National Telehealth & Virtual Care Conference
31 March – 1 April 2026
Swissotel SydneyREGISTER INTEREST BOOK NOW DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
The National Telehealth & Virtual Care Conference will take place on 31st Marh-1st April at the Swissotel Sydney. It serves as a dynamic platform for healthcare professionals, policymakers, technology innovators, and industry leaders to explore the latest advancements, strategies, and challenges in digital health.
The conference focuses on optimizing healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes, enhancing accessibility, and leveraging data to reduce costs. Attendees will gain valuable insights into emerging technologies, policy developments, and best practices shaping the future of telehealth and virtual care.
With opportunities for networking and collaboration, and knowledge exchange with people from public hospitals and LHDs, PHNs and primary care providers, aged care, allied health, private health providers, health insurers, government departments and agencies, telehealth companies, telehealth technology and software providers and many more. The event is designed to empower participants to drive innovation and transformation in connected care.
Speakers
Dr Shannon Nott
Executive General Manager – Health & Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer, Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section)
Associate Professor Tam C. Nguyen
Deputy Director Research, Monash Health
Deepak Biswal
Chief Executive Officer, Care Monitor
Chrissie McInally
Telehealth Coordinator CNC, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service
Paul Tait PhD
Senior Program Manager – Research, SA Virtual Care Service
Judith Smith
Director Professional Development, The Australian College of Nursing & Chair, Telehealth Nursing and Midwifery Consortium
Dr Samantha Clune
Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing (AIPCA), La Trobe University
Prof Raelene Wilding
Professor of Sociology, La Trobe University
Ryan Hutton
Manager – Provider Networks, nib
Dr Rachel David
Chief Executive Officer, Private Healthcare Australia
Richard Taggart
Chief Executive, eHealth NSW & Chief Information Officer, NSW Health
Cathie La Riviere
Virtual Health Manager,
Mackay Hospital and Health Service
Kristen Short
Director – Partnerships and Innovation, South Western Sydney PHN
Dr Neel Gobin
Regional Director of Medical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW)
Dr Angela Jackson
Commissioner,
Productivity Commission
Donna Parkes
Stream Lead, Virtual Care,
NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
Brooke O’Callaghan
Nursing Director Digital Transformation and Delivery, West Moreton Health, Queensland Health
Jessica Lawson
Clinical Nurse, The Living Well Team, West Moreton Health, Queensland Health
Claire Bertenshaw
Deputy Medical Director,
Queensland Ambulance Service
Sam Herring
Director Clinical Hub,
Queensland Ambulance Service
Dr Shaun Hosein
Clinical Director – Virtual and Integrated Care, Metro South Hospital and Health Service
Glynis Sandland
Chief Executive Officer, Whakarongorau Aotearoa / New Zealand Telehealth Services
Shelley Peardon-Freeman
Allied Health Director, Health Contact Centre, Queensland Health
Dr Matt Vickers
Clinical Director,
Eucalyptus
Julia Schmidtke
Nursing Director – Patient Transfer & Integrated Care, Ambulance Tasmania
Kylie Houlihan
Director Digital Healthcare and Innovation, Queensland Ambulance Service
Geoff Bloom
Partner – Health & Life Sciences, Mills Oakley
AGENDA
08:15
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:50
DAY ONE OPENING
08:55
Opening remarks from the Chair
Associate Professor Tam C. Nguyen, Deputy Director Research, Monash Health
09:00
OPENING KEYNOTE | Insights from the Productivity Commission’s latest report on the care economy and virtual care
Dr Angela Jackson, Commissioner, Productivity Commission
09:30
KEYNOTE | Emergency Telemedicine
- Exploring how telehealth can be integrated into emergency response systems, particularly in remote regions
- Sharing case studies or success stories from the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Dr Shannon Nott, Executive General Manager – Health & Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer, Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section)
10:00
IN CONVERSATION | Voices in Virtual Care: A Consumer Conversation
Moderator: Donna Parkes, Stream Lead, Virtual Care, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
10:30
SESSION SPOTLIGHT | How could we implement national safety and quality standards for telehealth?
Dr Matt Vickers, Clinical Director, Eucalyptus
Lyndon Goddard, Senior Legal Counsel & Head of Public Policy, Eucalyptus
10:50
Networking Break & Morning Tea
11:20
Reimagining Mental Health Care: Virtual Innovation for Complex Needs
- Empowering Recovery: Consumers with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) lead their care journey through a virtual platform offering real-time access to clinicians, online coaching, and peer-led video support.
- Digitally Delivered Therapy: Integrates Project Air’s stepped-care model and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with digital tools to support early intervention and continuity of care.
- Breaking Barriers: Virtual care improves access for hard-to-reach populations, reducing emergency department presentations and easing pressure on acute services.
- Co-Designed for Impact: Developed in partnership with consumers, carers, and the University of Wollongong, the model ensures care is compassionate, connected, and clinically effective.
