Now Here Is A Real Blast From The Past That Shows Knowing The Future Is Tricky.

This appeared a few days ago.

https://www.afr.com/technology/how-the-afr-called-the-death-of-the-home-computer-in-1985-we-were-wrong-20220117-p59oyn

The home computer is dead, we said in 1985. Oops

As part of our 70th anniversary, the Financial Review is reproducing classic stories. On March 21, 1985, David Noble debunked what became one of the biggest selling home items ever: the home computer.

Jan 18, 2022 – 5.39pm

----- Begin 1985 article by David Nole

“The surprise announcement by IBM yesterday that it will stop making its PCnr next month has confirmed that the home will never be a viable market for computers, except for specialist applications.

The announcement comes as US high technology stocks lose their gloss, several companies in America announce slow-downs in projected sales, and share prices drop across the board.

IBM’s decision is not expected to affect its revenue greatly, but it could be one of the final nails in the coffin of a market which never grew to meet industry analysts’ original high expectations.

And IBM’s withdrawal leaves what is left of the market open to Apple and a handful of niche market suppliers.

It is an embarrassing move for a company which rose to dominate the personal computer market in just four years, and follows moves by some leading computer marketing companies to scrap their involvement in the home computer area.

Texas Instruments’ experiment with its TI 99/4A home computer was one of the greatest marketing fiascos the computer industry has ever seen. It cut its losses and pulled out of the market in October 1983 with thousands of units still in stock.

Commodore has announced falling sales for its machines, and Atari is struggling to recover after dismal sales and heavy staff cuts.

While personal computers can take away much of the drudgery of office work, there is little application for them in the home.

Apple has also announced the closure of four plants for a week, the first in the company’s history, as it tries to dilute a bulging inventory. Its Apple II series, as the PCjr’s closest competitor, stands to gain most from IBM’s announcement.

Announced in late 1983, the PCjr was the one IBM personal computer product which did not turn to gold. It was late for the lucrative Christmas market and heavy criticism of the machine’s keyboard forced IBM to replace it with a more conventional one.

Despite the backing of a reputed $US40 million marketing campaign, IBM could not make the product sell, a common situation in a market where any technical failure is likely to taint a machine’s reputation through its lifetime.

While industry analysts, and IBM were hopeful of huge market demand for home computers, recent months have seen a dramatic turnaround in opinion as the market began to falter.

The reality is that while personal computers can take away much of the drudgery of office work, there is little application for them in the home except as an adjunct to business and for computer hobbyists.

The person who cannot balance his cheque book with a calculator and pencil is unlikely to be able to do so on a computer.

There is little advantage in storing recipes on a floppy disk, the average person does not write enough letters to justify the cost and the person who cannot balance his cheque book with a calculator and pencil is unlikely to be able to do so on a computer.

IBM’s announcement came too late to affect trading on US stock exchanges but any impact is likely to become evident today. The company’s shares closed at $US130.50, up $US2.125.

Other high-tech stocks traded well, a stark change from recent weeks when many companies’ shares have plunged in the wake of reduced profit and turnover projections.

Data General Corp and Digital Equipment Corp have also recently warned of a slowing down in orders which has affected their share prices, and Computervision Corp’s stocks also went into a tailspin last week when it announced it expected only to break even in the current quarter.”

----- End 1985 Article.

Just shows how dangerous it is to conclude what will be the state of play 45 years hence.

All this discussion reminded me of the Digital PDP11/03 I used / programmed in the ICU in 1981/2 as I taught myself Fortran and BASIC in my trusty TRS-80!

Not surprisingly I now have 2 or 3 PCs and the odd laptop from HP and Dell who were hardly around then! Needless to say that while the IBM PCjr failed to thrive many others did!

Great memories from a while ago!

David.

I Don’t Think It Is News That Australians Are Keen To Block Marketing Access To Their Private Information, But There Is More To It That.

This appeared last week.

Aussies concerned about how personal details are used for marketing

By Chris Coughlan

Australians want more control over how their information is used by businesses to contact them for marketing, according to new research released by the ACMA.

The research found that in the 6 months leading up to the survey, 98% of Australians received some form of unsolicited communication and that more than 7 in 10 Australians would like more control over the communications they receive. Only one in 10 of those surveyed felt they always have control over how their information is used by business to sell or promote something.

Of Australians who asked a business to stop contacting them, 56% had trouble unsubscribing and 59% said they were still contacted after unsubscribing, the ACMA advised.

The research also showed that scam calls were the most prevalent type of unwanted communication received, with 86% of Australians reporting that they had a scam call in the 6 months before the survey and 4 in 10 Australians receiving them at least weekly.

Over the past 18 months, the ACMA says that businesses have paid $1,899,120 in ACMA-issued infringement notices for breaking spam and telemarketing laws.

The ACMA says it has also accepted 12 court-enforceable undertakings and issued 8 formal warnings to businesses.

More here:

https://itwire.com/technology-regulation/aussies-concerned-about-how-personal-details-are-used-for-marketing.html

Here is the ACMA view of its report:

Unsolicited communications in Australia: Consumer experience research 2021

This interactive report highlights Australian consumers’ experience of unsolicited communications in 2021.

View the Unsolicited communications in Australia report.

The research explores the incidence, type, impact and management of unsolicited communications. It examines the different forms of unsolicited contact (calls, emails and texts) and how they occur, including scams.

