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With proper preparedness skills, one may be able to swiftly manage a dire situation with grace.
OpenGov spoke to Mr. Geoff Williams, Director of Business Continuity Practice at the Australian Department of Human Services, on the very topic of business continuity.
The Department of Human Services is the largest commonwealth agency on Australia with about 34,000 public sector employees. Geoff Williams has been a manager and a consumer of business continuity since the late 1990s.
Mr. Williams has been through the advent of Y2K and is a survivor of the great swine flu scare of 2009. He has managed various ICT projects and business as usual services in the private and public sectors. He also manages a Business Continuity validation and exercise program.
Mr. Williams’ focus for the next few years involves working on the rolling 12 month programs, which follows the 6 common practices in the BC lifecycle. His team provides incident response exercises for regional areas and division level exercises for Canberra. They are currently in the middle of the second round of business impact analyses and the supporting Business Continuity plans.
Mr. Williams finds that in dealing with an emergency situation, one must take a principles-based approach.
“You need to put together a decision making framework while remembering the key priorities of your business. These agreed priorities to make sure you do not lose sight of strategic direction. The executives that are in charge of monitoring that response, stay at the appropriate strategic level. This helps you focus on what is really important to the department and helps you manage the media,” Mr Williams told us.
“This helps people get a bigger picture of what they are looking at, what the business is there to do in the first place, may slip their mind,” Mr. Williams said, “In the event of a crisis, someone might be living too much in the moment. This will lead them to forget about how life must move on from such an event.”
Specific abilities required to work in the realm of business continuity, as Mr. Williams describes, “Includes an analytical and inquiring mind, attention to detail, and some genuine life experience. Someone in this field needs to know what is at risk, and what is not. People who can think for themselves and put matters into context will respond appropriately. They must keep calm and prioritize.”
These skills are imperative to have while dealing with a major crisis. Being able to pause and concentrate on the bigger picture, allows the individual to better assess the situation.
Mr. Williams is proud of the team he works with at the Department of Human Services. He believes that they help facilitate a healthy atmosphere. He said, “We have a very effective team in Business Continuity. Our people are very passionate, and it makes for a good environment.”
Mr. Williams hopes his Business Continuity team can improve organisational resilience. Thus, helping people think independently rather than rely on central planning agency in the aftermath of a crisis.
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CSIRO successfully delivered an innovative 3D mapping technology package to the International Space Station (ISS). This cutting-edge system marks a pivotal advancement in space technology, promising to revolutionise navigation and task execution aboard the orbiting laboratory.
As space exploration expands, the need for efficient inventory tracking, damage assessment, and emergency response in off-Earth environments becomes more evident. With lunar and Martian missions looming, where crew time is limited and some facilities may be uncrewed, the demand for accurate autonomous systems is critical. Additionally, rovers and robots exploring extraterrestrial terrain rely on precise mapping data for effective navigation.
In response to these challenges, CSIRO has developed a fused sensor system for autonomous 3D scanning in collaboration with an international air and space tech company, NASA Ames Research Centre, and the ISS National Laboratory. Originally designed for terrestrial applications like remote mine site access, this technology is now set to be demonstrated aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The multi-resolution scanning payload will be integrated into an Astrobee robot platform, which supports astronaut activities on the ISS. This marks the first time a single piece of technology will utilise both payload bays of an Astrobee robot simultaneously.
Once deployed on the ISS, the multi-resolution scanner will conduct experiments, including full internal scans, beginning with the Japanese experimental module (Kibō). The data collected will support tasks such as inventory analysis, traditionally requiring human intervention, demonstrating the potential for autonomous caretaker functions on uncrewed spacecraft.
The culmination of extensive research and collaboration, this groundbreaking payload is poised to enhance the efficiency and safety of astronauts working on the ISS. Integrated into Astrobee, a versatile robot platform developed by NASA, the 3D mapping device is primed to generate detailed three-dimensional maps of the space station, surpassing previous mapping capabilities with unprecedented accuracy.
Dr. Marc Elmouttie, Research Group Leader at CSIRO, highlighted the overarching goal of this mission, stating, “Our objective is to demonstrate the efficacy of our technology in providing enhanced 3D sensing and mapping for robotics systems on spacecraft.”
This advanced mapping capability holds immense potential for streamlining operations within the ISS, enabling precise tracking of inventory movement and facilitating optimal planning of onboard activities for astronauts and mission controllers.
