We are proud to announce the fourth event in the Complex Challenges, Connected Thinking series. This landmark session marks our first Victorian government agency partnership, presented in collaboration with the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) Health. The event also features an outreach component, hosted in person in partnership with the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) in Hobart. 

The event brings together leading voices from government, health and industry to explore how system-level priorities are translated into service models, infrastructure responses and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery. Through a combination of project presentations, a panel discussion and a short presentation showcase, the program examines how strategic planning, co-design, standardisation, digital innovation and sustainable design can work together to deliver more responsive, efficient and future-focused health infrastructure. The event will be followed by an informal get-together at the Imperial Hotel on Bourke Street.

The program will explore these themes through the following sessions:

Opening Remarks

An overview of the key strategic priorities and initiatives VIDA Health is leading. 

Transforming Care in Victoria: PSRACS & YPARC 

• Orbost Residential Aged Care Facility: This session is a reflection on the journey of delivering the Orbost Public sector residential aged care services (PSRACS) project in Far East Gippsland, from concept and design through to resident occupancy. The presentation explores the design philosophy behind creating a home-like environment that supports dignity, independence, and connection for older Victorians. 

• Youth Prevention and Recovery Centres (YPARCS): This presentation will discuss the design processes and key considerations in developing a recovery-focused, sub-acute residential mental health service for people aged 16-25 through a co-design involving young people with lived and living experience of mental ill-health, families, carers, clinicians, service providers and design specialists.

Panel Discussion: How can health infrastructure deliver more with less?

This discussion explores how Victoria is using system-led planning and standardisation to support more efficient healthcare infrastructure delivery.

Short Presentations

To conclude the session, short presentations will be delivered—a fast‑paced, high‑impact format where speakers share insights into future-proofing and how digital innovation and design decisions are helping reduce embodied carbon across the health infrastructure lifecycle: 

• The Evolving Understanding of Future-Proofing for Hospital Building Design: Exploring the evolving concept of future-proofing, unpacking the strategic opportunities, practical challenges, and implications for designing and delivering adaptable and resilient hospital buildings.

• Digital design: Exploring how VHBA is using digital tools such as Cupix (digital twins and reality capture) and dRofus (data-driven briefing and space planning) to improve project planning, design coordination, assurance and asset information management across the health infrastructure lifecycle.

• Northern Hospital Ambulatory Care Centre: Reducing upfront carbon in Victorian public health infrastructure- Exploring how the Northern Hospital ACC project reduced its upfront carbon impact using a lightweight, high-performance façade and lower-carbon concrete. As a test case for the VHBA Net Zero Building Handbook, the project demonstrates how carbon emissions can be reduced without compromising project delivery.

Informal get-together and post-event networking

After the conclusion of the formal part of the event, attendees may wish to join a casual gathering at the Imperial Hotel, (2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000). Please note that attendance will be at participants’ own expense.

In-person spaces in Melbourne and Tasmania are limited, so book your spot quickly.

A special thank you to all of our event partners, and in particular our lead event partner VIDA Health and outreach partner, The Australian Institute of Architects - Tasmanian Chapter, for offering their venues.

Please note there will be no option to dial in. If you cannot attend in person, please do not register. The sessions will be recorded (subject to speaker consent) and made available to AHDC members following the event.

You'll Hear From

Opening Remarks:

• Priscilla Radice, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), VIDA Health

Presentation: Transforming Care in Victoria through PSRACS & YPARC 

• Sophia Motamed, Project Director, VIDA Health

• Vignesh Chandrasekaran, Senior Associate, CHC 

• Sarah Skeels, Senior Project Manager,VIDA Health 

Panel Discussion: How can health infrastructure deliver more with less? 

• Glyn Devlin, Director, Victorian Department of Health

• Yvette Wazny, Senior Specialist, Design, VIDA Health 

• Luke Baxby, Managing Principal, Create Health Advisory

Short Presentations:

• Dr Sanaz Memari, Researcher at Deakin University, Board Member & Research Lead at AHDC

• Paul Morgan, Senior Specialist, Digital Build, VIDA Health 

• Matt Sykes, Specialist, Environmental Sustainability, VIDA Health  

• Andim Taip, Principal, Lyons

When: 

• 22 October 2026, 4 PM to 7 PM (AEDT) 

Where:

• Melbourne: Venue to be confirmed soon.

• Tasmania: AIA Tasmania (1/19a Hunter Street Hobart TAS 7000)