Event Details

Care Workforce SA

9/22/2026 11:30:00 AM

Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo

Strengthening capability in health, aged care & disability

South Australia’s health, aged care, disability and community services sectors all face workforce shortages, retention challenges and increasing demand. While the pressures differ across these interconnected sectors, many of the solutions are shared.

Join CEDA’s Care Workforce SA event to explore how South Australia can build a stronger workforce pipeline, improve workforce mobility, and prepare for future needs across the state’s care economy.

Keynote: The Hon Katrine Hildyard, SA Minister for Human Services, Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well, Minister for Women

Workforce insights address: Scott Wharton, Managing Director and CEO and Jane Jeffreys AM, South Australian State Chair, Smartgroup

Panel discussion: Building South Australia's future care workforce
Building the workforce needed for future models of care, ensuring graduate readiness, and strengthening collaboration between health, education and training providers.

Paul Evans, CEO, Adelaide Community Healthcare Alliance
Anita Peace, Chief People Officer, Helping Hand
Karren Raper, Executive Director Education and Training, TAFE SA
Prof Chris Barr, Dean, People and Resources, College of Health and Enablement, Flinders University
Prof David Gonzalez, Head of Rural Health Research, Adelaide University

Moderator: Maroun Elias, Director, People Advisory Services, Global Immigration, EY

Panel discussion: Strengthening SA’s care workforces for the future
The discussion will cover workforce pipelines, planning and leadership, care delivery needs across urban, regional and remote communities, and approaches to workforce mobility. It will also examine continuing education, professional development and approaches across care services to improving retention and reducing workforce attrition.
Jacki Done, Chief People, Partnerships and Quality Officer, UnitingSA
Melia Stone, General Manager People, Eldercare
Lucy Wade, SA State Director, Child Youth & Families, Alcohol & Other Drugs, Life Without Barriers
Kyra Maher, Director Workforce Strategy and Analytics, SA Health

Moderator: Katie Cook, Partner, Human Capital Strategy, Deloitte Australia

CEDA Host, Sandy Pitcher, Chief Executive, South Australian Department of Human Services and CEDA SA State Advisory Council.