The technology behind this groundbreaking payload combines two pioneering CSIRO innovations – Stereo-Depth Fusion and Wildcat Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping. This synergy produces high-quality data about the surrounding environment and the device’s movements in space, offering unparalleled insights into spatial dynamics within the ISS.
Developed in collaboration with an international air and space tech company, with support from the ISS National Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Centre, this project underscores CSIRO’s commitment to innovation in remote operations and aerospace manufacturing. Leveraging its expertise in these domains, CSIRO aims to propel space exploration into new frontiers by advancing the capabilities of robotic systems in space environments.
Dr. Ryan Reeves, Technical Director of Research and Innovation for the ISS National Laboratory, emphasised the significance of testing such innovative technologies in low Earth orbit. He noted that these endeavours play a crucial role in shaping the future of space commerce and exploration, driving advancements that will pave the way for unprecedented scientific breakthroughs.
With the successful delivery of the 3D mapping payload to the ISS, the stage is set for a new era of space exploration. The device’s integration into the Astrobee platform marks the beginning of extensive experimentation and validation of its capabilities in the unique microgravity environment of the space station.
As the payload undergoes its first experimentation run in the Japanese Kibō module, anticipation runs high among scientists and engineers involved in the project. This milestone achievement represents a collaborative triumph in space technology, underlining the collective efforts of CSIRO, NASA and the international air and space tech company in advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and exploration beyond Earth’s boundaries.
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A space company based in South Australia has demonstrated satellite-enabled Push-to-Talk (PTT) capabilities under the ASCEND2LEO project, funded by Defence Space Command, garnering commendation from SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat).
This accomplishment, facilitated by SmartSat and Safety from Space, involved adapting a variant of the ‘Beagle’ communications waveform, originally developed through SmartSat-funded projects. The company successfully implemented this adapted waveform on the Centauri-4 satellite, showcasing a significant milestone in PTT capabilities. This breakthrough opens avenues for more secure, reliable, and instantaneous communications over vast distances using advanced microsatellite architectures.
The demonstration conducted for the Australian Defence Force Joint Capabilities Group validated the adaptability of the Centauri satellites. Through a software update, these satellites were able to deliver high-quality voice capabilities while in orbit, laying the groundwork for the Regenerative Voice System architecture of the ASCEND2LEO program. This successful demonstration underscores the potential of highly adaptable microsatellite constellations to swiftly deploy purpose-built, high-quality SATCOM capabilities at scale to address diverse and complex needs.
SmartSat’s Defence & National Security Coordinator lauded the technical feat achieved in enabling a new voice capability for satellites already in orbit. He stressed the critical role of SmartSat in bolstering SATCOM resiliency for Australian Defence and validating the ambitious Regenerative Voice System architecture.
During the live demonstration hosted by the Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG), the company’s PTT capabilities met stringent performance criteria for one-way voice transmission across various operational environments, showcasing reliability and link persistence across thousands of kilometres.
The Co-Founder & Chief Exploration Officer at the space company highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation in meeting the evolving needs of the Australian Defence Force. By successfully delivering a software update to their Centauri satellite while in orbit, Fleet Space established itself as the developer and operator of the world’s smallest known voice-enabled satellite, paving the way for new innovation pathways in the global space industry.
The foundational ‘Beagle’ waveform technology, initially demonstrated in SmartSat’s Resilient Emergency and Search and Rescue Communications project, has seen progressive applications. It was further developed in the LunaSAR project, focusing on emergency communications for astronaut suit telemetry and lunar terrain vehicle telemetry, supporting NASA’s Artemis program. In its current iteration for the ASCEND2LEO program, a variant of the Beagle waveform was tailored for the company, following an AU$6.4 million contract with Defence Space Command.
The ASCEND2LEO research partnership led by SmartSat aims to advance the national space and defence industry by leveraging Australia’s competitive strengths. Facilitating collaboration between the space company and research partners such as the University of South Australia, DSTG, and Safety from Space, SmartSat ensures the integration and validation of cutting-edge technologies onto Fleet’s satellite payload. These efforts contribute to the development of a resilient space infrastructure not only for Australia but also for its allies worldwide.
OpenGov Asia reported earlier that the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat) is investing AU$2.3 million in In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) research. Led by the University of Sydney and NSW industry partners, the project focuses on developing robotic satellite technologies for in-orbit repairs.
