20 years’ experience leading people, culture and transformation across healthcare, financial services, and other regulated industries, she has built a reputation for driving workforce engagement, organisational performance and sustainable cultural change.
Jo is passionate about creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported and inspired to do their best work.
Q&A facilitated by Dr David Badov, Founder of Healthscreen & Direct Endoscopy.
Delegates are invited to join our sponsors and exhibitors for afternoon tea in the Exhibition Hall
Clinical Advances impacting Day Hospitals
Evolution of Short-Stay Arthroplasty: Implementing an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway
Jane McClennan
General Manager/Director of Nursing, Nexus Hospitals
Jane McLennan shares Pacific Private Hospital’s experience implementing an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway for elective arthroplasty, supporting the transition from traditional inpatient care to short-stay and same-day discharge.
Drawing on two years of implementation, Jane explores the multidisciplinary approach, patient preparation and clinical practices that have enabled earlier mobilisation and safe recovery at home, while delivering positive patient outcomes and satisfaction.
The session will also consider the importance of funding models keeping pace with evidence-based models of care.
Jane McClennan
General Manager/Director of Nursing, Nexus Hospitals
Jane McLennan is General Manager of Pacific Private Hospital on the Gold Coast, with more than 30 years’ experience across day surgery, perioperative services, healthcare quality and senior hospital leadership.
Jane has led the development and commissioning of five day hospital healthcare organisations and held senior roles including CEO, Director of Nursing and Director of Clinical Services. She is also the Queensland Chapter Chair and serves on the National Procedure Banding Committee. Jane is passionate about innovative models of care and the growing role of day and short-stay facilities in delivering safe, efficient and patient-centred healthcare.
Dr Elizabeth Jackson MBBS, FRANZCOG, MMIS, MReproMed
President of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG)
An all-round women’s health specialist, Dr Elizabeth Jackson is an obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist who has been practicing in Cairns since 2015. After graduating from medical school at Monash University, Dr Liz trained in hospitals throughout Australia to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She has additional specialist skills in fertility medicine and minimally invasive operative surgery with master’s Degrees in both of these fields.
Q&A facilitated by Dr Andrew Rochford.
Pricing & Positioning Your Hospital for Public Work
Marc Monsell
Operations Director, Nexus Hospitals
Marc brings more than 20 years of experience across public and private hospitals, with extensive operational knowledge and a strong focus on delivering high-quality patient care.
As Operations Director for the Eastern Region, Marc works across hospital teams to share best practice, strengthen performance and improve the experience of both patients and staff. His leadership approach centres on collaboration, clear communication and ensuring care is responsive to the individual needs of patients.
Outside of work, Marc enjoys an active lifestyle and is currently training for the Sydney Marathon.
Ed Butler
Director, PulseBridge Consulting
From Estimates to Evidence: Costing Procedures with the Right Tools
The Australian Hospital Patient Costing Standards (AHPCS) provide a nationally recognised framework for patient-level costing, but it is underutilised in private hospitals. This session examines how private day hospital operators of any size can use the AHPCS methodology to produce defensible, patient-level cost evidence that helps them understand the true cost of delivering patient care and ensures there are no surprises during negotiations.
Ed Butler
Director, PulseBridge Consulting
Ed Butler has spent more than two decades working in private healthcare with some of Australia’s leading organisations. Through PulseBridge Consulting, he now works independently with private hospitals and day surgeries on complex commercial, contractual, operational, and revenue challenges.
Over the last fifteen years, Ed has worked on both sides of the hospital-insurer relationship, bringing a balanced perspective on contract negotiation and management.
He is a Faculty Advisor to the Australian Institute of Health Executives and a former member of the Australian Private Hospitals Association Council.
Q&A facilitated by Rodney Fox, Day Hospitals Australia Director.
Join us at The National Wine Centre for the 2026 Conference Dinner
The National Wine Centre of Australia, located in Adelaide, is a prestigious institution dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the country’s rich wine heritage. It serves as a hub for wine education, tourism, and appreciation, offering a captivating experience for visitors. The Centre boasts a state-of-the-art Wine Discovery Journey, where guests can explore interactive exhibits, engage in sensory tastings, and immerse themselves in the world of winemaking.
When: Thursday 27 August 2026 – 6:45pm – 10pm
Where: National Wine Centre, Corner of Hackney Rd &, Botanic Rd, SA 5000
Cost: Included in full conference registration. Additional tickets available to purchase
Dress: Cocktail
Getting there: Free tram or comfortable walk
Day 3 - FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2026
The registration desk and main exhibition hall will be open from 8:30am to 11:15am
Join our sponsors and exhibitors from 8:30am for Tea, coffee & light breakfast snacks in the Exhibition Hall
Presentations begin at 9:00am in the Ballroom
Priscilla Guy
CEO & Director of Nursing, Monash House Private Hospital
With more than 30 years’ experience in nursing, perioperative services and healthcare leadership, Priscilla brings extensive expertise in clinical governance, hospital operations and strategic growth.
