Australia’s brightest tech minds compete to solve major health challenges
How can innovative new technologies be used to improve Australia’s health system? That’s the question many tech-minded competitors will be trying to answer as part of the 2018 Telstra Innovation Challenge.
Images courtesy of Telstra
The 2018 Telstra Innovation Challenge asks competitors to solve some of the most interesting challenges faced by Australia’s health industry by designing, hacking and coding with their teams.
This year Bupa has signed on as the challenge partner, recognising the potential to help transform the health system using 'Internet of Things' (IoT) technologies. In other words, using the internet to interconnect computing devices which are embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data, in ways which could ultimately improve the healthcare industry in Australia.
“We’re looking for ways to help people stay healthy and well through either preventative health, independent care in the home or via a public emergency response,” says Bupa’s Innovation lead, Gemma Cosgriff.
“We’re also looking for solutions which can empower healthcare professionals to work more safely and efficiently. For example, technology to help doctors respond to emergencies more quickly, or something to monitor fatigue in health care workers to reduce the strain and enable them to perform their work more safely and effectively,” she says.
The 2018 Telstra Innovation Challenge is split into two streams, one open to the public, and another for university students.
Telstra will provide qualifying teams with everything they'll need to get their ideas up and running, including a development kit designed specifically for Australian innovators and developers.
Finalists will pitch their ideas to an expert judging panel in May, be in the running for a range of prizes, and help build the future of Australia's Health and Wellness industry.
Cosgriff says this is just one of many ways Bupa is striving to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.
“Part of our commitment to improving health and care in Australia is about continuously looking for new ways we can improve the health system. One way we do that is through medical research funded by the Bupa Health Foundation, but developing new technologies can be just as important.”
“We can’t wait to see the ideas and solutions competitors come up with, and to work with teams to explore whether any of the ideas could be implemented in real life.”
The winners will be announced at an awards event on Saturday 26th of May at Telstra Labs in Melbourne.
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