Brooke O’Callaghan, Nursing Director Digital Transformation and Delivery, West Moreton Health, Queensland Health
Jessica Lawson, Clinical Nurse, The Living Well Team, West Moreton Health, Queensland Health
11:50
INNOVATION SHOWCASE |
12:10
Telehealth Credentialing: Ensuring practitioners meet standards for virtual care delivery
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
12:40
Networking Lunch
13:40
PANEL | The next frontier in Telehealth innovation
Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare delivery, but its full potential remains untapped. This panel will explore the next wave of telehealth innovation, focusing on overcoming current limitations, leveraging emerging technologies, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. By addressing disparities in adoption and advancing technological solutions, this discussion aims to chart a path toward more equitable, efficient, and impactful virtual care delivery.
- What are the current limitations of telehealth platforms, and what technological advancements are needed to address them?
- How can emerging technologies help address disparities in telehealth adoption?
- How can all stakeholders collaborate to drive meaningful change in virtual care delivery?
Richard Taggart, Chief Executive, eHealth NSW & Chief Information Officer, NSW Health
Kristen Short, Director – Partnerships and Innovation, South Western Sydney PHN
14:20
Virtual Care in Ambulance Services
Claire Bertenshaw, Deputy Medical Director, Queensland Ambulance Service
Sam Herring, Director Clinical Hub, Queensland Ambulance Service
14:50
Bridging Distances: Enhancing Regional and Rural Care with Virtual Theatre Support
- Innovative virtual care solutions are transforming surgical healthcare delivery in regional and rural areas, making it more accessible and efficient.
- By addressing the challenges of connectivity and digital literacy, these technologies have the potential to significantly improve surgical outcomes for underserved populations.
- In Central Queensland we can provide Australian first interventional virtual theatre support through videoconferencing equipment within the theatre directly to the specialist.
- As technology continues to advance, the future of surgical care in theatres looks promising, with virtual care leading the way.
Chrissie McInally, Telehealth Coordinator CNC, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service
15:20
Networking Break & Afternoon Tea
15:50
Building Health Services Research Capacity and Capability: Getting Started Is Hard
- Australia’s healthcare and research sectors are recognised for their high standards; however, better alignment is necessary.
- The healthcare workforce is well-equipped to conduct health services research because they are familiar with the challenges of delivering care.
- However, focusing solely on research outputs, like publications, can neglect the needs of talented staff who require comprehensive support in health services research.
- Healthcare organisation must develop processes in place that support the healthcare workforce throughout all stages of health services research, including development, execution, and dissemination.
Paul Tait PhD, Senior Program Manager – Research, SA Virtual Care Service
16:20
Telehealth Nursing and Midwifery Consortium
This presentation will highlight the work being carried out by the consortium, including:
- identifying gaps and opportunities in current telehealth education and training
- developing telehealth standards that align nationally and internationally
- developing a national telehealth capability framework
- developing a telehealth education framework
- developing high-quality, evidence-based telehealth learning materials
- advocating for nursing and midwifery leadership in telehealth policy and workforce development
Judith Smith, Director Professional Development, The Australian College of Nursing & Chair, Telehealth Nursing and Midwifery Consortium
16:50
IN CONVERSATION | Public-Private Partnerships in Virtual Care
- How can PPPs address the digital divide and ensure equitable access to virtual care?
- What are the best practices for aligning public and private sector goals in telehealth initiatives?
- How can governments and private companies work together to build trust and ensure data security in virtual care?
- What role do PPPs play in integrating virtual care with traditional healthcare systems to create a seamless continuum of care?
Cathie La Riviere, Virtual Health Manager, Mackay Hospital and Health Service
17:20
Closing Remarks from the Telehealth Chair
17:25
End of Day 1 & Networking Drinks
08:30
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:50
DAY TWO OPENING
08:55
Opening remarks from the Chair
Dr Shaun Hosein, Clinical Director – Virtual and Integrated Care, Metro South Hospital and Health Service
09:15
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE | Clinical Governance for AI in Mental Health Crisis Response: What we’re learning
Glynis Sandland, Chief Executive Officer, Whakarongorau Aotearoa / New Zealand Telehealth Services
09:45
EXECUTIVE PANEL | The Future of Care: Hospital in the Home and Telehealth
This panel will explore the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, focusing on Hospital in the Home (HITH) and Telehealth as complementary models to traditional in-person care. As healthcare systems strive to meet the growing demand for accessible, efficient, and patient-centered care, the convergence of these approaches offers a transformative opportunity to redefine how and where care is delivered. The discussion will address key questions such as:
- How can HITH and telehealth work together to create a seamless continuum of care?
- What are the technological, operational, and regulatory challenges in integrating these models?
- How can these innovations improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance accessibility for diverse populations?