We looked at the impact of unsolicited communications, and how they negatively affect many Australians. They undermine confidence in our  networks and legitimate marketing practices.

We also explored consumers’ experience of, and expectations about, consent to receive marketing communications.

About the research

This research is part of the ACMA research program, which provides evidence to inform our decision-making. The findings will help us to deliver regulatory, education, and compliance and enforcement activities. Protecting telco customers is an ACMA compliance priority.

Fieldwork was conducted between July and August 2021.

Accessing the data

Download the research questionnaire and accessibility file for the interactive report below.

If you're having trouble viewing the interactive report, please try a different web browser or contact us.

Questionnaire – Unsolicited communications in Australia (161.83 KB)

Accessibility file – Unsolicited communications in Australia (241.85 KB)

Here is the link to the report:

https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2022-01/report/unsolicited-communications-australia-consumer-experience-research-2021

The report is interesting as it covers contact by e-mail, text, phone (mobile and fixed) and covers marketing, scams and so on!

It certainly seems to me we are being to many more scam calls and spam emails than is even 1/2 reasonable!

Well worth a browse of the report which is nice and current!

David.

 

Commentators and Journalists Weigh In On Digital Health And Related Privacy, Safety, Social Media And Security Matters. Lots Of Interesting Perspectives - January 25, 2022.

-----

This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.

I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.

Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! It’s pretty sad!

Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.

-----

https://www.innovationaus.com/australias-online-safety-reform-not-worthy-of-its-name/

Australia’s online safety reform ‘not worthy of its name’

---

Denham Sadler
National Affairs Editor

19 January 2022

The federal government’s online safety laws and the eSafety Commissioner are “woefully inadequate”, and planned reforms will do nothing to help those most impacted from online harms, according to University of Western Australia research associate Noelle Martin.

Ms Martin, who was the WA Australian of the Year in 2019, told a public hearing for the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety on Tuesday that the series of planned online safety reforms will not live up to their name.

The government last month unveiled draft anti-trolling legislation which would enable those who have been defamed to identify anonymous posters of the defamatory material and reverse the High Court’s decision that administrators of social media pages are liable for defamatory comments posted by third parties.

While the government is branding this as an effort to assist victims of abuse online, Ms Martin said the reform will do nothing to help those who actually need it.

-----

https://www.zdnet.com/article/oaic-wants-stronger-accountability-measures-in-upcoming-revised-privacy-act/

OAIC wants stronger accountability measures in upcoming revised Privacy Act

Australia's Information Commissioner has called for a positive duty on organisations to handle personal information fairly and reasonably in light of the federal government considering amendments to the Privacy Act.

Written by Campbell Kwan, Journalist

on January 18, 2022 | Topic: Security

The Office of Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has called for more data accountability measures across the board in light of the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) seeking consultation for its review of the Privacy Act.

The AGD began its review into the country's Privacy Act at the end of 2020 as part of the Commonwealth's response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Digital Platforms Inquiry, which found the laws needed to be updated to adequately protect consumers and their data.

Among those measures [PDF] recommended by the OAIC is a central obligation to collect, use, and disclose personal information fairly and reasonably for entities under the scope of Australia's Privacy Principles (APP). The OAIC envisions this would entail providing consumers with the right to erasure, meaningful consent through requiring them to be properly and clearly be informed about how their personal information will be handled, and the right to notification when their personal information is collected.

-----

https://www.zdnet.com/article/commercial-surveillance-the-more-immediate-pressing-problem-for-citizens-home-affairs-chief/

Commercial surveillance the more immediate problem for citizens: Home Affairs chief

Mike Pezzullo says Australia needs a broad societal discussion about privacy, but government spying will always be more restricted. Meanwhile, our surveillance laws need bulldozing and a complete rebuild.

Written by Stilgherrian , Correspondent

Posted in The Full Tilt on January 21, 2022 | Topic: Security

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has made clear his intended approach to the reform of Australia's electronic surveillance laws: Bulldoze everything and start again.

We also need "a broader societal discussion about privacy", he said.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) on Thursday, Pezzullo described the surveillance law reforms now under way as more of a rebuild, not just a renovation.

"I'd like to get to a point if we can design the legislation almost as if we are... not just renovating an existing structure, but literally clearing a site, levelling it, understanding what's in the ground, what all the different conditions are in relation to that site, and building the new structure together," he said.

-----

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/australiabritain-cyber-pact-to-shape-asecure-internet/news-story/c357031655b8e39b47e80268f4dcbe28

Australia-Britain cyber pact to shape a ‘secure’ internet

Jess Malcolm

8:15PM January 20, 2022

Australia and Britain have agreed to a cyber and critical technology partnership following high-level ministerial meetings on Thursday, as the countries seek to strengthen ties and work together to tackle ­“malign” actors in the Indo-­Pacific region.

Scott Morrison is hosting Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and ­Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in Sydney this week as part of AUKMIN talks to discuss how the allies can bolster diplomatic relations in the face of rising authoritarian regimes.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the partnership would shape a ­“positive” and “secure” internet environment.

She said the policy would be centred around four pillars: “tackling malign actors; promoting our values and positive vision for technology; strengthening global technology supply chains; and harnessing technology to solve global challenges”.