As CEO and Director of Nursing at Monash House Private Hospital, Priscilla leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, high-quality patient care while supporting innovation, service development and organisational performance.
Passionate about developing future healthcare leaders, Priscilla is committed to building strong teams and partnerships and delivering sustainable, innovative and person-centred healthcare.
Maryam Hajmanouchehri
Director of Nursing, Northern Sydney Eye Hospital
Maryam is the Director of Nursing at Northern Sydney Eye Hospital. She has 20 years of nursing experience, including 11 years in Iran and 9 years in Australia. For the past 14 years, she has specialised in ophthalmic surgery, working across a wide range of perioperative roles. Over the past three years, Maryam has held nursing leadership and management positions, with her current role focusing on clinical operations, staff development, patient safety, quality improvement, and accreditation activities. She is passionate about building supportive nursing teams, improving clinical systems, and delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care.
Panel discussion
Leading the Way: Nurse Leaders on Growth, Challenge & Wellbeing
Tanya Bennett
Director of Nursing Services, East Sydney Private Hospita
Tanya has worked in day surgery nursing since 2000 and has held Director of Nursing roles across various day surgery facilities for more than 25 years. She is a Life Member and Past President of Day Surgery Nurses NSW and was also a committee member of the Australian Day Surgery Nurses Association. Tanya is currently the Director of Clinical Services at a private hospital in Sydney.
Fiona Svamvur
Director of Nursing, Hobart Eye Surgeons
Fiona was General Manager and Director of Nursing for a free-standing day hospital for 24 years, from 2000 to 2024. She is now Director of Nursing of a consulting/day procedure facility, a role she has held for the last 2 years. Fiona was a member of ADSNA representing Tasmania, both at state and national levels, since 2000. She has been a member of Day Hospitals Australia for many years and is currently the chairperson for Tasmania. In her current position, she is privileged to work in this unique setting where practice still must meet accreditation standards, but in a much less stressful environment.
Rhonda Williams
Rhonda worked as a DON in day hospitals until 2006, when she changed pathways and became a quality consultant and auditor for the then Core Standards for Safety and Quality in Healthcare, now the NSQHS Standards. Rhonda was a life member of the NSW Day Surgery Nurses Association and a state representative on the ADSNA committee.
The Map Forward: Building Clarity, Resilience and Confidence Through Uncertainty
In an environment of constant change and increasing pressure, the ability to stay grounded, make confident decisions and keep moving forward is more important than ever.
In The Map Forward, Ali Ahmadi draws on his extraordinary personal journey, engineering career and leadership experience to explore how we can navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, resilience and confidence.
Through powerful storytelling and practical insights, Ali will share strategies to help attendees maintain perspective under pressure, find direction through purpose and build the confidence to act — even when the path ahead isn’t entirely clear.
Ali Ahmadi
Keynote Speaker & Human Performance Engineer
Ali Ahmadi is a TEDx and award-winning speaker, engineer and experienced leader who has addressed more than 75,000 people worldwide.
Having arrived in Australia as a refugee before building a career as an engineer and leading large teams and complex projects, Ali brings a unique perspective to resilience, leadership and navigating change. His keynotes combine compelling storytelling with practical insights drawn from both his professional experience and personal journey.
Known for his engaging and memorable presentation style, Ali helps leaders and teams build the clarity, connection and confidence needed to perform through uncertainty and change,
Delegates are invited to join our sponsors and exhibitors for morning tea in the Exhibition Hall
What can ACN do for day hospital nurses
Kathryn Zeitz
CEO, The Australian College of Nursing
Kathryn will explore how advocacy, embedded in everyday nursing practice, occurs at the patient level, at the organisational level, and at the system level examining the role of professional advocacy to influence policy, reform and understanding nursing’s contribution to health care.
Kathryn Zeitz
CEO, The Australian College of Nursing
Dr Kathryn Zeitz commenced as Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2024, and is an respected health executive, academic, researcher, and nursing leader. Her distinguished career is marked by her dedication to improving healthcare delivery and outcomes with a commitment to people-centred care. Kathryn commenced her nursing career int eh emergency department and in breast and ENT surgical ward.
Dr Zeitz successfully completed her PhD thesis in clinical nursing at the University of Adelaide in 2003 on the topic of vital sign collection in the post-operative setting. She has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications from her research interests. Dr Zeitz is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Adelaide and an Adjunct Associate Professor with Flinders University.
Outside of her professional roles, Dr Zeitz’s community service to Variety, the children’s charity, for which she was awarded Life Membership in 2021 and is a long-standing volunteer and leader within St John Ambulance Australia, where she is currently a National Board Director.
