- Valuable local knowledge and support to guide Challengers
- Pilots about to launch in the Pilbara
- 12 month trials will test concepts on the ground
The 10 finalists in the Cook Government's $5 million healthcare challenge have come together in the Pilbara for the first time as the proof of concept phase gets underway.
At today's event in Karratha, finalists will meet some of the region's public health professionals and community leaders and learn about the daily trials of delivering healthcare across one of the most remote areas of the State.
The finalists are facing significant challenges as they launch their innovation pilots, including vast distances, extremes in climate, low population density, workforce shortages, language and cultural differences, high healthcare delivery costs and limited infrastructure.
A reliable internet connection is also not a given in many areas of rural and remote Western Australia, which complicates The Challenge's call out for solutions that use technology, supported by research, to improve health outcomes.
Partnership with Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) has become integral to the design and roll out of several of the healthcare innovations that have made it through to the final phase of The Challenge.
Finalists will rely on digital connectivity support from the NBN network to successfully deliver pilot projects through the Pilbara region.
Global tech giants Amazon, Microsoft and Salesforce are also on board, pledging to help finalists as they work on innovative health solutions that will improve health outcomes for people in remote parts of the country.
Each of the 10 finalists have been awarded $200,000 from the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund to trial their concept in the Pilbara for 12 months and prove its viability.
BHP Group, Rio Tinto and the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund have partnered to deliver the $5 million prize which will be announced in October 2024.
For more information, visit the Challenge website.
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Our 10 Challenge finalists have their work cut out for them - they now must show us that their innovations work in situ in our unique Pilbara environment.
"Talking to key health partners and local experts here in the Pilbara will help each finalist understand the landscape, population, and local health needs as they kickstart their project pilots.
"The Challenge is just one of the ways the Cook Government is supporting healthcare innovation that will help to close the gap.
"As many healthcare providers have discovered the vast geographic area, extremes in climate and low-density population are just three of the obstacles that need to be conquered to deliver quality healthcare. I'm looking forward to following each journey."
As stated by BHP Asset President Western Australia Iron Ore Brandon Craig:
"BHP has supported health and wellbeing initiatives in the Pilbara for over 50 years, and we look forward to seeing how these innovative, technology-driven concepts unlock better healthcare outcomes for the people of regional WA.
"We wish the finalists all the best."
As stated by Rio Tinto Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment and Communities Cecile Thaxter:
"Supporting The Challenge is important because we know we need to find better ways to improve the health outcomes of the communities around our Pilbara operations.
"Globally, WA is known for its technical excellence and innovation in mining; these finalists' innovations demonstrate that we are also home to cutting-edge health technology.
"Over the next 12 months, I look forward to watching the finalists' innovative health concepts get tested in remote Pilbara communities."
