Northern Health has welcomed guests from around the globe to the 2020 Digital Health Futures Forum at the Northern Centre for Health Education & Research.

This landmark forum brings together consumers, health system leaders, health professionals, policy-makers and digital health researchers to identify technology solutions to some of our country’s most significant health challenges, including diabetes, heart failure, musculoskeletal disorders, mental health and cancers.

“Northern Health is delighted to once again host the prestigious Digital Health Futures at Northern Health. Now in its second consecutive year, the forum brings together some of the best and brightest minds in research, technology and health care to discuss our country’s biggest health challenges,” said Professor Peter Brooks, Research Lead, Northern Health.

“We increasingly depend on technology in aspects of our daily lives – communicating with friends, making appointments, purchasing things from entertainment to clothes and banking, and now it is time to see how technology can enable health care,” Professor Brooks said.

The event commenced with a Corporate Breakfast, hosted by Northern Health Foundation, together with NORTH Link.

Guests from local business, research and health care networked and heard a presentation from Professor Vassilis Kostakos, Professor of Human Computer Interaction at University of Melbourne, who spoke about digital solutions driving health care.

Following the breakfast, the summit officially commenced with an inspirational Welcome to Country from Kelli Hunter, Traditional Owner, who spoke about her own experience with digital health.

A range of internationally reputed speakers presented throughout the day, including:

• Sharmila Mande, Chief Scientist at Tata Consultancy Services Research
• Professor Jussi Pihlajamaki, University of Eastern Finland
• Associate Professor Clair Sullivan, Chief Digital Health Officer, Metro North Hospital & Health Service
• Matiu Bush, Deputy Director, RMIT Health Transformation Lab and Founder, One Good Street
• Professor Don Campbell, Clinical Director, Staying Well, Northern Health
• Professor Peter Brooks, Research Lead, Northern Health

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Interactive Digital Technology to Transform Australia’s Chronic Disease Outcomes was also formally launched during the forum. The CRE for Interactive Digital Technology to Transform Australia’s Chronic Disease Outcomes will create a national research capability in the field of digital population health research.

Professor Don Campbell, responsible for the Staying Well Program at Northern Health, says, to foster wellness in the home, we need to build connectivity, if we are to have the ability to monitor in the home.

“A means for digital engagement is essential. That’s why this Centre for Research Excellence in Interactive Digital Technology to Transform Australia’s Chronic Disease Outcomes is timely,” says Professor Campbell.

“Investment in this CRE program will create a national research capability in this emerging field of digital population health research and will generate evidence and methods that will significantly improve chronic disease outcomes for Australians now, and into the future.”

Chris James, Executive Director, NORTH Link; Andrew Williamson, Northern Health Executive Director Public Affairs and Foundation; Peter McWilliam, Northern Health Board; and Professor Peter Brooks, Northern Health Research Lead at the Northern Health Foundation Corporate Breakfast

Matiu Bush, Deputy Director, RMIT Health Transformation Lab presenting on the importance of system design in digital health

Participants acknowledging the role of women ahead of International Women’s Day