Key Inquiry Question 3:
How is the growing and changing use of technology and data impacting Australia’s healthcare system?
In this key inquiry question, you explore how technology and data are changing Australian health care. You examine how technology supports measuring, monitoring, diagnosis and treatment, investigate new and emerging technologies, evaluate the success and limitations of digital health, and examine how big data is shaping the health of Australians. This section develops your understanding of the opportunities technology creates for better care, better connection of information and more efficient decision-making, while also requiring you to consider challenges such as privacy, confidentiality, access and ethical use of data.
3.1 – Discuss the relationship between technology and health
You begin by discussing the relationship between technology and health. Technology now plays an increasingly important role in health care through measuring, monitoring, early diagnosis, treatment and communication of health information. This relationship matters because technology can improve speed, accuracy and convenience, but it can also change how people experience health care and who is able to access it effectively. Discussing this relationship means considering both the positive effects and the concerns that arise when technology becomes more central to health systems and individual health management.
3.2 – Investigate new technologies and treatments in the healthcare system
You then investigate new technologies and treatments in the healthcare system. This may include health apps, artificial intelligence, assistive technology and other innovations that influence diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and independence. The focus is on how these technologies are being used, what needs they respond to, and how they may improve care for individuals and the broader population. This section also encourages you to think about whether access to these technologies is equitable and whether all groups benefit in the same way.
3.3 – Evaluate the impact of digital health on the healthcare system
Next, you evaluate the impact of digital health on the healthcare system. This includes examining what digital health is, what services exist, how successful it has been in connecting health information, and what opportunities and challenges it creates for individuals and organisations. Because the directive verb is evaluate, you are expected to make a reasoned judgement about its effectiveness. Digital health may improve coordination, convenience and record-sharing, but it can also create challenges for people with low digital literacy, limited internet access, privacy concerns, or difficulty navigating complex systems.
3.4 – Examine how big data is shaping the health of Australians
You also examine how big data is shaping the health of Australians. This includes looking at how large-scale datasets are used, how they may help reduce healthcare spending, how they support the cure and management of disease, and what safeguards are needed to protect privacy and confidentiality. Big data can reveal patterns, trends and associations that help governments, researchers and health organisations make better decisions. However, its usefulness depends on ethical handling of personal information, strong data security, and careful interpretation of what the data actually shows.
By completing this key inquiry question, you develop a more critical understanding of how technology and data are reshaping Australian health care, what improvements they can support, and why fairness, privacy and appropriate use remain essential.