-----

https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/18621

Australian Digital Health Agency

Data Architect

Opportunity ID 18621

Deadline for asking questions Tuesday 25 January 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)

Application closing date Thursday 27 January 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)

Published Thursday 20 January 2022

Category Software engineering and Development

Additional terms Comprehensive terms apply

Overview

Reporting directly to the Director of Enterprise Architecture, the Data Architect will be a technical Reporting directly to the Director of Enterprise Architecture, the Data Architect will be a technical expert responsible for the development, maintenance, and ongoing evolution of the organisations Data Architecture, underpinning the program agenda. You will be responsible for advocating data integration benefits and leading technical project teams in the adoption of best practice. Additionally, you will ensure the analytical data solutions meet business intelligence requirements by working in conjunction with other specialist resources and subject matter experts from across the Agency and the broader Health sector to support the development of project deliverables, program and Agency objectives. This will involve acting as intermediary between the project team, other Agency project teams and external stakeholders to ensure that solution designs and their trade-offs are identified, documented, communicated, endorsed and delivered. the Data Architect will be responsible for: • Working in partnership with business units to understand business needs, gather data requirements and develop and enterprise data model, and assist project teams with implementation. • Provide advice to projects and apply expertise in native cloud implementation including developing and maintaining the logical and physical data models consistent with enterprise standards and objectives. • Perform metadata design and maintenance, developing and maintaining the formal description of the data and data structures. • Design project data integration and data migration activities, advising on the transition from current to desired state. • Contribute to building the capability by mentoring, training, and providing expert advice to other staff. • Develop transition and target Data Architecture to achieve strategic objectives. • Assist with the definition and maturity of Data Governance and Data Quality programs. • Develop standards and assist with the selection and implementation of systems for Master Data and Reference Data management. • Provide leadership with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure delivery of quality outcomes, and • Follow all Agency policies, procedures and instructions and take reasonable care for your own health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.

-----

https://www.itnews.com.au/digitalnation/news/australian-tech-spending-to-exceed-111-billion-in-2022-says-gartner-574928

Australian tech spending to exceed $111 billion in 2022, says Gartner

By Velvet-Belle Templeman on Jan 20, 2022 5:39PM

Australian tech spending is forecast to increase by 6.3 percent this year, exceeding $111 billion in 2022, according to Gartner research.

The research house’s latest IT spending forecast reveals that the highest spending growth area in tech this year will be in enterprise software (up by 14.9 percent), followed by the IT services segment (up 6.1 percent from last year).

This growth in IT services spending, which includes consulting and managed services, makes the segment the largest category for IT spending in Australia, expected to reach $39.2 billion.

Heightened demand for IT services, comes as a result of organisations increasingly relying on external consultants to assist with their digital transformation agendas.
-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/senior-policy-advisor-06022022

Senior Policy Advisor

EL1 ($122,716 - $139,959)
Digital Strategy Division > Info/Comm Tech (ICT)
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 6 Feb 2022

Division overview

The Digital Strategy Division’s purpose is to support the delivery of the Australian Digital Health Strategy and the Agencies workplan by continually delivering insights and research which shapes the future strategy and expands digital health enablement through continually delivering solutions for quality customer experiences.

Primary purpose of position

The Senior Policy Advisor will work collaboratively across teams to provide specialist policy advice and shape strategic thinking to deliver Agency priorities. The Digital Strategy section leads a range of strategic projects including development of strategy documents, business cases and policy proposals.

The Senior Policy Adviser will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:

• Preparing written material such as meeting papers, briefings, presentations and emails.  
• Provide specialist policy advice and complex problem solving for a range of Agency initiatives and projects.
• Work collaboratively across the Australian Digital Health Agency to cultivate productive working relationships and implement digital health services and systems.
• Engage and collaborate with key stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation and partnership in digital healthcare delivery.
• Act strategically to develop practical, innovative and creative solutions to manage complex issues.
• Communicate and make decisions that are based on professional judgement, evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment.
• Adhere to the Agency Values and Code of Conduct.
• Developing strategic policy advice on complex matters in tight timeframes that meets the needs of the Agency and the government.
• Successfully engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders and marshalling the necessary specialist expertise to deliver effective solutions to challenging problems and opportunities.

-----

https://www.ama.com.au/gpnn/issue-22-number-2/articles/my-health-record-has-proof-covid-19-vaccinations

My Health Record has proof of COVID-19 vaccinations

Published 20 January 2022 ADHA Propaganda

GPs can inform patients that they can find proof of their vaccination in their My Health Record. The record provides an immunisation history statement as well as the COVD-19 digital certificate. Patients can also download their digital certificate to a digital wallet for ready access. To access it, patients need to link their My Health Record through their myGov account.

The Australian Digital Health Agency has advised that the My Health Record has a new dashboard with everything COVID-19-related in one place – this includes COVID-19 vaccination details and test results, medical conditions, relevant medicines and allergy information (eg anaphylaxis), plus links to the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder and side effect checker.

My Health Record also gives health care providers information on pre-existing conditions and medicine history of the patient which may be useful in assessing potential allergic reactions or side effects of immunisation. 

COVID-19 vaccination data flows into My Health Record from all states and territories after it has been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Providers can access this data through their clinician information system or the National Provider Portal.  

For patients having problems with linking to My Health Record via myGov this FAQ page. on digitalhealth.gov.au may help or they can contact the My Health Record Help line is 1800 723 471. It is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.  

