Building a Strong Data Framework: Aged Care Commission Steps Up on Quality and Safety

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the national regulator of aged care services in Australia, has undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of its workflow automation processes to align with evolving regulations and legislation. This transformation aims to enhance the commission’s agility and responsiveness, ensuring it can continue to uphold high standards in aged care oversight while preparing to integrate advanced AI technologies in the future.

Established following a royal commission in 2018, the commission inherited a range of legacy systems from its predecessor entities, which created operational challenges and inefficiencies. To address these issues, Chief Digital Officer Tristan Cox led an “enterprise-level planning exercise” to develop a forward-looking technology strategy. This strategic approach emphasized the integration of technology with people and processes, highlighting the need for solutions that not only enhance operational efficiency but also empower the workforce to deliver better outcomes.

The commission focused on implementing technology platforms that could be “built and maintained largely by APS-salaried positions.” This requirement drove the selection of low-code, intuitive, and secure solutions designed to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on external resources. By choosing accessible and user-friendly technologies, the commission sought to create a foundation for agility, scalability, and ease of use.

As part of its transformation, the commission adopted Workato to streamline the integration of key information systems and facilitate data pipelining into its centralized Snowflake data lakehouse. This platform enables seamless data orchestration, allowing the commission to govern and manage data movements both internally and externally with a high level of rigor and responsiveness. The enhanced data infrastructure supports the commission’s commitment to speed and agility while maintaining robust security standards.

In addition to Workato, the commission deployed a Pega-based system for case management, which is instrumental in simplifying workflows and improving case handling efficiency. This modernized system provides the tools needed to manage critical operations effectively while laying the groundwork for more sophisticated technological advancements in the future.

With these foundational technologies in place, the commission is now positioned to explore the adoption of advanced automation and artificial intelligence. Tristan Cox noted that AI has reached a level of maturity that makes it an ideal time for the commission to assess its potential benefits. The focus will be on identifying safe and impactful ways to leverage AI for enhanced regulatory compliance, data-driven decision-making, and operational efficiencies.

The commission’s technology strategy is rooted in the principle of future-proofing. The platforms were selected not only for their current capabilities but also for their adaptability to evolving government demands and technological advancements. By creating a flexible and scalable infrastructure, the commission aims to offset future uncertainties and ensure its systems remain fit for purpose over an extended period, far surpassing the limitations of legacy platforms.

This forward-looking approach enables the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to maintain its commitment to security, data integrity, and operational excellence. By embracing modern technologies and integrating them seamlessly with its processes, the commission is positioning itself as a leader in aged care regulation, ready to meet the challenges of today while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow.