The AI digital transformation question for disability and aged care…and anyone for that matter
I had the opportunity to attend **CareTech25, and a big shout-out to @chrisbeaumont of the Endevour Foundation for generously inviting me as a guest. Attended by leaders across disability and aged care, who came to explore and discover what they could about digital transformation and the role AI is playing there. Having been on the forefront of ICT products and services for the last 30 years, I have never witnessed such a sense of urgency and borderline panic as everyone tries to figure out how to leverage and weave AI into their operations in a compliant, productive, and scalable manner. Held in Sydney across two days, the event brought together technology providers, sector innovators, and service organisations navigating the complexity of reform, compliance, and innovation.
I just wanted to note some of the great tips from the speakers at caretech25 that stood out to me:
- Be clear on where you will (and won’t) use AI and tailor the knowledge the AI uses to get the job done – Damien McCormack, CIO, Vision Australia.
- Business transformation is much more than technology and needs to begin with hearts and minds – Ian Robinson, Life Without Barriers.
- Partner with culturally aligned, trusted partners – Peter Ebborn, Head of IT, Fighting Change
- Use data to help monitor and manage overtime vs well-being – Angela Johnston.
- Integration between systems is critical (paraphrase) – Brett Reedman.
- Inclusive Tech Starts With Lived Experience
Primal Fernando reminded us that digital access starts with listening and building with inclusion at the core.
Some other key points
- Avoiding the Pitfalls in Disability Tech Projects
Pete Boyd from KPMG offered real-world advice on why projects fail and how clarity in goals, governance, and co-design can make all the difference. - AI Is Coming Fast, But It Needs Guardrails
Whether it was Canon’s roundtable, ShiftCare’s session, or Google’s keynote, responsible AI and data governance were hot topics. - Cybersecurity Is a Must-Have, Not a Nice-to-Have
From compliance challenges to protecting sensitive care data, robust frameworks are now mandatory. - Workforce Engagement Is Make-or-Break
The session on staff buy-in reinforced that your team must be part of the digital change, not just impacted by it.
Why It Matters to Donnabrook
At Donnabrook, we work with organisations across the NDIS, aged care, and healthcare sectors to deploy AI-enabled communication and AI voice/chatbot technologies that simplify compliance, enhance collaboration, support frontline service delivery and enhance revenue. Events like CareTech25 reinforce that it’s not just about tools—it’s about trust, outcomes, and people. As a colleague once said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast”, so transformation must be holistic from the beginning.
If your organisation is rethinking communication, compliance, or AI enablement in these areas, we’d love to connect