-----

https://www.themandarin.com.au/179083-digital-health-services-prove-merit-as-frontline-of-pandemic-response-under-pressure/

Digital health services prove merit as frontline of pandemic response under pressure

---

By Jackson Graham  ADHA Propaganda

Thursday January 20, 2022

As pressure mounts on health systems from surging coronavirus cases, an initially controversial digital record of Australians’ medical information is proving its merits. 

The My Health Record sparked opposing views from medical and privacy advocates when the government automatically started storing information for all Australians who didn’t opt out before early 2019. 

Now it’s recording clinical information for more than 22.2 million people and relieving administrative pressure on health professionals during the pandemic, the Australian Digital Health Agency acting chief, Paul Creech, told The Mandarin.

Creech said the record became more useful as the pandemic dragged on, with many Australians needing the continuation of their interactions with the health system stored together. 

“More and more, that information will become important in the context of the overall information, not just single pieces of it,” he said. 

-----

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=9d9c40bc-7926-488c-b314-97b1351c5e30

Breaking down an employer’s ability to collect and store an employee’s vaccination status under the Privacy Act

Cooper Grace Ward  Annie Smeaton and Megan Cheng

Australia January 18 2022

With a rising number of employees claiming that asking for their vaccination status is a ‘breach of their privacy’, it is important for employers to understand their rights and obligations under the Privacy Act.

It comes as no surprise that many employers across Australia have commenced collecting their employees’ COVID‑19 vaccination status. However, on 30 November 2021, Virgin Australia entered into Federal Court consent orders to delete all proof of certain COVID-19 vaccination documents.

In this article, we explain who the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) applies to, when employers can collect an employee’s vaccination status, and what employers must do with the information they collect.

We also discuss why Virgin Australia was required to delete all proof of COVID-19 digital certificates and Immunisation History Statements, and how employers can avoid making the same mistake.

-----

https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/help/advance-care-plan-and-goals-of-care

Advance care planning and goals of care

Your future medical treatment depends on your wishes and the plan you have in place. This information can be captured in an advance care plan or a goals of care document. 

What is an advance care plan?

An advance care planning document details your future medical care preferences. It provides guidance to your family, close friends and healthcare providers if you can no longer speak for yourself or make your own decisions. Adding your advance care plan to your My Health Record can ensure this information is available to your treating doctors if it’s ever needed.  

What is a goals of care document?

A goals of care document includes medical and non-medical goals of care information determined through a shared decision-making process between healthcare providers, patients and families or carers in relation to an episode of care. This is consistent with the national guidelines which are currently being developed.

What is an advance care plan document custodian?

An advance care document custodian is someone who holds a copy of your advance care planning document. Up to two custodians for your advance care plans can be stored in your My Health Record.

-----

https://itwire.com/technology-regulation/aussies-concerned-about-how-personal-details-are-used-for-marketing.html

Aussies concerned about how personal details are used for marketing

By Chris Coughlan

Australians want more control over how their information is used by businesses to contact them for marketing, according to new research released by the ACMA.

The research found that in the 6 months leading up to the survey, 98% of Australians received some form of unsolicited communication and that more than 7 in 10 Australians would like more control over the communications they receive. Only one in 10 of those surveyed felt they always have control over how their information is used by business to sell or promote something.

Of Australians who asked a business to stop contacting them, 56% had trouble unsubscribing and 59% said they were still contacted after unsubscribing, the ACMA advised.

The research also showed that scam calls were the most prevalent type of unwanted communication received, with 86% of Australians reporting that they had a scam call in the 6 months before the survey and 4 in 10 Australians receiving them at least weekly.

-----

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/big-tech-must-be-punished-for-allowing-online-abuse/news-story/95bde43f9990c835bbcc7a680d5749c3

‘Big tech must be punished for allowing online abuse’

Sophie Elsworth

8:32PM January 18, 2022

Online abuse victim Noelle Martin has revealed the torment she endured after bullying from anonymous trolls who published photoshopped pornographic ­images of her, saying not enough was being done to punish social media sites and perpetrators.

Broadcaster and journalist Erin Molan also spoke of the relentless online abuse she experienced, noting there was “no incentive for them to stop”.

The pair addressed the Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety on Tuesday, detailing the pain they both experienced at the hands of online trolls and urging tougher measures be implemented to end abuse.

Ms Martin, 27, a legal researcher based in Perth, told the inquiry how she discovered when she was 18 digitally fabricated images of herself online that had been stolen from social media and turned into a “deepfake” sexual video of her.

-----

https://www.afr.com/technology/how-the-afr-called-the-death-of-the-home-computer-in-1985-we-were-wrong-20220117-p59oyn

The home computer is dead, we said in 1985. Oops

As part of our 70th anniversary, the Financial Review is reproducing classic stories. On March 21, 1985, David Noble debunked what became one of the biggest selling home items ever: the home computer.

Jan 18, 2022 – 5.39pm

The surprise announcement by IBM yesterday that it will stop making its PCnr next month has confirmed that the home will never be a viable market for computers, except for specialist applications.

The announcement comes as US high technology stocks lose their gloss, several companies in America announce slow-downs in projected sales, and share prices drop across the board.

IBM’s decision is not expected to affect its revenue greatly, but it could be one of the final nails in the coffin of a market which never grew to meet industry analysts’ original high expectations.

And IBM’s withdrawal leaves what is left of the market open to Apple and a handful of niche market suppliers.

