AAPM National Conference brings the whole practice team together
The Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM) National Conference is designed for the people who keep healthcare practices running, from reception and administration staff to practice managers and owners.
Around 800 practice professionals from general and specialist practice, allied health and Aboriginal community health settings are heading to Brisbane for this year’s conference, which runs from 13 to 16 October at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
They will be immersed in an education program spanning compliance, finance, leadership, recruitment, patient engagement and technology, alongside a packed social program with networking opportunities, happy hour drinks and the conference gala dinner.
AAPM CEO Miranda Grace says the conference has evolved alongside practice management, which has grown from a largely behind-the-scenes function into a recognised profession with an increasingly important role in the delivery of healthcare.
She says the program has been built to offer something for people across a practice team.
“You might have a receptionist coming along, a practice manager and the practice owner, who might be a GP, specialist or allied health professional,” she says. “They all have something to take away.”
Grace says this year’s program places particular emphasis on communication, leadership and the people skills needed to run an effective practice.
For owners and managers, sessions cover business and legal responsibilities, finance, billing, Medicare compliance, recruitment and retention. Front-desk and administrative teams can also expect practical education on patient communication, cultural diversity, managing difficult behaviour and reducing practice risk.
Grace highlights the Department of Health update and Medicare compliance sessions as particularly important for keeping practices across the latest information and requirements. Leadership and communication, recruitment and retention, cultural diversity and resilience under pressure are also key themes.
The wider program also covers service agreements, payroll tax, patient engagement, governance, digital health and practice operations, including the growing role of AI and how practices can adopt new technologies safely and responsibly.
For practices considering sending several team members, the concurrent presentations create an opportunity to divide up sessions according to each person’s role and responsibilities, then bring those learnings back into the practice. A practice owner, manager and receptionist, for example, can each focus on different parts of the program while still sharing the broader conference experience.
Optional masterclasses are also being held on Tuesday 13 October, offering smaller, workshop-style sessions that allow attendees to work more directly with presenters. Grace describes them as a more intimate and practical format where participants can bring questions, learn new tools and focus on particular capabilities.
The social program is covered as part of the conference price, adding to the value of attending. It includes welcome drinks, networking events, a first-timers dinner, networking breakfast and the gala dinner, as well as meals and refreshments throughout the conference. As Grace puts it, once delegates are there, the aim is that they can take part in the full conference experience without continually having to put their hand in their pocket.
The networking is an important part of that experience. “Practice management roles can be quite isolated,” Grace says. “It’s a great way to connect with peers and like-minded professionals.”
Tickets are still available for the full 2026 AAPM National Conference, while single-day registrations are also available for those who cannot attend the entire event. Attendees can review the program and choose the days and sessions most relevant to their role.
View the full program and register to join practice management professionals from across Australia for practical learning, fresh ideas and connection in Brisbane from 13 to 16 October.
Register for the 2026 AAPM National Conference using code AAPMAUSDOC26 to save 10% on the full conference registration rate. The offer is available 3-14 October 2026. 6.
