So what does age have to do with anything?
It’s against the law in Australia to discriminate based on age. Well, that’s good news. How about understanding the implications of an ageing society?
Australia in 2030: 16.7% of the population will be aged 60 or over.
Victoria in 2030 is estimated to have 23–24% of the population aged 60 or over.
We are expecting a new aged care system to be launched in November 2025, “support at home”, and there has also been the National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023-2028. And Department of Health and Aged Care: Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029. That’s a lot to take in here–use your AI to learn more, and be happy that we have ChatGPT available to make some sense of it all. However, increased compliance, higher risk, and deeper data complexity are unlikely to become easier with AI. It simply presents another layer of complexity that businesses must deal with.
Fragmentation hampers quality care. Clients often move between hospitals, GPs, allied health, and residential services, yet their health records, medication charts, and care notes may not follow. This disconnect exposes older Victorians to avoidable harm, stress, and delays. And by 2030, that will be nearly 25% of us Victorians…Unless you are one of the people who will not get sick or need care as you age.
Recent government strategies, including Victoria’s digital health roadmap and the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy, unequivocally call for the consistent and secure sharing of patient information across providers and care settings. Digital integration is now both a regulatory requirement and a moral imperative. Defining a direction and standard is only a small part of the journey.
Successful integration is not a technical project alone; it is an organisational shift that fosters a holistic view of each client. It liberates clinicians to focus on care, enables families to feel confident and included, and supports executives with timely insights to drive quality improvement.
As the aged care sector in Victoria faces unprecedented growth and complexity, the demand for secure, seamless information sharing—also known as interoperability (at least it’s not a complicated acronym!)—has never been greater. I believe that true interoperability is the key to unlocking safer care, more empowered teams, and innovation across the aged care continuum.
What Is Interoperability, and Why Does It Matter?
Interoperability refers to the ability of disparate digital systems, within and between organisations, to exchange information accurately, securely, and efficiently. For aged care executives, this means breaking down silos so that client information, medication plans, and care notes travel unhindered across providers, supporting high-quality, coordinated care.
The National Healthcare Interoperability Plan and state standards in Victoria are now driving a paradigm shift: interoperability has moved from being desirable to essential, underpinning reforms such as the integration of My Health Record and streamlined care management systems.
Challenges and Opportunities for Aged Care Leaders
Despite the clear benefits, many aged care providers still operate with isolated legacy systems, manual processes, or limited data-sharing with external partners. This not only threatens compliance but also limits the ability to deliver holistic care and hinders staff efficiency.
Deep work needs to begin with aged care organisations to map current capabilities, identify barriers, and design actionable roadmaps for seamless system integration. Whether guiding the upgrade of clinical records, ensuring compliance with new standards, or championing staff training, focus should remain resolutely on practical outcomes.
My role in this process is that of a translator and systems thinker—bridging technical, clinical, and executive conversations so that all stakeholders understand the rationale and impact of the change. Collaboration, kindness and optimism are my tools. I hope to see you along the path to a better future.
AI provided the population estimates & fact-checked the numbers—I inserted the en/em dashes and ran the spell checker and kept the BS low.