ISAM tackles challenges like harsh space conditions and the risks of damaging assets during docking. It aims to enable real-time, dependable close-proximity operations for effective satellite servicing. SmartSat’s holistic approach integrates key technology areas to address these challenges comprehensively.
This initiative, alongside projects like ASCEND2LEO, highlight the development of Australia’s space capabilities. ASCEND2LEO’s success in satellite-enabled Push-to-Talk (PTT) further demonstrates SmartSat’s role in fostering innovation across various space technologies, contributing to Australia’s leadership in space innovation and the development of a resilient space infrastructure.
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CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has spearheaded a groundbreaking achievement in clean energy by establishing a new efficiency benchmark for fully roll-to-roll printed solar cells. Collaborating with an international team, CSIRO scientists have successfully printed these solar cells onto thin plastic films, unlocking a lightweight and flexible solar technology that extends the application scope of solar cells.
This breakthrough promises to address the escalating demand for renewable energy by broadening the horizons of solar cell utilisation. Unlike conventional silicon solar panels known for their rigidity and weight, these printed solar cells offer high flexibility and portability, paving the way for innovative applications across various sectors including urban construction, mining, emergency management, space exploration, and personal electronics.
Dr Anthony Chesman, the Group Leader of CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Systems, highlighted the culmination of over a decade’s worth of research and development efforts leading to this milestone. He emphasised the transition of CSIRO’s thin and lightweight solar cells from lab prototypes to practical clean energy solutions, citing their record-breaking performance achieved across interconnected modules.
One of the key enablers of this achievement is roll-to-roll printing, a technique that allows solar cells to be manufactured on continuous rolls of plastic, significantly enhancing production efficiency. Dr Chesman emphasised the accessibility of this manufacturing method, particularly for Australian manufacturers, given its widespread adoption in the printing industry.
The collaboration involved researchers from leading institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Monash University, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales, showcasing a collective effort towards advancing solar technology. Their findings have been published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications.
Dr Doojin Vak, a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, highlighted the integration of automation in producing and testing thousands of solar cells daily, a feat unattainable through manual methods. This automation facilitated the identification of optimal parameters for the roll-to-roll process, accelerating the optimisation journey.
These printed solar cells incorporate an advanced material known as perovskite, which distinguishes them from traditional silicon solar panels. Dr Vak underscored the versatility of perovskite, which can be formulated into inks and printed using industrial printers. Additionally, the substitution of expensive metals with specialised carbon inks has significantly reduced production costs.
Perovskite, a novel class of solar cell materials, presents a novel alternative to conventional silicon-based solar panels. Unlike traditional silicon cells, perovskite can be formulated into inks and printed using industrial printers, offering a cheaper and more energy-efficient manufacturing process. Its lightweight and flexible properties make it highly adaptable for various applications, ranging from portable device charging to integrated building materials.
The roll-to-roll printing technique employed in perovskite solar cell production enables continuous and large-scale manufacturing, akin to newspaper printing. Although roll-to-roll production of perovskite solar cells has been previously explored, limitations in efficiency and scalability have hindered widespread adoption. However, recent advancements have resulted in significant efficiency improvements, making commercially viable production of perovskite solar cells at scale increasingly feasible.
While perovskite solar cells may currently lag behind silicon panels in efficiency and longevity at scale, Dr Chesman emphasised the unique advantages of flexible panels. Their lightweight and flexibility enable easy transportation and deployment, even in challenging environments like space, where CSIRO recently conducted tests to evaluate their performance.
Looking ahead, CSIRO is actively seeking industry partnerships to further refine and commercialise this technology. The agency’s efforts have received funding from ARENA as part of its Research and Development Program – Solar PV Research.
CSIRO’s achievement in printed solar technology represents a significant step towards realising the potential of clean energy. By pushing the boundaries of solar technology, CSIRO is driving the transition towards a sustainable energy future, both in Australia and worldwide.
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The government has announced an AU$140 million investment in Western Australia’s digital infrastructure which signals a significant step towards enhancing the state’s technological capabilities. Spearheaded by the Spatial WA programme, which has received approval through the State Government’s Digital Capability Fund, this initiative is poised to revolutionise land development approvals and streamline the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects across the region.
Developed in collaboration with over 30 State Government agencies, Spatial WA is designed to harness cutting-edge technology to create a spatially accurate 4D virtual representation of Western Australia’s built and natural environment. This digital platform aims to support key government priorities, including infrastructure delivery, planning reforms, and emergency preparedness.
