Unit rationale, description and aim

Digital transformation is fundamental to the delivery of safe, efficient and person-centred healthcare, and the ability to understand, design and implement transformative digital practices is essential for health and ICT professionals. Students will develop core capabilities in systems thinking, digital maturity assessment, governance, human-centred design and the strategic use of enabling technologies, supporting improved clinical outcomes, enhanced patient and provider experience, and sustainable organisational innovation. Through the study of digital health ecosystems, technology platforms, data, artificial intelligence, automation, change management and evaluation frameworks, students will learn how digital solutions are conceived, developed, implemented and measured across diverse healthcare environments, with the unit integrating practical and strategic perspectives to strengthen adoption, promote quality, enhance safety, and support clinical decision making.

By engaging with real-world case studies, emerging technologies and contemporary digital health practices, students will develop the knowledge and applied skills required to contribute effectively to digital transformation, service redesign and innovation across the health sector. The aim of this unit is to enable students to understand and apply digital transformation principles that support safe, scalable and future ready healthcare systems.

2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 4PU

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Analyse healthcare systems using digital transform...

Learning Outcome 01

Analyse healthcare systems using digital transformation and systems thinking principles to identify challenges, interdependencies and opportunities for improving clinical, operational and patient outcomes.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC4, GC7

Evaluate digital maturity, governance structures a...

Learning Outcome 02

Evaluate digital maturity, governance structures and operating models within healthcare organisations to determine readiness for transformation and support strategic decision making.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC7, GC8

Apply knowledge of data, artificial intelligence, ...

Learning Outcome 03

Apply knowledge of data, artificial intelligence, automation and enabling technologies, including digital health platforms and interoperability, to design safe, effective and scalable digital health solutions.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC7, GC8

Integrate human-centred design, co-design practice...

Learning Outcome 04

Integrate human-centred design, co-design practices and change management approaches to support adoption, strengthen workforce capability and improve patient and provider experience while ensuring quality, safety and measurable impact.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11

Content

Topics will include:

  • Leading Digital Transformation and Systems Thinking in Healthcare
  • Digital Maturity, Governance & Operating Models
  • Technology Foundations for Digital Health Ecosystems
  • Data, AI and Automation (Ethics, Governance and Legislation)
  • Human-Centred Design, Co-Design & Patient Experience
  • Workforce Capability, Culture and Change Management
  • Innovation, Emerging Technologies & the Future of Healthcare
  • Evaluation, Outcomes and Safety

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment strategy in this unit is designed to measure achievement of the learning outcomes while supporting the development of professional capability in digital transformation for healthcare. Two assessment tasks are used to ensure that students can demonstrate both foundational understanding and the ability to apply analytical and strategic thinking in authentic health service contexts. The first assessment task focuses on the application of core digital transformation concepts to establish essential skills, while the second assessment task requires deeper evaluation and design of digital solutions that address real organisational challenges.

This strategy has been selected because effective learning in this area requires progressive development from conceptual understanding to more complex decision making, reflecting the way digital transformation initiatives unfold within healthcare environments. The assessment structure provides important opportunities for students to demonstrate competence and to receive feedback that supports ongoing learning. To pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of all learning outcomes and obtain a minimum aggregate mark of 50% in the unit.

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Systems and Digital Maturity A...

Assessment Task 1: Systems and Digital Maturity Analysis Written Assessment

To demonstrate foundational understanding of digital transformation concepts, systems thinking and digital maturity assessment, and to build skills in structured analysis within healthcare contexts.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC4, GC7, GC8

Assessment Task 2: Digital Health Solutions and T...

Assessment Task 2: Digital Health Solutions and Transformation Written Assessment

To demonstrate advanced application of digital transformation principles through the design of a practical and strategically informed digital health solution, incorporating technology, human centred design and change management considerations.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC4, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The learning and teaching strategy in this unit is designed to build both conceptual understanding and practical capability in digital transformation within healthcare settings. A combination of online modules, case studies and applied activities is used to introduce key principles and demonstrate their relevance in real organisational and clinical environments. This approach enables students to connect theoretical frameworks with current industry practice, emerging technologies and contemporary models of digital health implementation.

Online modules provide opportunities for students to develop skills in systems analysis, digital maturity assessment, technology evaluation, human centred design and change management planning. These self-paced learning methods encourage critical thinking, collaborative problem solving and reflective practice, which are essential for working in complex and evolving digital health ecosystems. This strategy is well suited to the unit because it supports progressive skill development, authentic application and the ability to translate digital transformation principles into effective, safe and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Wamala Andersson, S., & Gonzalez, M. P. (2025). Digital health literacy—a key factor in realizing the value of digital transformation in healthcare. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7, Article 1461342. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1461342

Lemak, C. H., Pena, D., Jones, D. A., Kim, D. H., & Guptill, J. (2024). Leadership to Accelerate Healthcare’s Digital Transformation: Evidence From 33 Health Systems. Journal of Healthcare Management, 69(4), 267–279. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-23-00210

Swan, E. L., Peltier, J. W., & Dahl, A. J. (2024). Artificial intelligence in healthcare: the value co-creation process and influence of other digital health transformations. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 18(1), 109–126. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-09-2022-0293

Binci, D., Palozzi, G., & Scafarto, F. (2022). Toward digital transformation in healthcare: a framework for remote monitoring adoption. TQM Journal, 34(6), 1772–1799. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-04-2021-0109

Constantinides, P. (2024). Digital transformation in healthcare: an ecosystem approach (First edition.). Routledge.

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care. (2023, December 11). The Digital Health Blueprint and Action Plan 2023–2033. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/the-digital-health-blueprint-and-action-plan-2023-2033

Australian Digital Health Agency. (2020). National Digital Health Workforce and Education Roadmap. Australian Digital Health Agency. https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-11/Workforce_and_Education-Roadmap.pdf

World Health Organization. (2025). Global strategy on digital health 2020–2027. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/a64d584f-015b-471f-9d86-9ea263cfb516/content

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