December 10th, 2024Grampians Health in IT upskilling project for health workers

AN increasing demand for strong IT skills being placed on the region’s healthcare professionals is refelected in a new pilot project set to run through to the middle of next year.

Part of the state government’ s$4.4 million skills solutions partnerships program, Grampians Health is participating in the pilot that aims to enhance the digital skills of staff to ensure they can navigate changing healthcare technology.

RMIT’s Health Transformation Lab and College of Vocational Education are piloting the digital health skills project to rapidly upskill front-line staff, broader health workforce and IT professionals in the healthcare sector to meet the industry’s emerging needs.

It’s a partnership with Grampians Health and the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), and is being funded through the Victorian Government’s Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) program.

It is designed to be scalable to meet the needs of other healthcare providers across the state and nationally.

“By equipping our staff with advanced digital skills, we are not only enhancing patient care but also ensuring that our workforce is prepared for the future of healthcare,” said Kate Nolan, chief information officer at Grampians Health.

“This pilot program is a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare delivery.”

Staff will learn how to use technology such as generative AI and cybersecurity to improve decision-making, efficiency and strengthen data security.

The program will run until June 2025 and be conducted in three intakes in November, February and April.

It will include online modules, live tutorials and face-to-face workshops.

“Through the digital skills survey and workshops, we listened to our staff and identified the key areas for training through the pilot. This has assisted in informing the design,” Ms Nolan said.

“Healthcare staff need to be proficient with digital tools to provide the highest quality of care, protect patient data, and adapt to new technologies.”

Director of the RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab, Nithya Solomon, said there is an opportunity for healthcare providers to leverage the benefits of digital technologies.

“The healthcare sector is experiencing a digital revolution at an unprecedented scale and pace and while many providers are beginning to explore the application of different technologies in practice, there remains a need to build capability in key skillsets and knowledge rapidly enough to truly tap into the available technology and see the benefits.”

This story based on an RMIT Univsersity media release.