Australia’s digital health strategy in 2026 is built around a clear national vision: to create “an inclusive, sustainable and healthier future for all Australians through a connected and digitally enabled health system.”
That vision is being delivered through the National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028 and a longer‑term Digital Health Blueprint and Action Plan 2023–2033, which together define how data, telehealth, My Health Record, AI and interoperability will reshape care while protecting privacy and equity.
National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028: The Core Roadmap
The National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028, led by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), is the central roadmap for digital health in Australia.
ADHA’s official page, “Discover the National Digital Health Strategy (2023–2028)”, describes the strategy as a five‑year plan that:
- Sets the vision for an inclusive, connected and digitally enabled health system that works for everyone who lives in Australia.
- Places people at the centre, focusing on personalised, equitable care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and people in rural and remote areas.
- Is backed by a Strategy Delivery Roadmap, a living document that maps initiatives and milestones across 12 priority areas over five years.
The full National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028 PDF sets out in detail how governments will work with consumers, clinicians, and industry to modernise the health system. A WHO repository copy, “Australia’s Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028”, emphasises that this is a national strategy for all that aims to increase access, inclusion and digital maturity across the country.
Australian Women’s Health’s short explainer, “National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028”, sums it up: the strategy seeks to deliver a health system that is digitally enabled, person‑centred, inclusive and data‑driven, guiding the development of Australia’s digital‑health environment.
Four System Outcomes and Four Change Enablers
The digital health strategy of Australia is structured around four desired system outcomes and four “change enablers.”
The digital‑policy brief “Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028” and ADHA’s overview highlight these core elements:
Four key outcomes:
- Digitally enabled health system – Services are connected, safe, secure and sustainable, using interoperable technology and national infrastructure.
- Person‑centred care – People have access to tools, information and services that let them manage their own health more effectively.
- Inclusive access – Digital health reduces, rather than reinforces, inequities by improving access regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.
- Data‑driven decision‑making – Better use of data supports clinical decisions, public‑health responses and system‑level planning.
Four change enablers:
- Policy and regulatory settings that encourage innovation, appropriate funding models and safe adoption of new technologies.
- Secure and connected digital solutions, including open standards, strong cybersecurity, and trusted identity and access frameworks.
- A digitally ready workforce, where clinicians and support staff have the skills and confidence to use digital tools.
- Informed consumers with improved digital‑health literacy and confidence to use online services.
The Strategy Delivery Roadmap (included in the PDF) is described as a “living document” that will be updated over time to reflect new technologies and evolving priorities, ensuring digital health policy stays current through 2028.
How the Strategy Fits With the Digital Health Blueprint 2023–2033
The digital health strategy sits inside a broader 10‑year policy framework.
The Department of Health’s policy hub “What we’re doing about health technologies and digital health” explains that:
- The Digital Health Blueprint and Action Plan 2023–2033 sets a 10‑year vision for how digital capabilities will support a more person‑centred, connected and sustainable health system.
- The National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028, led by ADHA, focuses on delivering national digital‑health infrastructure that allows data and technology to safely work for patients, carers and professionals.
In other words, the Digital Health Blueprint points to where Australia wants to be by 2033, and the National Digital Health Strategy and its Delivery Roadmap set out the concrete steps to move towards that vision between now and 2028.
The digital‑policy brief notes that the strategy also aligns with other national policies (such as primary‑care reform and AI governance), providing a blueprint for digital transformation that enhances resilience, efficiency and inclusiveness.
Priority Platforms and Technologies: My Health Record, Interoperability, Telehealth and AI
Australia’s digital health strategy names specific platforms and technologies as key enablers.
The ADHA strategy and the digital‑policy summary make clear that:
- My Health Record is a cornerstone, giving consumers and clinicians access to comprehensive, up‑to‑date health information in one place.
- Interoperability and standards are critical, supported by services like the National Authentication Service for Health (NASH) and a Health API Gateway Service to support secure identity and data exchange between systems.
- Telehealth and virtual care are to be embedded into routine care, not just kept as emergency measures from the pandemic era.
- Data analytics and AI are expected to support more accurate diagnosis, better risk prediction and system optimisation, underpinned by robust governance and regulation.
Healthcare IT News’ regional outlook, “What’s next for APAC digital health in 2026?”, observes that in 2026 AI is moving from pilots to mainstream adoption in workflows across APAC, including Australia, especially in triage, radiology, and chronic‑disease management. This reflects the strategy’s emphasis on data‑driven decision‑making and secure digital tools.
