A message from our CEO Annette Schmiede – September 2026

As we approach the final months of the Digital Health CRC, I have been reflecting on the many experiences of the past five years. Stepping into the role of CEO was an unexpected opportunity and one that has been richly rewarding. In the post-COVID environment, digital health technologies had been rapidly accelerated. New opportunities emerged to extend the objectives of the CRC Program by building capability across Australia’s digital health sector, supporting innovative Australian companies and accelerating the adoption of digital solutions to improve healthcare delivery. While the Research Program remained central to our mission of building the evidence base for digital health, research alone would not move new knowledge into practice or drive innovation.

The challenges facing Australia’s health and aged care sectors are well documented, and their impact continues to dominate the headlines. Doing more of the same is not an option. Innovation, data and digital technologies will play an essential role in addressing these challenges. Supporting and strengthening Australia’s digital health ecosystem has therefore been a core objective of the DHCRC, alongside enabling home-grown businesses to contribute to solving real-world problems.

This month, we finalised the Digital Health CRC Economic Impact Report, undertaken by independent consultancy dandolo partners. The report demonstrates the impact of the DHCRC and the value created through collaboration among researchers, industry and the health system. This investment has generated significant value, particularly for the small and medium-sized enterprises that have partnered with us over the past eight years. What stands out to me personally is the contribution we have made to their growth and success. Ninety-two per cent of our SME partners reported that the DHCRC played a role in growing their business, and many have since established and expanded global networks.

Despite these successes, building and promoting Australia’s digital health technology companies remains a work in progress. Our challenge now is to create the conditions in which home-grown innovation can scale, succeed and contribute to a more sustainable health and aged care system. Procurement policy that actively supports innovation and adoption will be critical to achieving this.

This is a mission we will continue to pursue as we evolve into Future Health Australia. With the DHCRC set to complete its CRC contract at the end of the year, we have established Future Health Australia as a new not-for-profit entity to build on our achievements and continue this important work.

That role is more important than ever. This week, the Federal Government handed down its latest Intergenerational Report, forecasting that health and aged care will be the single largest pressure on the national budget over the next 40 years.

Digital and data transformation will be critical to supporting an ageing population. Two of our flagship projects, Kinnexus and ADAPt, demonstrate how we are helping to address this challenge. Both initiatives will continue into next year as we work to realise their potential as lasting legacies of the DHCRC.

We remain committed to supporting Australia’s digital health technology sector and look forward to continuing this work through Future Health Australia. You will find more information below on how to stay informed about the transition.

We hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter, including an insightful profile of Elizabeth Koff AM, Managing Director of Telstra Health. Telstra Health has been an important partner of the DHCRC.