It is an embarrassing move for a company which rose to dominate the personal computer market in just four years, and follows moves by some leading computer marketing companies to scrap their involvement in the home computer area.

-----

https://www.afr.com/technology/microsoft-buys-activision-blizzard-in-96b-game-deal-20220119-p59pc8

Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard in $96b game deal

Dina Bass and Nate Lanxon

Jan 19, 2022 – 3.50am

Microsoft agreed to buy Activision Blizzard in a $US68.7 billion ($96 billion) deal, uniting two of the biggest forces in video games to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company.

In its largest purchase ever, Microsoft will pay $US95 a share in cash for one of the most legendary gaming publishers, known for titles including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft but which is also grappling with a cultural upheaval over its treatment of women.

Activision chief executive Bobby Kotick will continue to serve in that role until the deal closes, a person familiar with the deal said. It was unclear what position, if any, he would take afterward.

Once the transaction is completed, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, who was promoted along with the deal to CEO of Microsoft Gaming.

-----

https://anmj.org.au/my-health-record-contains-all-covid-19-info-including-proof-of-vaccinations/

My Health Record contains all COVID-19 info, including proof of vaccinations

By ANMJ Staff|

January 18th, 2022| ADHA Propaganda

The Australian Digital Health Agency is reminding people that My Health Record holds all COVID-19 information, including proof of vaccinations.

---

Agency Acting CEO Paul Creech called on Australians who use My Health Record to take advantage of theirs to help manage the impact from COVID-19.

“COVID-19 test results come from pathology providers and the majority of pathology providers in Australia routinely upload test results to My Health Record,” he said.

“We’ve seen huge demand since last July, with more than one million views a month by consumers across Australia.

“Previously, people needed to wait seven days to view their test results, however for COVID-19 test results, consumers can read them as soon as they are uploaded to their record and in the majority of cases this would be sooner than they would receive an SMS.”

-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/podcasts/my-health-record-emergency-access

Podcasts • My Health Record

My Health Record emergency access

Published 17 January 2022 ADHA Propaganda

In this podcast we explore the appropriate use of the My Health Record emergency access function, by healthcare providers. 

Speakers: Dr Andrew Rochford (Facilitator), Jennie McDonald (Director Compliance Outreach), Dr Xiu Lee (Emergency Physician and Agency Clinical Reference Lead), Neil Fraser (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Positive Life NSW and Agency Consumer Adviser), Diana Weston (Assistant Director, Regulation and Strategy Branch Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC))

-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/business-support-officer

Business Support Officer

APS5 ($89,205 - $96,471)
Digital Strategy Division > Administration
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 30 Jan 2022

Division Overview

Digital strategy – responsible for national digital health design and strategy, underpinned by strong clinical governance and digital health standards.

Primary purpose of position 

Supporting a Division in the Agency, the Business Support Officer is an important conduit within the Division which provides executive support to senior executives and is required to consult and engage with stakeholders to deliver Division outcomes. The Business Support Officer is accountable for:

• Acquiring, maintaining and applying a well-developed understanding of the legislative and Agency’s administrative policy frameworks, practices, and procedures in providing a high level of executive; administration; secretariat and business support to senior executives in the Division.
• Managing the workflow and enquiries for senior executives: coordinating competing requests and demands; setting priorities; seeking clarification; escalating sensitive issues and proposing solutions to be considered.
• Assisting, supporting, and coordinating corporate activities within the Branch including: supporting HR and recruitment processes; monitoring expenditure against budget; coordinating IT and infrastructure resource requirements.
• Acting as a point of contact between the senior executive, senior managers, and other areas within the Division.
• Developing relationships and liaising with internal and external stakeholders on policy; project; administration; or operational issues to ensure the relevant information is available to the senior executive.

-----

https://www.miragenews.com/my-health-record-has-all-covid-information-707855/

17 Jan 2022 4:18 pm AEDT

My Health Record has all Covid information including proof of vaccinations

Australian Digital Health Agency ADHA Propaganda

The Australian Digital Health Agency is reminding people that My Health Record has proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Agency Acting CEO Paul Creech said more and more Australians were using My Health Record and consumers should take advantage of theirs to help manage the impact from Covid-19.

“COVID-19 test results come from pathology providers and the majority of pathology providers in Australia routinely upload test results to My Health Record,” he said.

“We’ve seen huge demand since last July, with more than one million views a month by consumers across Australia.”

“Previously, people needed to wait seven days to view their test results, however for COVID-19 test results, consumers can read them as soon as they are uploaded to their record and in the majority of cases this would be sooner than they would receive an SMS.”

-----

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/17/he-said-im-in-canada-the-doctor-will-see-you-now-but-not-from-australia

‘He said, I’m in Canada’: the doctor will see you now – but not from Australia

Australian-trained doctors living overseas are treating patients in rural and regional New South Wales, to curb the bush doctor shortage

Lauren Marer

Last modified on Mon 17 Jan 2022 11.15 AEDT

Bet Matthews set off on a trip of salvation from Queensland to Victoria last year, to visit her sister and ex-husband who had both been diagnosed with cancer. She was there to assist with whatever they needed, but in the end it was she who needed the help.

The 73-year-old has diabetes and constant high blood pressure was causing her to have dizzy spells throughout the driving trip. In Cobar in western New South Wales, she couldn’t go on.

After multiple visits to the local GP, her husband took her to the Cobar hospital for more specialised treatment. Unbeknown to her, the doctor she was about to see was nearly 14,000km away.