Dr Jack Madden FANZCA
Anaesthetist & Founder, Periop Concepts
Focusing on perianaesthesia nursing excellence through education, certification and connection, Jack will discuss the use of SGLT-2 Jardiance & GLP-1’s Ozempic medication and provide practical examples of moving to more complex procedures in a day surgery setting. Discussion will also explore the importance of training anaesthetic assistants and high flow oxygen delivery.
Dr Jack Madden FANZCA
Anaesthetist & Founder, Periop Concepts
Dr Jack Madden is a Tasmanian anaesthetist with postgraduate training in clinical teaching and a strong focus on improving education and support for peri-anaesthesia nurses.
As Founder and CEO of Periop Concepts, Jack works with individuals, educators and healthcare organisations to provide accessible, contemporary education in peri-anaesthesia nursing. Periop Concepts has collaborated with ANZCA, ASA, ACN and ACPAN to develop an endorsed curriculum designed to strengthen clinical knowledge and support safer patient care.
Jack is passionate about addressing the growing challenges facing peri-anaesthesia nursing education and equipping nurses with the knowledge and confidence they need in practice.
From intensive care nurse to Chief Executive Officer
Greg Hall
CEO, Nexus Hospitals
Greg is Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Hospitals and brings nearly 30 years of healthcare experience, with expertise in private hospital operations, innovation and system integration.
With a background in nursing and intensive care and a Master’s in Health Management, Greg brings both clinical and operational perspectives to healthcare leadership. As CEO, he is focused on strengthening partnerships with VMOs, supporting high-performing teams and driving excellence in patient care, clinical outcomes and the overall patient experience.
Greg is passionate about creating a strong workplace culture and ensuring Nexus Hospitals continues to be a trusted partner for clinicians and patients.
Engineering Calm: Transforming the Day Hospital patient experience one tooth at a time
Brett Miller
Co-Founder & Group CEO, Miller Dental Group
Harley Day Hospital opened in Oct 2021 as one of only four dental day hospitals in South Australia. Its unique operating model, facilities and team culture have seen it receive national acclaim in being selected as a national finalist for the 2023 Innovation & Excellence Awards by the Property Council of Australia, as with winning DHA’s 2025 Innovation Award. Learn more from Miller Dental Group co-founder & CEO, Brett Miller who will discuss what makes Harley Day Hospital unique, how ‘innovation in patient care’ and ‘engineering calm’ is applied within the facility (and group), and the many lessons learned along the way.
Brett Miller
Co-Founder & Group CEO, Miller Dental Group
Brett Miller co-founded Miller Dental Group in 2008, growing the organisation alongside his brother, Dr Greg Miller, from a single practice to more than 20 dental practices across Australia, serving over 65,000 patients annually.
Brett also co-founded the Australian Dental Foundation, a multi-award-winning social enterprise delivering mobile dental care and oral health programs across more than 500 sites each year. In 2021, Brett and Greg opened Harley Day Hospital, one of only four dental day hospitals in South Australia.
An experienced CEO and Board member, Brett holds an MBA and has received national recognition for his contribution to healthcare. He is the South Australian Chapter Chair for Day Hospitals Australia and recipient of the 2025 Day Hospitals Australia Innovation Award.
Blueprint for Reform – Where to from here?
A/Prof the Hon. Anthony Lynham AO, Chair and Jane Griffiths, CEO of Day Hospitals Australia discuss the reforms proposed in the Blueprint and what’s next.
Jane Griffiths (BAppSc (Dist), MCNA, AIMM, RN) was appointed to the inaugural CEO position of Day Hospitals Australia on 1 July 2014. Previously she was the Day Hospitals Australia President from 2010 to 30 June 2014 and served on the Board of Directors and the former Management Committee of Day Hospitals Australia since 2008.
Prior to this, she was the Business Manager/DON of Perth Dermatology Clinic and conducted JG Consulting. Prior to that Jane was the Business Manager of The Women’s Clinic Day Hospital for 7½ years, McCourt Street Day Surgery for 7 years and Nursing Coordinator, Perioperative Services at St John of God Hospital Subiaco for 10 years. Whilst a Senior Nursing Executive at St John of God, Subiaco Jane was sent on 7-week sabbatical to the USA in 1997 to explore latest trends in same day surgery visiting California, Illinois, & Pennsylvania.
In 2021 Jane was appointed as one of the three Australian representatives on the International Association of Ambulatory Surgery (IAAS) General Assembly.
Jane is passionate about same day surgery and care.
Finish times is approx.
Discover Adelaide and its surrounding areas after the conference! Click here for more information about things to do in Adelaide.
CPD Points
This Conference is endorsed by ACN according to their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated 12 CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.