The report captures insights and recommendations aimed at guiding federal Members of Parliament on the future of digital health in Australia across five strategic themes:

The roundtable emphasised the urgency of establishing national standards and governance for AI, investing in digital health education and career pathways, and modernising infrastructure to enable secure data sharing and interoperability. It also called for reforms in funding models to support value-based care and digital innovation, while ensuring patients and clinicians are actively involved in shaping digital health solutions.

The report highlights the challenges of fragmented systems, workforce shortages, and inconsistent adoption of digital tools across healthcare settings. It stresses the need for a digitally competent workforce, especially in primary care, aged care, and allied health, and recommends embedding digital health education in undergraduate programs.

Infrastructure initiatives like Health Connect Australia and the Sparked program are seen as critical to achieving interoperability and real-time data exchange. The report also draws lessons from international models like OneLondon and the UK’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, advocating for cross-government collaboration and public awareness campaigns to build trust and digital literacy.

The report urges policymakers to avoid technology-driven urgency and instead focus on evidence-based, patient-centred digital transformation. It warns against investing in fragmented or duplicative systems and calls for robust clinical governance, cybersecurity, and transparency in data use. The roundtable participants advocate for a national digital health funding pool, better integration of research and industry, and a shift toward preventative and value-based care.