“I was having a telehealth consult, because there was no hospital doctor and no doctor that could come to the hospital,” Matthews says.

-----

David.

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 24 January, 2022.

Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.

General Comment

-----

Silliness and penny-pinching seems to run the health. Why can’t they just work out a model for telehealth and just fund it?

Otherwise we will see lots restart after next week as we move into February!

-----

https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/its-back-76-mbs-rebate-gp-phone-consults

It's back: $76 MBS rebate for GP phone consults

Equivalent to a level C consult, the item will remain in place until June

17th January 2022

By Geir O'Rourke

GPs can once more claim the $75.75 Medicare rebate for phone consults lasting more than 20 minutes as a result of the Federal Government’s latest response to the Omicron outbreak.

The U-turn comes after longer level C and D phone consults were scrapped outside remote areas (MM6-7) last July on the basis that they were inadequate, with video consults offering a “richer information transfer”.

The phone rebate, which comes into effect in the coming days, will remain in place at least until 30 June.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the item was justified given "the high infection rate and need to provide healthcare support across the community”.

Australian Doctor is seeking clarification on whether a level D equivalent will also return for phone consults over 40 minutes.

-----

https://medicalrepublic.com.au/return-of-the-level-c-phone-consults/60893

17 January 2022

Return of the level C phone consults

By Holly Payne

Tis the season! Long telephone consults and extra PPE are back, in what no one except this reporter is calling “GP Christmas in January”. 

Under an additional $24 million in funding, level C phone consults will be back until 30 June. 

Some 20 million units of PPE are also headed to primary care, with about nine million P2/N95 masks earmarked for GPs and prioritised for clinicians in rural, regional and remote areas. 

Healthdirect – which provides the National Coronavirus Hotline, symptom checker and other online resources – will also be developing a national assessment, triage and notification system to connect covid cases with the care they need. 

Additionally, the $25 bonus payment for face-to-face consults with covid positive patients will now apply when a patient has only tested positive on a rapid antigen test. Up until now, people had to have a positive PCR in order for their GP to claim the additional money. 

-----

https://www.themandarin.com.au/178835-calls-for-long-term-funding-in-light-of-24-million-telehealth-announcement/

Calls for long-term funding in light of $24 million telehealth announcement

By Melissa Coade

Tuesday January 18, 202

News of the federal government’s boost to telehealth services has been ‘cautiously welcomed’ by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), who met with ministers to discuss the support needed to provide essential care during the pandemic.

The money will fund video and telephone specialist inpatient telehealth medical benefits scheme (MBS) items, initial and complex specialist telephone consultation items, and longer telephone consultations for GPs (level C).

RACGP president Dr Karen Price said the multimillion-dollar funding, which temporarily restores nationwide telehealth services to peak COVID-19 settings, was a ‘step in the right direction’. But, she noted, the need for these services would also continue beyond the government’s 30 June 2022 cut-off date.

“A six-month restoration of these rebates is welcome; however, we must not stop there — this must be a permanent fixture of telehealth for years to come and the RACGP will continue fighting to make that happen,” Price said. 

-----

https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/govt-dumps-covid19-hotspot-exemption-telehealth

Govt dumps COVID-19 'hotspot' exemption for telehealth

Patients isolating under public health orders will still be able to claim telehealth irrespective of a pre-existing relationship with the GP

18th January 2022

By Geir O'Rourke

Patients in areas of high COVID-19 transmission have lost automatic eligibility for Medicare-funded telehealth, with exemptions to the ‘existing relationship’ rule no longer applying in COVID-19 hotspot areas.

Commonwealth-designated hotspots covered all of NSW between August and October last year, along with the ACT and much of Victoria and Tasmania.

However, hotspot status ends within a particular state or territory once 80% of its over-16s are fully vaccinated, according to the National Plan for managing COVID-19.  
 
The Department of Health is stressing that patients in quarantine or isolating under public health orders do not need to show a previous face-to-face consult at their doctor’s practice has occurred in the previous 12 months.

-----

https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/australia-makes-temporary-changes-telehealth-amid-omicron-outbreak

Australia makes temporary changes to telehealth amid Omicron outbreak

Some subsidised specialist phone and video consultation items are being offered until 30 June.

By Adam Ang

January 18, 2022 01:26 AM

The Australian government is briefly subsidising some telehealth services as it deals with a new COVID-19 outbreak. 

These include specialist inpatient video and phone consultation items under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, complex specialist telephone consultations and level C or longer telephone consultations for general practitioners. 

Offered until 30 June, these telehealth items have been made available nationwide, unlike when these were targeted only to hotspot areas previously. 

WHY IT MATTERS

These changes to telehealth are being done to support the continuity of patient care amid the current COVID-19 restrictions and to help relieve the pressure on the overwhelmed hospital system. 

-----

https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/roundup-melbournes-digital-chief-joins-st-vincents-health-kensington-hospital-moves-cloud

Roundup: Melbourne's digital chief joins St. Vincent's Health, Kensington Hospital moves to cloud and more briefs

Also, Australians can now download their digital vaccination passes from their My Health Record accounts.

By Adam Ang

January 21, 2022 12:10 AM

Melbourne's digital chief joins aged care provider St. Vincent's Health 

The chief digital officer of the city of Melbourne has announced her move to aged care provider St. Vincent's Health Australia.

