Digital Health Program
Supporting ACCHOs to use digital health technologies that improve health outcomes, strengthen service delivery, and support culturally safe care.
About Digital Health
Digital health includes the systems, tools, standards and technologies that support healthcare delivery, information sharing, clinical decision-making, and consumer engagement.
NACCHO works nationally to ensure Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations can meaningfully participate in and benefit from digital health initiatives. Our work focuses on ensuring digital health solutions reflect the needs, priorities and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
What we do
Supporting the ACCHO Sector
We work alongside Affiliates and ACCHOs to identify digital health priorities, share knowledge, and support implementation of digital health initiatives across the sector.
Advocacy and Representation
NACCHO represents the ACCHO sector in national digital health policy discussions, advisory groups and consultation processes to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are reflected in decision-making.
Digital Health Capability
We support the development of digital health knowledge, skills and resources for the sector, helping ACCHOs navigate an evolving digital health environment.
Data, Governance and Sovereignty
We advocate for approaches that respect Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance principles, ensuring communities maintain appropriate control over their health information and data.
Standards and Interoperability
We work with government, industry and sector partners to improve interoperability and support standards that enable safer, more connected healthcare.
Innovation
We support the sector to understand Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies that can strengthen health service delivery, reduce administrative burden and support the workforce.
Key Areas of Work
NACCHO’s digital health program includes work across:
- National Digital Health systems including, My Health Record, Provider Connect Australia, Health Connect Australia
- Health information sharing and interoperability
- Electronic Prescribing
- National Healthcare Identifiers
- Indigenous Data Governance and Indigenous Data Sovereignty
- Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies
- Digital inclusion and access
- Clinical Information systems
- Workforce capability and training
As digital health becomes increasingly integrated across healthcare, the NACCHO Digital Health team works closely with other NACCHO programs and initiatives.
Current Projects
NACCHO is working with government agencies, sector partners, Affiliates and ACCHOs on a range of projects designed to strengthen digital health capability and readiness across the sector.
Current initiatives include work relating to:
- Digital health implementation planning
- Smart Health Checks
- Electronic Prescribing
- AI governance and capability
- Healthcare Identifier improvements
- Workforce development and digital capability
Advocacy and engagement
NACCHO and key sector experts continue to actively engage in national digital health reform with representation on external advisory groups of the Australian Digital Health Agency, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and the Royal Flying Doctor Service including:
- National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health
- Better and Faster Access Expert Advisory Group
- Virtual Care and Telehealth Expert Advisory Group
- Artificial Intelligence Enabled Care Expert Advisory Group
- Council for Connected Care
- Health Connect Australia Clinical Working Group
- Standards Advisory Group
- Thriving kids – Child Health Record Expert Advisory Group
- Digitally Enabled Care Advisory Committee (ACSQHC)
- Artificial Intelligence Program Advisory Group (ACSQHC)
Get Involved
The success of digital health initiatives depends on strong sector engagement. NACCHO encourages ACCHOs, Affiliates and partners to participate in consultations, workshops, surveys and working groups that help shape national digital health priorities.
Contact
For more information or to discuss digital health initiatives, contact the NACCHO Digital Health team at: digitalhealth@naccho.org.au
