By Natasha Egan

Using digital technology to enable and empower informal carers is a priority of the digital health agency and its forthcoming national strategy, says the agency’s CEO Tim Kelsey.

The Australian Digital Health Agency this week completed a three-month national public consultation on the new National Digital Health Strategy, which is due out later this year.

Speaking during a national webcast on Monday, Mr Kelsey said many people were dependent on informal support and it was important to ensure Australia’s 2.7 million carers were supported.

“It is a really important priority for me and for the agency,” Mr Kelsey said.

Carers were often overlooked in discussions about how to empower the clinical community but they were a fundamental part of health service delivery, Mr Kelsey said.

“One of the most important things I am hoping to develop in this strategy is some meaningful ways to use digital technology to enable and empower carers so they are able to work, care and access digital services at no cost,” he said.

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This story first appeared in Australian Ageing Agenda.