Featured articles from our Aged Care Today magazine authored by our Ageing Australia team and specialists within the aged care sector.
“To me, SAGE has always been about bringing lessons from abroad and applying them in Australia, but now we are seeing more sharing of ideas than ever before, among CEOs and executives locally,” she said.
“Taking time out with a SAGE study tour gives executives the opportunity to think through their organisational strategies and approaches, and hear from others about what they’re doing, and how they’re innovating to meet new compliance requirements. While reform is essentially an operational matter, it requires a level of innovation and strategic recalibration to continue to offer best-practice services.
“SAGE offers a platform for information sharing in a safe environment that understands the challenges faced by executives. It’s not about a competitive edge; its primary focus is on working together to enhance the experience of older Australians accessing aged care services.”
In its 20th year, SAGE has taken a total of more than 500 aged care executives from Australia to international destinations like the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, North America, South Africa, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Japan. The unique program has given them unparalleled access to global aged care leaders, best-practices approaches and innovations through structured learning, cultural exchange and networking opportunities.
Now, these SAGE alumni are paying it forward by sharing lessons learned with their peers in Australia, as hosts of new SAGE National programs, held for the first time in Melbourne and Adelaide this year.
“SAGE National is about offering the same level of knowledge, insight and opportunity to everyone, especially medium and small providers that may not have the capacity to send their executives overseas,” said Judy. “It also provides an opportunity for second or third tier executives to be exposed to new ideas and build the kind of knowledge and networks that will be important not only for their current work, but to support and enhance aged care leadership into the future.”
SAGE National was held this year over two-and-a-half days in Melbourne 20-23 May and Adelaide 25-28 May. Hosted by SAGE alumni, there were several host organisations in each city providing a different area of focus and expertise. The tours were sold out within a week of being advertised, demonstrating keen interest from leaders from across the sector.
“We were delighted to receive such wonderful support and hospitality from our SAGE alumni, who really wanted to give back after experiencing our international SAGE study tours,” said Judy.
In Melbourne, one of the programs highlights was meeting ABI the robot, a tour of the Medical & Aged Care Group’s dementia unit which showcased design-led innovation tailored to cognitive support and lifestyle enhancement, and the insights provided by HLS Healthcare about the advances in technology reshaping aged care and retirement living.
In Adelaide, Helping Hand CEO Chris Stewart openly shared his ongoing optimism as well as his disappointments and challenges, which served as a powerful reminder of the realities aged care leaders face. There was a tour of Kalyra where the delegation experienced a co-located school and care home, which left a strong impression on everyone.
|
|
“Being surrounded by peers in various leadership positions – from CEOs to board members and new executives – offered deep personal value to our SAGE National delegates. They described an atmosphere of trust, support and sincerity, at a level of depth you don’t usually experience at conferences,” said Judy.
“All the host CEOs had attended a SAGE program previously and understood the value of the outcomes and learnings the program provides. Their openness was both humbling and energising, in a spirit of mutual learning and shared mission across all the presentations and site visits.
“The sense of collaboration was palpable, and the genuine desire to explore shared challenges and innovative solutions reinforced the value of industry engagement in advancing equity and excellence. I especially want to acknowledge the openness with which everyone from hosts to delegates engaged in discussions. There was a real commitment to learning from one another, and this is precisely the spirit of SAGE.”
For delegates, it was more than a conference, it was a truly unforgettable experience that offered something entirely different.
“The SAGE National tour offered an unparalleled space for genuine networking, shared learning and meaningful connection,” said delegate Usha Thapa, Director of Facilities at Tasmania’s MayShaw.
“The structure of the tour – from the site visits to the bus trips and dinners – created an environment where rich conversations unfolded naturally. I connected with passionate, like-minded professionals, and walked away from this tour with not just knowledge, but lasting connections, renewed confidence, and an even deeper sense of purpose in my work.”
Another delegate from Tasmania, OneCare Regional Operations Services Manager Christopher Nobes, said the learnings have inspired his entire organisation. “Our numerous hosts were so gracious not only with their time but also so open and transparent with the knowledge they have gained and their experiences with innovative solutions throughout the sector. Presenting and sharing this knowledge within our organisation has helped us inspire and shape future initiatives at a local level.”
Chief Executive Officer Deb Dutton from Rembrant Care, a small regional provider in South Australia, said it allowed smaller providers to access international-level information. “SAGE National in Adelaide was an incredible experience. I learnt so much, saw so much, and did it all in comfort alongside like-minded colleagues. A truly inspiring few days that has left me energised about the future.”
Harbsion in New South Wales sent two of their new young professional management team on both the Melbourne and Adelaide programs. Jess Martin, Harbsion’s new Marketing and Communications Manager said, “Joining this national program offered me a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts, C-suite executives and innovative practices. It has significantly enhanced and fast-tracked my professional growth by expanding my network, deepening my industry knowledge, and inspiring fresh ideas.”
SAGE is proudly owned and managed by Australian business advisory service Anchor Excellence a perfect fit for its work as a bespoke national executive and management organisation, with its primary focus on enabling the aged care sector. “Leaders Enabling Leaders”
More SAGE National events are planned for 2026, while the international program is continuing to run annually. Its 50th program will be held in Toronto 22-31 October this year. SAGE program offers exclusive opportunities for aged care leaders and executives, with early bird rates and discounted rates for Ageing Australia members on specific programs.
Hosts for SAGE National in Melbourne
Hosts for SAGE National in Adelaide
Reach out to your state or territory manager
Australia’s leading aged services magazine distributed quarterly featuring informative articles from service providers, suppliers, innovators and thought leaders across aged the aged care sector.
To submit story suggestions, please contact the editor.
For magazine advertising rates, please view our media kit.