Customer Science’s provider‑focused guide, “National Digital Health Strategy: Guide for Private Providers”, also highlights the National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023–2028 as a key sub‑plan, with 44 actions across identity, standards, information sharing and innovation to make it easier and safer for providers and vendors to connect with national infrastructure.
Governance, Trust, Privacy and Regulation
Trust, privacy and governance are central pillars of the digital health strategy of Australia.
The digital‑policy brief notes that the strategy prioritises:
- Clinical governance frameworks for digital solutions, including robust risk‑management and evaluation processes.
- Privacy and security measures to protect sensitive health data across systems and providers.
- Appropriate legislation and standards to regulate digital‑health tools, including AI and software as a medical device.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s Corporate Plan 2025–26 confirms that the OAIC’s role includes oversight of My Health Record and the Healthcare Identifiers Service, ensuring health information is handled in compliance with privacy law and digital‑health regulations.
On the broader digital‑government side, the Digital Transformation Agency’s Corporate Plan 2025–26 explains that the DTA is leading work on responsible AI adoption, secure data architecture, and whole‑of‑government digital platforms, which provide the identity, security and governance foundations that health agencies and solutions build on.
For a legal and regulatory snapshot, ICLG’s Digital Health Laws and Regulations: Australia 2025–2026 outlines how digital health is governed through a mix of:
- Health‑professional regulation and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules for medical software and devices.
- Privacy and data‑sharing laws, especially the Privacy Act 1988.
- Consumer‑protection law and sector‑specific digital‑health standards aligned with the national strategy.
Implementation: ADHA Corporate Plan and Budget Funding
Turning strategy into reality relies on ADHA’s implementation plans and federal funding.
The Health portfolio’s digital‑health budget statement, PBS 4.03 – Australian Digital Health Agency, states that ADHA is responsible for:
- Implementing the National Digital Health Strategy 2023–2028 and the Strategy Delivery Roadmap.
- Delivering and maintaining national digital‑health infrastructure, including My Health Record and interoperability services.
- Supporting broader reforms to digitally enable primary care and reduce administrative burden through better digital tools.
The ADHA Corporate Plan 2025–26, accessible via the Agency’s corporate plans page, sets out ADHA’s strategic objectives and performance measures for 2025–26 to 2028–29, aligning its work program with the national strategy.
A 2025 LinkedIn update on ADHA activity (Anthony Maeder) noted progress towards 2023–2028 goals, including increased My Health Record usage, improved interoperability pilots, and enhanced digital‑health literacy initiatives, indicating steady movement from planning to execution.
Equity and Rural Access in the Digital Health Strategy
Equity is a recurring theme in the digital health strategy of Australia.
The WHO‑hosted strategy document stresses that it is a “national strategy for all” that aims to increase access and inclusion, especially for communities who may be left behind by digital change. The ADHA strategy page similarly describes an inclusive, equitable system where digital tools help overcome challenges such as distance, chronic disease and workforce shortages.
The Rural Doctors Network article “Rural Health Pro features in National Digital Health Strategy” notes that the RDN’s Rural Health Pro platform is explicitly referenced in the Strategy as an example of digital infrastructure that supports rural and remote clinicians. Rural Health Pro provides:
- A national directory of rural health professionals.
- A collaboration space and access to training and resources.
- A platform aligned with national digital‑health priorities.
This is a practical demonstration of the Strategy’s commitment to inclusive access: using digital tools to strengthen rural and remote healthcare, not just urban services.
What the Digital Health Strategy Means for Providers and Vendors
For providers, vendors and startups, Australia’s digital health strategy in 2026 has concrete implications.
Customer Science’s National Digital Health Strategy guide for private providers highlights several key expectations:
- Align with national infrastructure and standards – Solutions need to integrate with My Health Record, use approved identity and authentication methods (e.g., NASH), and follow interoperability standards such as FHIR where applicable.
- Prepare for interoperability requirements – The National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023–2028 sets out 44 actions that will shape how systems connect and share data, so early alignment helps avoid rework later.
- Strengthen governance and evidence – Clinical‑governance frameworks, risk assessments and real‑world evidence of safety and effectiveness will increasingly be expected for digital‑health tools, especially those involving AI or clinical decision support.
- Invest in digital‑skills training – The Strategy’s “digitally ready workforce” enabler means providers need plans to support clinicians in using telehealth, digital records and AI tools confidently and safely.
The Digital Health Agency’s PBS statement underlines that ADHA will help modernise primary care through digital health, including supporting new data flows, secure messaging and integrated workflows that reduce administrative burden. That’s a signal to software vendors and clinics that integration and usability in real‑world clinical workflows will be key to adoption.
