Pathways to Reform – A Cross Country Exchange for Health Leaders

Go beyond high-level case studies and hear directly from people who have designed, implemented and lived major health system reforms. The Exchange focuses on countries grappling with challenges similar to Australia’s – fragmented systems, workforce pressure, rising demand and fiscal constraint. Sessions unpack how reforms actually unfolded: what triggered change, what stalled, what surprised policymakers and practitioners, and what they would do differently. This gives participants a grounded understanding of reform as a process, not a policy document.

This is not a conference where ideas stay theoretical. Participants actively test reform concepts with international faculty and Australian leaders who understand real-world constraints – funding models, industrial arrangements, political cycles, regional variation and organisational risk. Structured discussions create space to stress-test assumptions, pressure-check feasibility, and learn how others have navigated resistance and complexity. The result is sharper thinking that reflects how systems actually behave, not how we wish they would.

A core focus of the Exchange is translation: moving from insight to action. Participants work through facilitated sessions to identify what can be adapted in their own context, from immediate, low-risk changes to longer-term reform pathways that require sustained leadership and coalition-building. You’ll leave with clearer next steps, a stronger narrative for change, and practical tools to support implementation, not just inspiration.

The residential format and small-group design create the conditions for genuine trust and peer connection. Relationships form across jurisdictions, disciplines and roles – policy, commissioning, service delivery, academia and community leadership. This network becomes an ongoing resource: a place to sense-check ideas, share intelligence, and learn from others navigating similar reform challenges. Many participants describe this peer network as one of the most valuable and enduring outcomes of the Exchange.