In a social media post, Michelle Fitzgerald, who is also the city council's customer and digital general manager, said she is filling in the same position of CDO at the hospital group. 

Fitzgerald has held her post at the council for the past six years. She had led its smart city office in her first four years and eventually took on the technology and digital innovation director role from 2019.

She had previously worked as a partner at accounting firm PwC for over a decade. 

The digital chief said she is looking forward to work with her new colleagues in "[scaling] up digital and data solutions to benefit our patients, residents, staff and partners across our hospitals and aged care facilities".

-----

https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/news/digital-health-crc-project-to-enhance-telehealth-capabilities-877550118

Digital Health CRC project to enhance telehealth capabilities

Monday, 17 January, 2022

---

A $2m Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) project aims to enhance telehealth capabilities and improve patient, clinician and caregiver experiences for mental health and palliative care services.

The ‘Enhanced Telehealth Capabilities’ project will deliver user-centred and research-based software solutions to enhance telehealth services like real-time transcription, smoother integration of personal diagnostic data from medical devices and better accessibility for the elderly or Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The project will be led by Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology (IT). Affiliates include Monash Health, researchers from the University of Melbourne, industry partners, Healthdirect Australia and the Department of Health (Victoria).

Project Lead Associate Professor Rashina Hoda, from Monash University’s Faculty of IT, said with more than 16 million Australians accessing health services remotely since March 2020, it is essential that telehealth experiences are robust, especially for those in regional and rural communities.

-----

https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/592814/Interoperability-issues-prevent-Northern-region-from-going-with-Epic.htm

Interoperability issues prevent Northern region from going with Epic

Tuesday, 18 January 2022  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

The Regional Collaborative Community Care (RCCC) tender for the Northern Region DHBs was closed unawarded more than three years after it went out and a new tender has been released.

Epic was the chosen supplier for the community system but interoperability issues prevented the project from moving ahead, says Northland DHB chief executive Nick Chamberlain.

The original tender, released in September 2018, was on behalf of Auckland, Northland, Waitematā and Counties Manukau DHBs, but the chosen system could also be used by community care organisations and general practices.

The new system was to be implemented first at Northland DHB to replace Jade Community Care, which was due to be unsupported from 2020. This solution supports referral, case and bed management, prescribing, care planning, group and individual patient scheduling, and clinical documentation for community care and inpatient mental health services.
-----

https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/592670/75m-to-improve-cybersecurity-in-health.htm

$75m to improve cybersecurity in health

Monday, 17 January 2022  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Up to $75.7 million will be spent on improving cybersecurity for the health and disability system to better protect sensitive health information.

The funding will be invested over 3 years on upgrading existing software and systems, establishing national security standards and guidelines, strengthening assurance and testing capability, and increasing the use of cloud security services.

A national Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), a primary care CISO and 10 further cybersecurity FTEs will be recruited to lead on and manage cyber risks.

Shayne Hunter, deputy director-general, data and digital says the number and sophistication of cyber-attacks is increasing globally and healthcare is one of the most targeted sectors.

Waikato DHB was hit by a ransomware attack on May 18 causing a full outage of its information services across the region. Patient and staff details were stolen then later posted online by the cyber criminals.
-----

https://www.afr.com/technology/four-tech-trends-that-will-invade-our-lives-this-year-20220113-p59nx5

Four tech trends that will invade our lives this year

Here we go again: Virtual reality, now called “the metaverse,” will be a thing. So will the smart home.

Brian X. Chen

Jan 18, 2022 – 9.01am

Each year, I look ahead at what’s new in consumer technology to guide you through what you might expect to buy – and what will most likely be a fad.

Many of the same “trends” appear again and again because, to put it simply, technology takes a long time to mature before most of us actually want to buy it. That applies this year as well. Some trends for this year that tech companies are pushing are things you will have heard of before.

A chief example is virtual reality, the technology that involves wearing goofy-looking headgear and swinging around controllers to play 3D games. That is expected to be front and centre again this year, remarketed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other techies as “the metaverse”.

Another buzzy category will be the so-called smart home, the technology to control home appliances by shouting voice commands at a speaker or tapping a button on a smartphone. The truth is, the tech industry has tried to push this kind of technology into our homes for more than a decade. This year, these products may finally begin to feel practical to own.

Another recurring technology on this list is digital health gear that tracks our fitness and helps us diagnose possible ailments. And car makers, which have long talked about electric cars, are beginning to accelerate their plans to meet a nationwide goal to phase out production of petrol-powered cars by 2030.

-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/events-and-webinars/my-health-record-a-practical-demonstration-medicaldirector-2022

Interactive session • My Health Record

My Health Record - a practical demonstration (MedicalDirector)

Event details

When

Thursday, 20 January 2022
1:00pm - 2:00pm (AEDT)

Where

Online

Hosted by

Australian Digital Health Agency

Register here

Contact us

General enquiries

Phone: 1300 901 001
8am - 5pm (AEST/AEDT) Monday - Friday
Email: help@digitalhealth.gov.au

More information

These one hour sessions are aimed at GPs, Specialists, Practice Managers, Practice Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers interested in learning more about My Health Record and how to use it most effectively in routine practice. Using a software simulation platform the instructor will demonstrate how to:

•    access your patients’ My Health Records in your software;
•    use filters to find documents;
•    view documents and overviews;
•    understand how to view immunisation history in My Health Record;
•    enter access codes for patients with protected documents/records;
•    upload documents to My Health Record; and
•    ensure appropriate security and access governance mechanisms are in place.

