ACU and Skybox Health Partnership

The Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Sydney has formed a partnership with Skybox Health, an education technology startup, to create a digital nursing education platform.

According to ACU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, this collaboration is essential for:

• Providing health professional students with realistic digital health education.
• Addressing workforce capacity and capability in critical national areas.

They aim to co-design software that will:

• Prepare nursing, midwifery, and allied health students for contemporary healthcare settings.
• Support advancements in healthcare practices through digital documentation and realistic patient case simulations.

Skybox Health co-founder Philippa Gent emphasized the need to enhance curricula to meet evolving clinical landscapes and accreditation requirements.

Additionally, the Australian Digital Health Agency is collaborating with universities nationwide to integrate digital health education into degree programs, ensuring the health workforce is well-prepared for future challenges.

Tend Health Launches New Digital Mental Health Service in New Zealand

The New Zealand government has allocated funding to Tend Health to establish a new digital primary mental health and addiction service.

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey stated that this service aims to assist individuals, especially those not enrolled with a general practice, in accessing primary mental health support more easily.

The service will feature:

• A multi-disciplinary team providing virtual support.
• Extended operating hours for flexible access to assistance.

The government anticipates that Tend’s digital service, backed by NZ$1.97 million in funding, will deliver over 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 individuals.

La Trobe University Implements NVIDIA Supercomputer for AI Research

La Trobe University has installed a new NVIDIA supercomputer to enhance medical and healthcare AI research, marking a first for Australian universities.

This supercomputer is located at La Trobe’s Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation (ACAMI), which specializes in medical and healthcare AI.

According to La Trobe Vice Chancellor Theo Farrell, the supercomputer will:

• Accelerate the translation of research into clinical trials and personalized therapies.
• Support projects like the study on Niemann-Pick disease type C, a childhood dementia.

The deployment of this supercomputer was supported by a A$10 million investment from the state government through mRNA Victoria.