At its core, Spatial WA will integrate spatial and non-spatial data, enabling the generation of analytical insights, predictive modelling, and the streamlining of digital workflows. The platform’s potential to unlock significant savings for the state is evident, as it facilitates the seamless combination of precise location data pertaining to roads, buildings, networks, pipelines, and other infrastructure across various government agencies.
The benefits of Spatial WA are far-reaching. By making critical data readily available, the programme aims to reduce wait times for planning applications, enhance the efficiency of maintenance work, streamline land development processes, accelerate approvals, and foster increased community engagement in infrastructure projects. Its impact is expected to be felt across multiple sectors, contributing to improved decision-making processes and fostering investment confidence, thus supporting efforts to diversify the Western Australian economy.
The AU$140 million funding allocated to Spatial WA over the course of 10 years underscores the government’s commitment to advancing digital capabilities in the state. Leveraging the Digital Capability Fund, this investment is poised to drive targeted efforts in digital transformation across the public sector and beyond.
According to the Lands Minister, the launch of Spatial WA represents a crucial milestone in leveraging technology for the benefit of all Western Australians. Recognising its potential to shape the future growth of the region, the Minister stressed the programme’s ability to enhance decision-making processes, streamline planning, and accelerate access to land, thereby bolstering investment confidence and economic diversification.
The Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister echoed the Land Minister’s sentiments, highlighting the government’s focus on advancing digital transformation to support Western Australians across all sectors. With significant investment and the collaboration of numerous agencies, Spatial WA’s capacity to save time, improve efficiency, streamline processes, and increase community engagement on major infrastructure projects was underscored.
Spatial WA is a testament to the Government’s dedication to fostering innovation and driving digital change across the public sector. Empowering agencies to work seamlessly in a spatially accurate virtual environment, this groundbreaking initiative sets a new standard in digital capabilities and underscores the transformative potential of technology in shaping the future of Western Australia.
Aligned with the government’s commitment to digital innovation and transformation, the Western Australian Government’s Digital Strategy 2021-2025 seeks to propel the state towards a more inclusive, secure, and forward-thinking digital future, building upon the foundation laid by initiatives like DigitalWA.
The Strategy aims to revolutionise how citizens interact with government services by prioritising digital innovation and inclusivity. With a focus on convenient and secure online services, the strategy emphasised the importance of quality data insights and robust cybersecurity measures. It acknowledges the diversity of its population, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of digital proficiency, can access government services through various channels.
Building upon the DigitalWA initiative, the strategy aims to enhance the government’s ability to address future challenges comprehensively. By fostering whole-of-government capabilities and empowering the public sector workforce with advanced technology skills, the strategy seeks to create a seamless digital experience for Western Australians. Ultimately, it envisions a secure, sustainable, and inclusive digital future for the state, positioning Western Australia as a leader in digital transformation on a global scale.
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NSW Ambulance has launched a trial utilising advanced technology for the swift assessment and triage of stroke patients during transportation to hospitals. This initiative sees the introduction of the Medfield Diagnostics Strokefinder MD100 helmet, a state-of-the-art brain scanner, by NSW Ambulance paramedics in the Hunter region. This marks the inaugural deployment of Strokefinder helmet technology in frontline emergency response scenarios, extending beyond conventional hospital settings.
The trial, endorsed by the Minister for Regional Health, aims to expedite stroke diagnosis and treatment, potentially enhancing patient outcomes by ensuring timely interventions within the critical ‘golden hour’. The Minister underscored the importance of prompt assessment and treatment in stroke cases, emphasising the potential life-saving impact of early intervention.
The NSW Ambulance Commissioner highlighted the efficiency of the technology, noting its ability to conduct multiple brain measurements within a minute. The Commissioner noted the collaborative nature of the study, involving intensive care paramedics, neurologists from John Hunter Hospital, and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. The trial integrates the Strokefinder MD100 helmet with an innovative telehealth application, enabling paramedics to consult with neurology specialists in real-time to optimise patient care.
Leading the study is an Acute Stroke Services Neurologist at John Hunter Hospital who stressed the importance of rapid and accurate diagnosis in stroke management, highlighting the need for seamless coordination between clinicians and researchers to refine frontline care protocols.
