Practice managers and administrators from Australia and New Zealand, along with primary care leaders, will gather in Melbourne next week to explore the future of practice management.
AAPMAANZ 2025, the joint conference of the Australian Association of Practice Management and the Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand, takes place from October 21-24 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The program reflects the changing environment for primary care, from governance and policy updates to the impact of digital health innovation including AI. The conference opens with a day of masterclasses on Tuesday October 21, with presentations from MedicalDirector, Magentus, Best Practice Software, UNE Partnerships and Cubiko.
Strategy and compliance highlights
The Department of Health, Ageing and Disability (DHDA) will address the opening session on Wednesday October 22 with an overview of recent updates and changes as part of national health reform.
DHDA Primary Care Division First Assistant Secretary Mark Roddam, is the keynote speaker providing an opportunity to hear about Practice Incentive Payments and Bulk Billing Incentive program ahead of commencement on November 1.
DHDA will also present a session on Medicare compliance education and support for Practice Managers. The Department will discuss their approach to compliance including how non-compliance is identified, with a focus on the 2025-30 Provider Compliance Strategy.
On Thursday October 23, the Australian Commission and Safety and Quality in Health Care will present on the current accreditation requirements under the National General Practice Accreditation (NGPA) Scheme and the potential changes to the accreditation cycle and assessment processes.
The Australian Digital Health Agency will present its strategic program of work covering key initiatives in infrastructure modernisation, enhanced information sharing across the healthcare system, and the Agency’s pivotal role in driving digital adoption nationwide including the principle of Share by Default.
AGPAL will deliver a session on the RACGP Standards 6th edition, unpack what’s changing, why it matters, and how practices can begin preparing now. Expect practical insights into the revised structure, the Quintuple Aim framework, and new areas of focus such as sustainability, cultural safety, and governance.
Equity and whānau
Also on Thursday, Collaborative Aotearoa will present the Pou Ora | Pillars of Health model of care, launched in 2025 by Collaborative Aotearoa, reimagining primary care in Aotearoa with equity and whānau at its centre.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners will target NZ delegates with a session on recent updates to the Foundation Standard which brings together all the essential clinical, legislative, and operational requirements that support safe, equitable, and high-quality care in general practice.
