Australia’s leadership in digital health continues to shine. This month, we feature Health Connect Australia – a program that is set to improve the way we exchange and share health information.
We also explore world-first research into high-fat and high-sugar diets and bring you the latest Agency news.
Tell us what topics you would like covered in upcoming editions. Email us at social@digitalhealth.gov.au.
Health Connect Australia: the future of secure, connected digital healthcare
Digital innovation plays a vital role in shaping a modern, accessible healthcare system that meets the needs of all Australians.
Better healthcare outcomes are possible when digital health infrastructure is secure, easy to use and responsibly shares information with the right people at the right time.
Australian Digital Health Agency Chief Digital Officer Peter O'Halloran unveiled Health Connect Australia during his keynote speech at the Digital Health Festival held in Melbourne earlier this month.
The program establishes a set of nationally consistent capabilities, products and standards to facilitate sharing health information across existing systems.
Health Connect Australia will provide enormous benefits for healthcare providers and consumers and will support information being readily available and shared to clinicians and consumers to support patient care.
Consumers will have the ability to search, compare and choose healthcare providers to best meet their needs based on location, availability, specialisation, language, cultural background or types of services. They will be empowered to have more control over and access to their own health information.
Peter also announced the exciting partnership with The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association that was formed to undertake discovery for a national image access viewing capability, following significant stakeholder feedback and consultation.
“It’s a core underlying set of foundational functions that will enable the rest of the health system to work better, to let clinicians focus on care rather than administration,” he said.
“No longer will every single health service need to maintain their own master data for all the different people they refer to.
“This is really about how do we make the health system easier to work in and to engage with, and that’s really what Health Connect Australia is all about.”
Health Connect Australia will be delivered in 4 phases, with core components delivered sequentially or concurrently to ensure smooth integration and ongoing improvements across the healthcare system.
- In the Foundations phase of the program, the focus is on developing the building blocks for future phases, including accurately locating providers and services to support subsequent information sharing. Provider information is currently held in many disparate directories and will be consolidated into a single, reliable source featuring near real-time updates. The program will also deliver a trusted exchange service, ensuring only authorised recipients can securely send and receive information.
- In the Sharing phase, the program will focus on removing legislative barriers that currently hinder information exchange and the adoption of national standards and specifications, such as FHIR®, to enable healthcare providers to share data more seamlessly.
- In the Discovery phase, the program will offer a record discovery service, allowing providers to identify, locate and access critical patient information regardless of where it is stored.
- In the Enhancement phase, the program will focus on expanding value-added services that support innovative, consumer-driven healthcare solutions.
As a key enabler of the National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028 and the National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023–2028, Health Connect Australia ensures secure, connected digital solutions that improve access, efficiency and care quality – paving the way for a smarter, more integrated future in digital health.
Find out more about Health Connect Australia or register for the Health Connect Roadshow.
Handheld heart health device could replace the stethoscope
University of Cambridge researchers have developed a handheld device that may transform heart disease screening.
Unlike traditional stethoscopes, the device features a large, flexible sensor array that captures clear heart sounds – even through clothing and without precise placement – making it easy for anyone to use.
Integrated with a machine learning algorithm, it can automatically detect signs of heart valve disease, offering earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
This affordable and scalable innovation could be especially valuable for community screening and in areas with limited medical resources.
World-first research links high-fat, high-sugar diets to impaired brain function
New research from the University of Sydney, led by Dr Dominic Tran from the Faculty of Science’s School of Psychology, has found that high-fat, high-sugar diets have a detrimental effect on cognitive function.
Fifty-five participants aged between 18 and 38 had their working memory tested through recall exercises after answering questions about their intake of sugary and fatty foods.
“We’ve known that eating too much refined sugar and saturated fat brings the risk of obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. We also know that these unhealthy eating habits hasten the onset of age-related cognitive decline in middle age and older adults. This research gives us evidence that diet is important for brain health in early adulthood,” Dr Tran said.
Progress update: Interoperability Plan driving connected care for all Australians
The Interoperability Plan, launched in July 2023, sets a national vision for the safe, secure and seamless sharing of consumer health information. The plan identifies 44 actions, critical as underpinning enablers, to deliver truly connected care. These actions are in the areas of:
- legislation
- policy
- standards
- infrastructure
- information for consumers and clinicians.
Of the actions in the Interoperability Plan, 41% have been delivered. The most recently completed actions were:
- Action 1.9 Roll out and support the implementation of Provider Connect Australia™
- Action 3.4 Online interoperability toolkit
- Action 4.1 Interoperability innovation challenges
- Action 4.3 Develop education content.
Explore the latest quarterly progress report (PDF, 1.47 MB) for more details.
This month, we welcomed 2 new board members
Meegan Fitzharris is a former Minister in the ACT Legislative Assembly, having served in a range of ministerial roles including Minister for Health and Wellbeing and Minister for Medical and Health Research.
Emeritus Professor Christine Bennett AO has over 40 years of health industry experience in clinical care and governance, strategic planning and health policy, commercial and investment advice, medical education and research and has held chief executive roles in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
HealthTech | 12 June 2025 | Sydney, NSW
HealthTech 2025 brings together the nation’s brightest minds to explore patient-centred innovation and the digital future of healthcare.
Ines Sostaric, the Agency’s Branch Manager of Customer Experience and Products will join a panel of experts to share her insights and expertise on translating digital adoption to operational delivery.
If you’re looking for a role that’s professionally and personally rewarding and offers career growth and mentoring, check out the latest jobs at the Australian Digital Health Agency.
- Test Analyst – applications close 31 May, 11 pm (AEST)
- Assistant Director Digital – applications close 9 June, 11 pm (AEST)
- Conformance Management Lead – applications close 11 June, 11 pm (AEST)
- Temporary Employment Register – always open
- APS Section 26 Transfer – Permanent and Temporary – Employment Register – always open
See more vacancies on our careers page.
The world of digital health evolves in a heartbeat. Help us stay on the pulse by sharing your thoughts, news and ideas.
Email: social@digitalhealth.gov.au
Subscribe: To keep up to date with digital health news, events and more.
Follow: Like, follow and join the digital health conversation.