Preliminary data from the trial showcased promising efficiency, with nearly all patients undergoing scanning within an hour of the emergency call. The Minister for Medical Research hailed these findings as noteworthy, particularly considering the historically low rate of stroke patients receiving timely hospital CT scans in Australia.
A 27-year-old gym owner from Newcastle shared his experience benefiting from the trial after suffering an ischaemic stroke. His swift treatment within the ‘golden hour’, facilitated by the Strokefinder MD100 scan and telehealth app, played a crucial role in his remarkable recovery.
The Minister for the Hunter stressed the trial’s significance in addressing the heightened risk of stroke among regional Australians. In the Hunter New England Health District, where approximately 1500 residents experience strokes annually, such initiatives hold immense importance in improving healthcare outcomes.
The Member for Wallsend commended the involvement of John Hunter Hospital clinicians in the trial, highlighting the contribution of the region’s healthcare professionals to frontline research aimed at enhancing stroke care.
The collaborative effort between NSW Ambulance, Hunter New England Local Health District, Medfield Diagnostics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, and Titan Neuroscience Research Australia signifies a concerted commitment to advancing stroke care through technological innovation. Anticipation surrounds the forthcoming trial results, slated for release later this year, which hold the potential to reshape stroke management protocols and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.
About a year ago, the NSW government announced that emergency department nurses in NSW were undergoing real-time stroke care training through a new virtual reality (VR) programme. The initiative was implemented in 27 hospitals across the state, aiming to enhance response times and treatment outcomes for stroke patients.
The VR training simulated real-life scenarios, particularly benefiting nurses in smaller hospitals with limited exposure to stroke cases. Notably, regional areas such as Tweed, Dubbo, and Wagga Wagga, along with major hospitals like Royal North Shore, participated in the programme.
The programme was designed to complement the NSW Telestroke Service, providing rapid stroke diagnoses and treatment consultations in rural settings. The TACTICS VR stroke training programme is a collaboration between the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Advanced Training Systems, aiming to improve patient care through innovative technology.
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Australia is embarking on a transformative journey to revolutionise its biosecurity efforts with the launch of the groundbreaking Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity (CAB) initiative. This strategic initiative represents a fusion of cutting-edge technologies and digital systems, strategically aimed at safeguarding the nation’s native species, crops, livestock, and food supply.
By convening a consortium of Australian biosecurity experts, CAB is poised to drive innovation, research, and investment, ultimately fortifying the country’s biosecurity defences and laying the foundation for a more resilient, digitally-enabled biosecurity system by the year 2030.
This transformative venture, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is set to receive an initial co-investment exceeding AU$55 million over the next six years.
In alignment with the Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 roadmap and the National Biosecurity Strategy, CAB is committed to fostering long-term national biosecurity outcomes through the deployment of innovative technologies and capabilities. These efforts are reinforced by the Australian government’s recent commitment to an additional $1 billion in biosecurity funding over the next four years, as announced in the Biosecurity Sustainable Funding Package in Budget 2023-24.
CAB’s focus areas include:
- Detection and Diagnostic Technologies: Research and development activities aimed at understanding, detecting, and diagnosing priority exotic pests and diseases utilizing advanced technologies and platforms.
- Intelligence Gathering Platforms: Initiatives to gather intelligence-based data to effectively address biosecurity threats and enhance market trade strategies.
- Intervention Technologies: Development and deployment of various technological tools to intervene or mitigate biosecurity impacts, ranging from on-farm solutions to national-level responses. This encompasses sovereign vaccines, antimicrobials, biomanufacturing, novel biocontrol methods, and biopesticides.
- Decision Support Systems and Modelling Platforms: Implementation of systems and platforms to support preparedness and emergency response efforts. This includes scenario planning, national response capability exercises, and real-time outbreak responses facilitated by advanced decision support systems and modelling platforms.
- Social-Economic Support: Initiatives to address the human aspects of shared responsibility and effective governance across the biosecurity system, promoting integrated approaches and community engagement.
- Performance Assurance Mechanisms: Implementation of mechanisms to enhance evaluation, monitoring, and performance testing of the biosecurity system. This includes cost-effectiveness analysis, success evaluation, and assurance mechanisms to ensure progress aligns with targets and objectives.
CSIRO’s Chief Executive, Dr Doug Hilton, underscores the critical importance of biosecurity in safeguarding Australia’s biodiversity, food security, and public health. “Our biosecurity defences must be robust, world-class, and science-based,” asserts Dr Hilton, emphasising CSIRO’s pivotal role in advancing this initiative.
