Digital health — the application of technology to health care, prevention, and wellbeing — has accelerated dramatically in Australia since COVID-19. From telehealth to AI-powered diagnostics, from mental health apps to remote patient monitoring, digital health is reshaping how Australians access and experience healthcare. Government and philanthropic funding supports this transformation.
The COVID acceleration
COVID-19 forced rapid telehealth adoption — Medicare telehealth items introduced in March 2020 resulted in an immediate shift that has been partially (but not fully) maintained. Digital health went from a future aspiration to present reality in months.
Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA)
ADHA coordinates Australia's national digital health strategy:
- My Health Record (national health record system)
- Electronic prescribing
- Digital health standards and interoperability
- Safe messaging and clinical informatics
Key digital health areas
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
The MRFF is a major source of digital health innovation funding:
- Digital health research and translation
- AI and machine learning in healthcare
- Consumer health technology
- Genomics and precision medicine
Specific MRFF initiatives have targeted:
- Telehealth services in rural areas
- Mental health digital tools
- COVID-19 digital health responses
NHMRC health data research
NHMRC funds health data research — including health informatics, clinical databases, and population health analytics.
Department of Health and Aged Care
Direct funding for digital health initiatives:
- Electronic prescribing and dispensing
- My Health Record adoption and implementation
- Digital mental health services (Head to Health, online therapy services)
State government digital health
States fund their own digital health programmes:
- NSW Health digital health strategy
- Victoria's Digital Health Action Plan
- Queensland Health digital initiatives
Wellcome Leap (international)
International funding for bold, high-impact health science — some digital health.
Bupa Health Foundation
Corporate foundation funding preventive and community digital health.
HBF Research Foundation (WA)
Health research including digital health.
Avant Foundation
Medical profession foundation — some digital health research.
HESTA Social Impact Investment
Super fund with impact investment including digital health.
Digital mental health has become a major focus area:
Government funded digital mental health
Philanthropic digital mental health
Medicare telehealth
Post-COVID, Medicare maintains some telehealth items:
- GP telehealth consultations (with qualifying conditions)
- Mental health telehealth
- Chronic disease management via telehealth
- Specialist telehealth with GP referral
Funding for telehealth infrastructure (technology, training, connectivity) flows through:
- MRFF
- Digital health agency
- PHN commissioning
Rural telehealth
Specific funding for telehealth in rural and remote areas:
- RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) telehealth
- Remote specialist consultations
- Digital health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Technology enabling health monitoring outside clinical settings:
- Cardiac monitoring devices
- Diabetes management technology (CGM)
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Respiratory monitoring
Funding through NDIS, Medicare, and in some cases philanthropy.
Clinical evidence
Digital health innovation grants require evidence of clinical validity — not just technology elegance. Show clinical validation, user testing, and safety evidence.
Regulatory pathway
Many digital health tools are regulated as medical devices (Software as a Medical Device — SaMD). Show your regulatory pathway — TGA registration requirements for apps and devices that make clinical claims.
Privacy and data governance
Health data is highly sensitive. Demonstrate robust privacy compliance (Privacy Act, My Health Record Act, state health privacy legislation), data governance, and cybersecurity.
Co-design with clinicians
Digital health tools not co-designed with clinical users fail to achieve adoption. Show your clinical co-design process.
Integration with health systems
Tools that don't integrate with existing health records and workflows face adoption barriers. Show your interoperability approach.
Equity access
Digital health can exclude people without devices, digital literacy, or language access. Show how your digital health approach addresses equity — not just serving the digitally advantaged.
Evaluation plan
Robust health technology evaluation is expected — pre-post clinical outcomes, health economic analysis, qualitative user experience.
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