Run via GoTo webinar platform, these sessions will afford an opportunity for participants to raise questions directly with the instructor and to discuss other issues encountered in using My Health Record. These demonstrations will be run on a weekly basis at varying times throughout the day.

If you can not find a session time that suits you, we may be able to provide an out of schedule session to accommodate you and your staff. For more information on this or for follow up My Health Record support for your practice please contact education@digitalhealth.gov.au.

This education is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP, ACRRM and NAATSIHWP.

-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/events-and-webinars/my-health-record-for-hospital-staff-2022

Interactive session • My Health Record

My Health Record for hospital staff

Event details

When

Tuesday, 25 January 2022
1:00pm - 2:00pm (AEDT)

Where Online

Hosted by Australian Digital Health Agency

Contact us

General enquiries

Phone: 1300 901 001
8am - 5pm (AEST/AEDT) Monday - Friday
Email: help@digitalhealth.gov.au

More information

Having access to health information contained in the My Health Record can reduce the instance of adverse medication events (including hospital re-admissions), decrease duplicate diagnostic testing and improve continuity of care for patients across the primary and secondary care sectors. 

Given the increased use and adoption of the system, embedding the use of the My Health Record very early in a clinician’s journey through the healthcare system will ensure it will become one of many valuable digital decision support tools routinely accessed to improve patient care. 

Content will include:
•    pathology and diagnostic report viewing
•    medicines view
•    discharge summaries
•    primary care shared health and event summaries
•    advance care planning documents

The sessions will also provide advice on general security and access compliance processes.

-----

https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/events-and-webinars/my-health-record-for-specialists-2022

Interactive session • My Health Record

My Health Record for Specialists

Event details

When

Friday, 28 January 2022
11:00am - 12:00pm (AEDT) and later

Where Online

Hosted by  Australian Digital Health Agency

Contact us

General enquiries

Phone: 1300 901 001
8am - 5pm (AEST/AEDT) Monday - Friday
Email: help@digitalhealth.gov.au

More information

Join us in a Genie training environment to learn the core features of My Health Record including how to effectively view and upload information. The sessions are designed to be interactive where participants are encouraged to ask questions and raise any issues.

Understand how to:

• Save time by accessing overview summary documents including medicines, immunisations, pathology and diagnostic imaging
• Find documents relevant to your clinical practice e.g. discharge summaries
• Understand how to view the available Medicare information. 

This activity is tailored specifically for Specialists, Practice Nurses and Practice Managers.

-----

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/RESAPP-HEALTH-LIMITED-22837363/news/ResApp-Health-Binding-LOI-signed-with-Homify-to-launch-ResAppDx-in-the-Philippines-37592439/

ResApp Health : Binding LOI signed with Homify to launch ResAppDx in the Philippines

01/19/2022 | 10:56pm EST

Brisbane, Australia, 20 January 2022 - ResApp Health Limited (ASX:RAP), a leading digital health company developing smartphone applications for the diagnosis and management of respiratory disease, is pleased to announce that it has signed a non-exclusive, three-year binding letter of intent (LOI) with Philippines-based telehealth start-up Homify Corporation ("Homify") under which Homify will integrate ResApp's smartphone-based acute respiratory diagnostic test ResAppDx into their telehealth services. Homify plans to launch ResAppDx on its platform in the middle of this calendar year.

Homify was founded in 2021 by Wilson, Wayne and Rachelle Uy. Wilson is also the founder of Kaching Technologies AI, a Philippine company that is a product reseller of Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and other technology solutions for businesses and consumers. The Homify platform will integrate digital diagnostic and patient support tools from inception, with ResAppDx being the foundational technology. The Philippines has a population of 112 million people with many people facing difficulties accessing health care.

ResAppDx is ResApp's acute respiratory diagnostic test that uses machine-learning technology to analyse signatures in cough sounds to diagnose respiratory disease using a smartphone's inbuilt microphone. It is CE Marked in Europe and TGA approved for ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods) listing in Australia.

-----

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-wall-street-journal/how-the-us-messed-up-its-new-5g-rollout-it-wasnt-our-finest-hour/news-story/3b379218af0cc49e6ec9ab04e0b92050

How the US messed up its new 5G rollout: ‘It wasn’t our finest hour’

By Dow Jones

January 22, 2022

The Biden and Trump administrations had years of warnings. But the government failed this week to avoid a collision between U.S. telecom companies and airlines over the rollout of new 5G cellular networks.

That failure, rooted in longstanding disagreements over potential risk and a lack of cooperation by U.S. regulators, led to a last-minute scramble that threatened the cancellation of thousands of flights and raised tensions between two powerful industries.

Since 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration has questioned whether decades-old aviation equipment would be disrupted by new cellular signals. The risk to aircraft from new 5G services has been dismissed by the telecom industry and its regulator.

Yet the FAA, still sifting through a flood of wireless-company data, was altering flight-safety instructions in the days leading up to the 5G rollout. Boeing Co., meanwhile, began talking last weekend with users of its 777 jets about possibly halting flights into major U.S. airports ahead of the 5G debut. Along with questions about shifting FAA restrictions, that set off days of panicked calls among airline chiefs and White House officials, people familiar with the matter said.

-----

Enjoy!

David.