Adam Fennessy PSM, Secretary and Director of Biosecurity at DAFF, emphasises CAB’s transformative potential in enhancing Australia’s biosecurity research and innovation landscape. Through strategic integration supported by technology, research, and data, CAB aims to realise the vision of a connected, efficient, and science-based biosecurity system outlined in the National Biosecurity Strategy.
CAB’s ambitious agenda includes a suite of innovative projects ranging from preparing for emergency animal diseases to deploying advanced pest management systems and developing real-time biosecurity alerts. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, genomics, robotics, and big data analytics, CAB is poised to revolutionise Australia’s biosecurity capabilities.
Moreover, CAB places a strong emphasis on empowering Indigenous communities to contribute their expertise to national biosecurity efforts, thereby fostering inclusivity and diversity. Additionally, the initiative holds the promise of enhancing regional prosperity and security by providing new funding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity initiative represents a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing complex national challenges. By harnessing technology and fostering strong partnerships, Australia is poised to reinforce its biosecurity defences and safeguard its agricultural industries, environment, and communities for generations to come.
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An AI-based health monitoring project, aimed at suicide prevention in NSW corrections centres, has secured funding from the NSW Government’s Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) programme for a group of researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW), led by Professor Bronwyn Everett, Dr Rebecca Bosworth, and Professor Wanqing Li. This initiative falls under the SBIR programme, which offers competitive grants to small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative solutions for challenges identified by NSW Government agencies.
The interdisciplinary team, comprising members from UOW’s School of Nursing and School of Computing and Information Technology, as well as collaborators from Western Sydney University and 3Aim Solutions, will explore the feasibility of utilising radar-based technology combined with AI to monitor the vital signs of individuals within NSW correctional centres, particularly those deemed at-risk of self-harm or suicide.
Professor Bronwyn Everett emphasised the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in tackling pressing public health issues like self-harm and suicide prevention within correctional facilities. She highlighted the necessity of expertise spanning healthcare, technology, and firsthand experience in correctional environments to develop effective solutions.
The prevalence of self-harm and suicide attempts among individuals entering NSW prisons underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues within correctional settings. Current monitoring systems, such as cell cameras and routine physical checks by officers, have limitations in effectively identifying at-risk individuals and preventing self-harm incidents.
Throughout a three-month feasibility study, the research team aims to devise a real-time, contactless monitoring system capable of providing advanced surveillance of vital health signs in high-risk settings. This technological advancement could significantly enhance the capability of Corrective Services NSW to identify and respond to potential self-harm incidents promptly.
Dr Rebecca Bosworth, drawing from her clinical experience as a Registered Nurse providing healthcare in prison settings, emphasised the project’s potential to improve the health outcomes of incarcerated individuals. She highlighted the importance of investing in preventive measures through digital technologies to complement existing monitoring methods and address the complex healthcare needs of individuals in contact with the justice system.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Dr. Bosworth emphasised the significance of recognising prison health as a public health issue and the importance of developing solutions that cater to the diverse needs of incarcerated populations.
If the feasibility study proves successful, the research team will have the opportunity to seek further funding for a proof-of-concept phase in 2024. The NSW Government has expressed interest in procuring successful solutions developed through the SBIR programme, underscoring the potential impact of innovative approaches in addressing critical public health challenges within correctional facilities.
The efforts of the research team reflect a commitment to leveraging technology and interdisciplinary expertise to safeguard the well-being of individuals in contact with the justice system and contribute to broader efforts in achieving sustainable development goals related to health and well-being.
Nearly 70% of Australians with known mental health conditions avoid seeking professional help due to various barriers, including stigma, cost, and limited access to care, despite nearly half of the population experiencing mental ill health at some point in their lives, highlighting the crucial need for early detection and intervention, particularly among individuals aged 14-24. Apart from the human toll, mental illness imposes a substantial economic burden, with AU$10.6 billion spent on mental health services annually and reported productivity losses in the industry amounting to $39 billion per year. Recognising this pressing societal issue, CSIRO proposes a collaborative effort involving 20 PhD and Masters students from Melbourne, Monash, and Monash Malaysia Universities to explore AI-driven solutions for mental health challenges, leveraging real-world industry priorities to make a meaningful impact.