Research Article Analysis
Training the trainers: building the digital health capability in the academic workforce
Authors: Buck Reed, Salma Arabi, Kerryn Butler-Henderson, Jodie Brabin, Aathira Suvi, Judith A Crockett
The rapid digital transformation of the healthcare sector has highlighted the need for a digitally capable workforce. While much attention has focused on upskilling frontline clinicians, there remains a significant gap in digital health capability among academic staff responsible for training future health professionals. Work is underway in Australia to provide higher education providers with a toolkit to integrate digital health curriculum into pre-registration health degrees, but if the academic workforce does not have digital health capabilities, there is a risk that this toolkit will not be adopted or correctly implemented. This paper describes the develop-ment and implementation of the Digital Health Academic Literacy Initiative (DHALI) at Charles Sturt University, a project aimed at enhancing the digital health capability of the academic workforce. Guided by the Australian Digital Health Capability Framework, the DHALI initiative provided academic staff with structured resources, self-directed learning modules, and a seminar series aligned with five key domains of digital capability. Engagement data and feed-back mechanisms were used to evaluate participation.
Executive Impact Snapshot
Key metrics from the DHALI initiative highlight critical areas for digital health capability uplift in academic settings.
61
Total Staff Accessed DHALI
50
Average Site Accesses per User
14.75%
Average Content Completion
30
Max Seminar Attendees
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Digital Professionalism
Leadership & Advocacy
Data & Information Quality
Information Enabled Care & Services
Technology
Digital Professionalism in Health Academia
The Australian Digital Health Agency's Workforce and Education Roadmap (2020) and the national digital health strategy aim to create a workforce confidently using digital health technologies. This initiative seeks to shape education and training to prepare the workforce for the adoption of digital health strategies now and into the future, emphasizing the integration of digital health curricula into pre-registration qualifications of health professionals.
Leading Digital Health Integration
Effectively integrating digital health into pre-registration health education requires academic professionals to be trained to develop and deliver relevant curricula. The DHALI initiative helps participants examine the critical capabilities required for digital leadership and advocacy, exploring their current digital capability levels, and contextualizing the needs for digital health transformation within the healthcare workforce.
Ensuring Data Integrity in Digital Health
Digital health tools empower consumers and providers with data-driven decisions. Integrating digital health into curricula is vital for future health professionals to safely and responsibly use data and technology. Artificial intelligence holds promise for finding complex patterns in large datasets, driving more efficient and targeted care, but requires careful consideration of context and nuance to avoid bias or harm.
Transforming Care with Digital Information
Digital health fundamentally reshapes care delivery, service planning, and personalized health. The DHALI program included discussions on the Australian Digital Health Capability Framework's Information Enabled Care and Services domain, highlighting the importance of accurate data, clinical handover, and information management, including the '4 A's of data integrity' in service planning and decision-making.
Navigating Digital Health Technologies
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), telehealth, wearable devices, and electronic health records (EHRs) has accelerated the integration of digital technologies. While these innovations offer tremendous opportunities for efficiency and accessibility, they also present challenges related to digital inequality, data security, and the increasing complexity of a connected healthcare ecosystem.
DHALI Initiative: Capability Development Flow
The Digital Health Academic Literacy Initiative (DHALI) followed a structured flow, beginning with a recognized need and culminating in an enhanced academic workforce, guided by established frameworks.
Identify Academic Capability Gap
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Secure Funding & Form Working Party
→
Develop Structured Resources (ADHCF-aligned)
→
Implement Self-directed Learning & Seminars
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Evaluate Engagement & Feedback
→
Achieve Enhanced Academic Capability
61
Total Staff Engaged in DHALI Initiative
| Feature | CSU's DHALI Initiative | National "Train-the-Trainer" Project |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Upskill academic staff to integrate digital health curriculum. | Provide a toolkit for higher education providers. |
| Scope | Internal to Charles Sturt University, proactive. | National, broad integration across all degrees. |
| Delivery | Structured resources, self-directed modules, seminar series. | "Train-the-trainer" resource (details TBD). |
| Status | Implemented Oct-Dec 2024. | Available late 2025 earliest. |
| Outcome | Enhanced academic digital health capability. | Risk of non-adoption if academic capability is low. |
Case Study: Proactive Capability Building at CSU
Charles Sturt University's DHALI initiative proactively addressed the critical gap in academic staff digital health capabilities. Recognizing the need before national resources were available, CSU successfully developed and implemented a program guided by the Australian Digital Health Capability Framework, providing structured resources and a seminar series to enhance digital literacy among educators.
Key Achievement: Early and targeted upskilling of health academics.
Impact: Ensures readiness to effectively deliver future digital health curricula and prepares students for a digitally capable workforce.
"The DHALI initiative provided academic staff with structured resources, self-directed learning modules, and a seminar series aligned with five key domains of digital capability."
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Estimated Annual Savings
$0
Annual Hours Reclaimed
0
DHALI Initiative Implementation Timeline
A structured approach to building digital health capability within the academic workforce.
Phase 1: Identify Need
CSU recognized the significant barrier of lacking digital health capability within its academic staff to implement new curricula requirements.
Phase 2: Design & Funding
The DHALI working party formed to formulate an approach, securing funding from the CSU Teaching Academy Grant Program.
Phase 3: Resource Development
Structured resources, self-directed learning modules, and a dedicated LMS site were developed, aligned with the Australian Digital Health Capability Framework (ADHCF).
Phase 4: Program Rollout & Seminars
DHALI was made available (October 2024) with self-admittance, accompanied by a five-part seminar series featuring leading Australian experts.
Phase 5: Evaluation & Future Strategy
Engagement data and feedback mechanisms are used to evaluate participation, informing ongoing education and scholarship around digital health initiatives.
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