Budget papers tabled ahead of Senate Estimates show the Australian Digital Health Agency is planning a significant workforce increase in 2026-27, with average staffing levels projected to rise by almost a quarter.
Budget documents show the Australian Digital Health Agency’s total net resourcing is forecast to increase from $486.6 million in 2025-26 to $517.8 million in 2026-27, while separate agency resourcing papers show its average staffing level is expected to rise from 524 to 652.
The funding figures are contained in the agency’s 2026-27 Portfolio Budget Statements, while the staffing figures are listed in Budget Paper No. 4: Agency Resourcing.
The PBS says ADHA’s 2026-27 priorities include modernising national digital health infrastructure, increasing sharing and use of clinical content in My Health Record, supporting access to health information for aged care residents and carers, cyber security, digital health standards and clinical terminologies and conformance requirements for systems connecting to national infrastructure.
The documents also state the agency aims to continue using digital technologies to improve medicine safety through improved availability, accuracy and use of medicines information – including progressing the digital foundations to support a National Medicines Record alongside expansion of electronic prescribing – and Real Time Prescription Monitoring.
The agency would also support implementation of Thriving Kids through development of a national digital child health record, targeting early identification of developmental delay or neurodevelopmental differences and offering navigation for early intervention.
Among ADHA’s planned 2026-27 performance results are a 20 per cent annual increase in consumer use of My Health Record, a 15 per cent annual increase in provider use of My Health Record and a 25 per cent annual increase in 1800MEDICARE app downloads.
The agency also plans to maintain a 10 per cent increase in participation in cyber security awareness activities, while modernising conformance processes through automated conformance tools and self-service for software vendors and implementing the National Framework for Digital Health Standards as well as expanding the use of SNOMED CT as the clinical terminology for Australia’s health system.
The Agency has been approached for comment.
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