Medicare at 40: A Legacy of Excellence and Innovation in Australian Healthcare

Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with Medicare, established in February 1984, serving as its cornerstone. Over the past four decades, Medicare has achieved remarkable milestones in advancing Australians’ health and welfare, playing a crucial role in reducing the financial burden on individuals by providing subsidised medical services, pharmaceuticals, and free high-quality hospital care.

Medicare has been a cornerstone of social inclusion, promoting equal access to healthcare services regardless of socio-economic status. This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the countless lives positively impacted by Medicare's commitment to the health and prosperity of the Australian people.

This all-day event on Monday 19 February will bring together policymakers, academics, senior officials and industry leaders to:

• Celebrate the history and accomplishments of Medicare;
• Reflect what is working well, lessons learned in the past 40 years, and areas for improvement;
• Highlight current reforms and new government initiatives to strengthen Medicare;
• Discuss strategies to improve access and affordability, and the efficiency of the healthcare system; and
• Discuss new developments in digital health and MyMedicare to modernise Medicare.

Drinks and canapes will be served after the conference from 5:00 pm.

View the program

*Please note, this event has booked out. If you would like to attend, please email the organisers*

This event is co-organised by the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research at the University of Melbourne. The Melbourne Institute has a long-standing history dating back to 1968, as early thinkers for a national health insurance scheme that later became Medicare.

Speakers

· Dr Jason Agostino, Senior Medical Advisor, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

· Ms Amanda Cattermole PSM, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency

· Professor Wendy Chapman, the University of Melbourne

· Dr Steph Davis, Senior Medical Advisor, Department of Health and Aged Care

· Dr Elizabeth Deveny, Chief Executive Officer, Consumers Health Forum of Australia

· Professor Stephen Duckett, the University of Melbourne

· Ms Jill Gallagher AO, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

· Mr Anthony Gust, Executive Director, Digital Health, Northern Health

· Professor Jane Hall, University of Technology Sydney

· Professor the Hon. Greg Hunt, former Minister of Health and Aged Care

· Mr Daniel McCabe, First Assistant Secretary, Medicare Benefits and Digital Health, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Aged Care

· Professor Elizabeth Molloy, the University of Melbourne

· Dr Bronwyn Morrish, Acting Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care

· Dr Sarah Neville, Director, Analytics, Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

· Professor Anthony Scott, Monash University

· Professor Clair Sullivan, The University of Queensland and Director, Queensland Digital Health Centre

· Professor Ross Williams, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

· Dr Michael Wright, University of Technology Sydney and Chief Medical Officer, Avant

· Associate Professor Jongsay Yong, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

· Professor Yuting Zhang, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research