The Victorian Government has released a new five-year digital health roadmap setting out priorities for connected clinical records, virtual care, consumer access to health information and the use of artificial intelligence across the state’s public health system.
The Digital Health Vision and Roadmap 2026–31, updated on 23 October, identifies four strategic pillars aimed at guiding future investment, prioritisation and delivery – with an overarching vision of more proactive, personalised and equitable healthcare by 2036.
Victorian Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said every Victorian should be
able to access “safe, high quality healthcare that is connected, responsive and
centred on their needs.”
“Digital health can help make this possible. Connected information, modern clinical systems and digital and virtual models of care can make services easier to navigate, support safer and better coordinated care, and enable more people to receive care
closer to home.”
The roadmap seeks to address fragmented information, disconnected systems and inconsistent digital capabilities across Victorian health services, which the Department of Health says contribute to duplication, inefficiencies and difficulties coordinating care.
Its first pillar, Connecting Health, focuses on digitised clinical records, seamless health information sharing and trusted data foundations.
The aim is to establish secure and interoperable digital infrastructure that provides clinicians with real-time access to patient information across the health system.
The second pillar, Care Anywhere, covers virtual hospital care, digital and virtual care journeys and the underlying technology required to support these services.
It seeks to expand the use of digital and virtual models of care so patients can receive appropriate treatment at home, in the community or in other clinical settings.
A third pillar, Engaged Consumers, focuses on providing consistent digital channels through which Victorians can access their health information, navigate services and participate in decisions about their care.
The fourth, Sustainable Operations, covers decision intelligence, operational efficiency and safer digital healthcare, including the use of shared digital platforms, data and automation to support health service operations.
Three areas – workforce enablement, scaling innovation and safe and responsible AI – are identified as cross-cutting priorities supporting all four pillars.
The roadmap establishes five priority outcomes: healthier Victorians, integrated care journeys, equitable health outcomes, a supported workforce and a high-performing health system.
The Department said the strategy was developed through two phases of consultation involving government, health services, clinicians, consumers, industry representatives and digital health leaders.
Consultation highlighted the need to improve access and equity, strengthen digital and data foundations, support healthcare workers and enable more connected care.
The roadmap provides a strategic framework rather than a detailed implementation schedule, with the published overview not identifying specific new funding allocations, procurement commitments or delivery deadlines for individual programs of work.
Progress will be reviewed annually to assess delivery, benefits and emerging priorities, with the roadmap intended to guide Victoria’s digital health investment over the next five years.
The longer-term vision is for digitally enabled healthcare to support prevention, earlier intervention and more personalised services by 2036.
Ms Stitt noted that across Victoria, the benefits of investment in digital health were already being seen.
“Electronic medical records are making important clinical information more accessible. Virtual care is helping services reach people beyond hospital walls. Health information sharing is improving continuity between services, and stronger cybersecurity controls are helping to protect the information and systems on which modern healthcare depends.
“There is, however, more to do. Digital capability remains uneven across our health system, and too many clinicians and consumers still experience fragmented information, paper-based processes and disconnected services.”
She said Victoria’s digital health vision and roadmap 2026–31 sets the direction for
the next phase of digital transformation.
“It provides a framework to guide investment in the connected systems, information and digital capabilities needed to deliver more integrated care, support our health workforce and build a more productive, sustainable and resilient health system.
“It will also help Victorians access their health information, understand their options
and play a more active role in managing their health and wellbeing.
“By working together, we can build a health system where information follows the person, care is better connected, and our workforce has the tools and time to focus on what matters most: providing highquality care to Victorians.”
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