10:30
CASE STUDY | Ready, Set, Go – Rapid Health Service Responses for Queenslanders
- On average, the 13 HEALTH number receives over 34,000 calls per month. Approximately 28% of these calls are resolved directly by Customer Service Advisors, while the remaining calls are referred via phone or email to Queensland Health or other government services.
- The Health Contact Centre (HCC) frequently supports multi-channel responses during Health Alerts and Health Incidents, playing a critical role in timely communication and community support.
- To maintain readiness for rapid response, the HCC sustains an agile technical infrastructure.
- This presentation will share lessons learnt and showcase real-world implementations of the HCC’s rapid response capabilities, highlighting the impact and effectiveness of this approach in managing health incidents and events.
Shelley Peardon-Freeman, Allied Health Director, Health Contact Centre, Queensland Health
11:00
INNOVATION SHOWCASE | Beyond hospital walls – reducing admissions and delivering care at home
Healthcare organisations are rethinking how and where care is delivered. This session explores how technology-enabled models, supported by platforms like CareMonitor, are reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and enabling safe, effective care at home when hospital-level support is needed. We’ll share practical insights from diverse implementations and what’s driving better outcomes for patients and providers.
- Understand the shift from keeping patients out of hospital to safely delivering hospital-level care at home, and the role technology plays in making this possible.
- Explore how digital care models are being implemented, and the role technology plays in supporting prevention, chronic disease management, and acute care at home.
- Learn what’s driving better outcomes across these models, including improvements in patient experience, operational efficiency, and scalability.
Deepak Biswal, Chief Executive Officer, Care Monitor
11:30
Networking Break & Morning Tea
12:00
INNOVATION SHOWCASE |
12:20
PANEL | Advancing policy and funding
This panel will delve into the critical challenges and opportunities in shaping policy and funding frameworks to support the growth of virtual and hybrid care systems. As telehealth and Hospital in the Home (HITH) programs become integral to healthcare delivery, addressing gaps in funding and reimbursement is essential to ensure sustainability, equity, and scalability. The discussion will focus on:
- Navigating the complexities of healthcare policy to support innovative care models.
- Identifying solutions to reimbursement challenges for telehealth and HITH services.
- Exploring funding strategies to drive adoption and integration of virtual and hybrid care.
Dr Rachel David, Chief Executive Officer, Private Healthcare Australia
Ryan Hutton, Manager – Provider Networks, nib
Geoff Bloom, Partner – Health & Life Sciences, Mills Oakley
13:00
Telehealth, virtual care and our collective humanity: Can the Humanities help us?
- Increased provision of remote services, often to remote and/or socially isolated individuals
- Care theory tells us that caring for, about and with each other is a fundamental human function
- How do we care for, with and about each other in the context of virtual care?
Dr Samantha Clune, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing (AIPCA), La Trobe University
Prof Raelene Wilding, Professor of Sociology, La Trobe University
13:30
Networking Lunch
14:30
BREAKOUT – INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES
Join us for an engaging roundtable (RT) discussion featuring 2 to 3 esteemed featured speakers and a moderator. The discussions are meant to be very organic, interactive and aims to foster exchange of ideas, highlight best practices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in the conversation, ask questions, and contribute their perspectives.
Industry RT1
Taxonomy of Virtual Care & HITH:
Do we need systematic classification of healthcare delivery models between virtual care and HITH?
Kylie Houlihan, Director Digital Healthcare and Innovation, Queensland Ambulance Service
Industry RT2
Workforce Development: Addressing workforce shortage
What key strategies can be implemented to address the shortage of healthcare professionals while effectively integrating virtual care into existing workflows?
Dr Neel Gobin, Regional Director of Medical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW)
Industry RT3
Multidisciplinary Collaboration: How or what can we do better?
How can multidisciplinary collaboration be leveraged to enhance the integration and effectiveness of HITH and telehealth services?
Julia Schmidtke, Nursing Director- patient transfer and integrated care, Ambulance Tasmania
15:10
Someone from Industry RT sessions share the top 3-5 key takeaways that was discussed in their RT
15:25
Closing Remarks from the Chair
15:30
Closing of the Conference & Afternoon Tea
Venue
Swissôtel Sydney
68 Market St
Sydney NSW 2000
+61 (02) 9238 8888
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
Secure your accommodation at the Swissotel Sydney with a 12% discount* off the best available flexible room only rate at the time of booking.
To book this rate, please click here and follow the below instructions.
To load/see the rates available please enter the codes as per below:
- Click on the Book Now link above and scroll to ‘Our accommodation’
- Enter your booking dates
- Click on the drop down for “Special rates”
- Enter the code SCP2108566 in “Business client with contract”
- Enter the code IN435AU828 in “Access code”
- Click on “See rates”
* Rooms and rates are subject to availability at the time of booking, we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
Alternatively, please contact the hotel reservations team directly on 02 9238 8888 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday or email [email protected]
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive an annual subscription to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.