Innovate for impact: WA Health Hackathon 2023

The Curtin University based WA Data Science Innovation Hub (WADSIH) and the WA Department of Health have joined forces to give local innovators the opportunity to explore and build prototype solutions to some of the health system’s most complex challenges at the WA Health Hackathon 2023.

Launching on October 9, the event will bring together technologists, software gurus and user experience specialists, to take on six challenges faced by the WA healthcare system, including emergency department patient flow and surgery waiting times.

WADSIH Director Alex Jenkins said the WA Health Hackathon is the premier technology and innovation event for anyone interested in improving WA’s health system and the lives of patients.

“The WA Health Hackathon is a fantastic opportunity for teams to access the best and brightest technology leaders in WA as they test their skills and develop ideas which could have a profound impact on the State’s health system,” Mr Jenkins said.

“Participants will   be paired with supporting data and dedicated mentors to develop potential digital solutions and optimisation technologies for six big challenges ranging from improving planning and patient flow in WA Emergency Departments, to whether we can predict cancer using artificial intelligence and how patients can be provided with better ways to interact with their care.

“Teams will also be provided with cutting-edge synthetic data to help develop their ideas and even prototype their solutions.”  

Acting Director Research of WA Health’s Office of Medical Research and Innovation Nasir David said the WA Health Hackathon provided a unique opportunity for participants to tackle some significant challenges faced by WA’s healthcare system.

“This event helps foster new ideas derived from successes from other sectors in the State to attract, develop and inspire new technology and innovation partnerships within WA Health,” Mr David said.

We are always keen to hear how technology can be better used to produce innovative solutions, insights or prototypes to resolve a number of challenges – improving the quality, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services throughout the State.

Shortlisted teams will be given the opportunity to pitch their solution to the finale judging panel on October 19 and will be eligible to win more than $5,000 in prizes and access ongoing support for their solution.

The WA Health Hackathon will be held across two Curtin locations – 139 St Georges Terrace and the Innovation Centre at Curtin’s Bentley campus. The WA Data Science Innovation Hub is a State Government initiative, supported by Curtin University, which aims to ensure WA remains at the forefront of the digital revolution by increasing the uptake, education, training and awareness of data science in Western Australia.