Aged Care, Aged Care, Digital Health

New AI project targets rising demand for quality aged care services

Published: March 11, 2025

Ritchelle Drilon

Aged Care, Aged Care, Digital Health

New AI project targets rising demand for quality aged care services

Ritchelle Drilon

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is forging a powerful collaboration with industry and philanthropic partners to modernise Australia’s aged care sector. By harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and automated data entry, ACU’s project aims to address pressing workforce challenges and free up frontline staff to dedicate more time to residents.

Backed by a newly awarded Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) grant of $487,000, ACU will lead the development of “Jessie Technology,” a hands-free data input tool created in partnership with Microsoft and BaptistCare. According to the university, this innovation could ease administrative burdens, increase care quality, and help reduce a looming shortfall of 110,000 aged care workers by 2030.

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis highlighted the university’s focus on using STEMM to meet critical national needs: “As part of our long-term strategic plan, Vision 2033, we are committing our skills and knowledge to make practical contributions that address the social challenges facing our nation, including in the care economy.”

“This grant allows us to collaborate with government and industry to engage in mission-aligned work that develops workforce capacity in areas of critical need, such as aged care.”

The project’s mission is closely tied to ACU’s emphasis on human dignity. As Professor Skrbis further explained: “The project utilises AI-powered data input technology to enhance care quality. This aligns with our mission objective: to recognise human dignity as a fundamental imperative. We aim to ensure that every individual’s inherent worth is valued and respected, particularly in healthcare settings which encompass ageing, longevity, senior services and disability care.”

ACU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Abid Khan underscored how the AEA grant supports ethical, impact-driven collaboration: “We are focused on ethically informed research in partnership with industry that creates positive change in our communities. This inaugural AEA grant signals our serious commitment to STEMM, particularly in our areas of strength such as health care, aged care and nursing. It also highlights our active engagement with industry partners like Microsoft and BaptistCare to develop solutions to pressing national issues.”

Philanthropic support from the Opalgate Foundation has also been crucial in bringing Jessie Technology to life, and BaptistCare is keen to see the real-world impact. BaptistCare’s Head of IT Strategy and Innovation, Petrina Greenwood, said: “We are excited to be working with a partner like ACU who is focused on creating a culture of innovation while keeping person-centred care at the core of everything they do. Both ACU and BaptistCare are committed to evidence-based research and leveraging and leading AI innovation to address challenges in Australia’s aged care sector.”

Microsoft Australia, which has supported ACU since 2022, is also a key partner. Microsoft ANZ Education Director Adam Pollington said: “We are proud to work with ACU and support the Jessie Technology project as it delivers on our shared partnership initiatives by prioritising innovation in health, education and aged care in Australia.”

Ritchelle Drilon

Website | + posts

Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

New AI project targets rising demand for quality aged care services

Ritchelle Drilon

Ritchelle Drilon

MENU LINKS

EVENTS

FOLLOW US

WRITE FOR US