Navigating the Future of Aged Care: A Strategic Approach to Technology and Innovation
Technology and Digital Solutions Are No Longer an Option, but a Necessity for Aged Care Providers.
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August 13, 2025
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The aged care sector in Australia is undergoing significant change, driven by regulatory requirements, evolving consumer expectations, and technological advancements. These technological shifts are occurring at an unprecedented pace. Adopting digital solutions is no longer an option, but a necessity for aged care providers. Meanwhile, the outdated assumption that older Australians and the workforce caring for them are not digitally literate or interested in technology being utilised as part of care provision, is quickly being disproved.
In navigating the future, technology should be seen as a critical enabler of improved care delivery, and not as a prohibitor.
How Will the Residential Aged Care Sector Evolve, and How Can Technology Help Meet Future Needs?
The introduction of the new Aged Care Act on 1 November 2025 offered significant strategic opportunities for providers in residential aged care. Advancing models of care are meeting the evolving needs of older Australians, whilst enabling the workforce to deliver quality care safely and efficiently. These new models of care will see not only providers adopting technology, but also older Australians and their families, who are advocating for improved visibility and transferability of their care outcomes via the MyHealthRecord, and provider-to-provider sharing of information, as they traverse multiple layers of the health system.
While technology will play a crucial role in innovative care models, it is essential to ensure that it is balanced with significant reforms to benefit providers, individuals and their families. Providers can minimise administrative burdens and waste by equipping staff with the necessary technology and tools, enhancing the clinician experience, and improving outcomes for older Australians. Additionally, technology can assist providers in meeting regulatory requirements for quality care, enabling them to collect and report data more efficiently and accurately. Beyond the front line, connecting front-office and back-office systems with clinical information and patient administration systems can enhance workforce and resource planning, and support sustainable financial decision making.
In an environment where efficiency and the standard of care are paramount, technology can play a vital role in enhancing safety and quality while improving service delivery. Electronic forms, care pathways, and biomedical device integration can streamline tasks, such as patient monitoring, clinical documentation, orders entry, results reporting, and medication management, while freeing up time for staff to engage more deeply with residents. Technologies like remote monitoring, AI-driven diagnostics, and predictive analytics/decision support can further assist providers in anticipating care needs better, identifying risks early, and taking proactive measures to prevent incidents.
Older Australians increasingly expect personalised care that integrates technology to better manage health conditions and monitor well-being. Incorporating technology to improve service delivery can also help providers meet rising consumer expectations for more flexible, responsive care.
What Must Providers Do Today To Prepare for These Changes and the Growing Role of Technology?
A clear and strategic approach to technology adoption is essential to ensure that investments deliver tangible benefits, both for care recipients and staff – and that all aspects of people, process and technology are considered as part of adequate investment governance. Technology investment should not be standalone but should align with and be a key part of a broader organisational strategy.
Providers must establish a solid foundation for technology. This means ensuring that essential infrastructure is in place to underpin and operate software; that workplaces are equipped with networks and hardware to utilise solutions; and that those solutions are secure and accessible. Core foundations and solutions must be aligned and adhere to state and national regulatory standards and guidelines, including the ACCIS Standards.1 These standards are designed to promote enhanced care coordination, comply with privacy and security standards and protocols, and allow for interoperability and information sharing with other providers (both within the aged care setting and beyond within public, primary and community care environments).
A solid foundation will ensure that data collected during the provision of care can be safely stored and used to support decision-making without violating privacy regulations. It will also allow data to be used more effectively in the future for advanced decision support and personalised care delivery, in addition to being able to be shared between care providers to improve the experience of older Australians and their support network.
In addition to establishing foundations, the workforce must be empowered to perform their roles effectively. The aged care workforce, especially frontline care workers, should not feel that technology is a replacement for their skills but rather a tool to enhance their capabilities. Training and building digital literacy are essential to ensure that staff are comfortable with new tools. Some staff may be sceptical of technology, preferring traditional methods or relying on their clinical judgment rather than embracing automated solutions. To address this, aged care providers must be engaged in co-designing solutions that are fit for purpose and meet their needs. This involves clear communication about the benefits of technology and ongoing support for staff as they transition. Building a culture where technology is seen as a partner rather than a threat will ensure that innovations are successfully integrated into daily operations. Any future enhancements or introduction of workflows enabled by digital technology (including remote monitoring) must provide an interface that is easy to use and navigate.
Conclusion
The aged care sector is at a crossroads, with technology continuing to transform how care is delivered. To succeed in this new landscape, aged care providers must adopt a strategic approach that balances innovation with compliance and workforce needs. Building a solid foundation will be key to navigating the future successfully, implementing technology that will empower staff and improve service delivery, including safety and quality.
Adopting new tools and innovative models of care can be tempting without a comprehensive strategy. However, providers must be discerning and align their technology investments with their overall care objectives. The roadmap should prioritise technologies that offer both short-term efficiencies and long-term benefits. Providers need to understand that not all technology investments will yield instant returns. Instead, technology should be seen as an investment in the long-term quality of care, workforce satisfaction, and operational efficiency. A strategic implementation partner can assist providers to design and implement a long-term strategy that is fit for purpose and delivers the best outcomes for their workforce, care recipients, and their families and supporters.
By establishing a clear investment roadmap and advocating for reform where necessary, providers can ensure that they’re well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future, delivering better care and better outcomes for older Australians.
Footnote:
1: Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards released by Australian Digital Health Agency – Dec 2024
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