Launched in 2016, Flinders Digital Health Research Centre is a multidisciplinary research entity, established as a cornerstone in Flinders University’s expansion in the health technology domain.
The Centre provides expertise, innovation and leadership to ensure that Flinders University achieves national and international recognition as a premier institution for digital health systems and technologies research. It fosters digital health university-industry alliance relationships benefiting South Australia and the nation. Projects which provide commercial opportunities are nurtured through close collaborations with business and industry, and with the government and health sectors.
At Flinders Digital Health Research Centre, our mainstream research interests follow the Centre theme of “Digital Health – Enabling Health Smart Living”.
Since its establishment, the Centre has supported economic, health and social benefits associated with maintaining a longer, healthier life across the population through the safe and secure delivery of health services. Real-world impacts have been achieved through digital health contributions to a better quality of life, reduced expense of care delivery, faster response times and more effective data management. The Centre has contributed to improvements in a range of health services in rural and remote settings, mainly through telehealth and online technologies.
As digital health has advanced over the last five years, the Centre responded and its activities have evolved. Today the strategic pillars of the Centre focus on research excellence, research relevance, translational research, and workforce development.
The Centre is shifting its strategic research focus to include a coordination, skills and knowledge resource hub in response to the increase of digital health-related projects across the University. The Centre is the 'go-to' place for advice on, and contribution to, grants and projects where health data management, health data application, cybersecurity and interoperability are key.
The Centre facilitates collaboration between researchers across the University, providing in-depth digital health knowledge, technology and software application expertise. The Centre staff have a unique understanding of the health systems where digital health is applied. Whilst still engaged in translational research projects with industry, including in mental health and digital health infrastructure, Centre staff are providing broader knowledge of technology integration in health projects.
Our vision is to use digital technologies to support improved health and healthcare delivery for Australians at all stages of life.
Our mission is to provide leadership in digital health to industry and government, facilitating research translation by connecting Flinders researchers and research projects in digital health with industry and government partners and resources, providing critical expertise, research resources and tools.
Our impact is expanding the reach of Flinders University's digital health research through collaboration, innovation and engagement with industry and government, demonstrating Flinders' research excellence, research relevance, leadership and influence in Digital Health, nationally and internationally.
Advance Evidence-Based Digital Health!
Be part of a collaborative initiative dedicated to high-quality systematic reviews in digital health. Whether you specialise in protocol development, data extraction, or mentoring, your expertise is valuable.
Why Join?
✅ Recognition & Authorship – Contribute and earn authorship based on your involvement.
✅ Structured Approach – Gain guidance, mentorship, and a clear roadmap for conducting systematic and scoping reviews.
✅ Expert Support – Connect with experienced researchers for assistance in search strategies, statistics, and review management.
✅ Conduct Your Own Review – Get the support you need to lead your own systematic review with expert mentorship and a structured process.
Register today!
Register to share your skills, interests and availability.
Together, we can enhance evidence-based practice and drive innovation in healthcare delivery!
Anyone with a keen interest in promoting evidence based research in digital health can join.
To register, contact Ajay Radhakrishnan or Simran Bhatia, the Digital Health Innovation Lab, CMPH.
Devices for patient health condition data collection (IoT, sensors, wearables); standards for health data and health systems conformance and interoperability; Health Smart Living environments
This focus area covers the Internet of Things, embedded sensors and smart environments, wearables, communications, and cybersecurity. It also encompasses software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, dataflow processes, and data and software standards, with deliberate attention to the impact of these technologies to patient safety. The significance of our research in this focus area lies in improving safety, security and resilience in the emerging distributed health technology domain. With an increasing number of data sources there is a need to provide integrated and secure platforms for data exchange, interoperability and communication, as well as understanding the potential effect of technology on individuals and the healthcare system.
Current/recent projects
Safe Wi-Fi for the hospital environment (Cisco)
Infrastructure maturity assessment for digital hospitals (Cisco)
Electronic medication management (Telstra Health)
Interoperability and security in the Health Internet of Things (Cisco Chair)
App labelling for security and privacy (Cisco Chair)
Security of devices on medical IT networks (ISO)
Security metrics, cascading failure and resilience (Cisco Chair)
Professor Trish Williams
Director, College of Science and Engineering
Professor Niranjan Bidargaddi
Deputy Director, College of Medicine and Public Health
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Amanda Adams
Emeritus Professor Anthony Maeder
Associate Professor Belinda Lange
Associate Professor Chris Barr
Senior Research Fellow Emma Kemp
Innovations Manager Fiona Telford-Sharp
Practitioner Fellow Huan Shin Ng
Senior Research Fellow Kelly Loffler
Research Fellow Dr Lua Perimal-Lewis
Associate Professor Maayken van den Berg
Bronwin Patrickson (Senior Research Fellow)
Gihan Gunasekara (Lecturer & Research Associate)
Ginger Mudd (Cisco Research Officer - Projects)
Tamara Paget (Senior Research Support Officer)
PhD Candidate Joseph Tapal
HDR Student Minh Nhat Nguyen
We also work on long-term collaboration activities in conjunction with several major Australian research groups, including:
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
South Australian Department of Health and Ageing
Centre for Research Excellence in Telehealth
Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre
Edith Cowan University Security Research Institute
Flinders University Medical Device Research Institute
ARC Digital Enhanced Living Hub - Deakin
Australian Catholic University
University of Western Sydney
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
RMIT University Australia (Digital Health)
International Laboratory for Health Technologies
We have a number of well-established international research relationships, including:
Harvard University, USA
Oxford University (Law and Policy, & Cybersecurity) UK
University of Ulster (Computer Science)
Rhodes University, South Africa
Royal Holloway, University of London
Shandong Academy of Sciences, China
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
University of Michigan, USA
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
TUDresden University of Technology, Germany
University of Catholica Santisima Concepcion, Chile
Australian and international postgraduate (honours, masters and PhD) students have an opportunity to undertake research at this Centre.
Identify your area of interest by searching through our website.
Send your CV and an expression of interest to digitalhealth@flinders.edu.au
Your interest will be sent on to an appropriate supervisor, and you will be contacted to further progress your application. This process involves:
1. Preparing a research proposal and send to your supervisor for comments.
2. Identifying suitable scholarships and their deadlines, prepare all necessary supporting documents and start application process:
Once the scholarship is confirmed, you should start VISA and arrival preparations. If you are an international student, you will be assisted by the International Office who will guide you with your entry to Australia and Flinders University.
For all other student enquiries please contact Flinders Connect
Flinders University
Level 2, Building 1, Tonsley campus
Flinders University
1284 South Road, Clovelly Park
South Australia 5042, AUSTRALIA
Phone: (+61) 8201 2023
Email: digitalhealth@flinders.edu.au
Acknowledgement: The Flinders Digital Health Research Centre is supported by Cisco Systems Australia Pty Ltd under the Cisco Digital Health Initiative.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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