The Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) has thrust digital healthcare transformation onto the federal election agenda with the release of a comprehensive five-point policy reform plan aimed at revolutionising Australia’s healthcare system.
As health emerges as a critical election issue, the DHCRC is calling for bipartisan commitment to digital health innovation.
“There are significant challenges and pressures facing the health sector, and digital technologies present an opportunity to improve efficiencies, support our stretched healthcare workforce and deliver better and more effective care to all Australians,” said DHCRC CEO Annette Schmiede.
The organisation, which represents over 60 partners across universities, government and industry, has identified five critical areas requiring urgent policy attention: standardising aged care data, establishing national AI oversight for healthcare, developing a digitally capable health workforce, creating national procurement guidelines for digital health technology, and increasing research funding for digital health innovations.
“It is essential that healthcare is prioritised as a core election issue, and we would like to see bipartisan support for the critical priorities we have presented that meet consumer and community expectations,” Schmiede emphasised.
One of the most pressing concerns highlighted is the continuing lack of standardised data systems in aged care—a problem that persists four years after the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The DHCRC argues that fragmented datasets and lack of interoperability standards severely limit effective care planning and quality assurance while increasing costs.
In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, the DHCRC advocates for the creation of a national entity dedicated to accelerating evidence-based AI implementation in healthcare. This body would develop national policies and safety guidelines to enable trusted AI use across public and private healthcare sectors.
The DHCRC also pointed to alarming workforce readiness statistics, noting that 40% of healthcare providers identify inadequate training as a barrier to adopting digital technologies. With projections suggesting health workers will need to provide four times the current level of service by 2050, investment in digital skills has become critical.
“Successful digital transformation of the health system requires investment in people, not just technology,” the DHCRC states in its policy document.
The DHCRC further highlights how Australia’s risk-averse procurement environment disadvantages local health technology innovators, often driving them offshore despite their potential to address unique national health challenges.
Finally, the DHCRC calls for targeted funding for multidisciplinary digital health research that brings together academic institutions, industry partners, health services, and government to translate research into scalable, evidence-informed solutions.
Read the full details of the DHCRC 2025 Election Priorities here.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
