Cloud – Chris Cormack

Cloud in Healthcare: How Australia is Using AI to Transform Digital Health

What if your next medical breakthrough isn’t a new drug or device—
but the cloud infrastructure running quietly behind the scenes?

Australia’s healthcare system is undergoing a quiet revolution. And at the heart of it isn’t just AI, or machine learning, or cutting-edge telehealth tools—it’s the rapid evolution and reach of cloud computing.

From telemedicine in remote towns to real-time hospital analytics in the CBD, cloud infrastructure is no longer an IT decision. It’s a care decision. And it’s accelerating faster than most organisations are ready for.

The Rise of Cloud in Australian Healthcare

Cloud computing in Australian healthcare has gone from experiment to essential.

In 2022–23, 20% of all GP services were delivered via telehealth—phone and video are now a standard part of care delivery, particularly in rural and aged care settings.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are evolving from static repositories to dynamic, AI-ready platforms.

Predictive analytics is helping hospitals forecast admissions, manage resources, and reduce waiting lists.

But with every new capability comes a challenge: integration, security, governance, and compliance.

Cloud has shifted from a back-end technology to a strategic engine for growth and innovation. It’s becoming the backbone of modern health delivery—and the risk and compliance surface has expanded accordingly.

AI in Action: Smarter, Faster, Fairer Care

Australia is at the forefront of AI and ML innovations in healthcare.

AI triage bots are helping assess symptoms and direct patients to appropriate care pathways.

Machine learning models are predicting patient deterioration in emergency rooms.

Natural language processing is accelerating clinical documentation, giving practitioners more time with patients.

Computer vision is assisting radiologists in detecting anomalies more quickly and accurately.

These use cases are not hypothetical. They are operational today—and they rely on scalable, secure cloud environments.

However, these technologies are only as strong as the infrastructure they run on. And in healthcare, that infrastructure must meet an exceptionally high bar.

The Privacy and Compliance Tightrope

Healthcare cloud adoption in Australia must navigate a complex environment of privacy laws, ethical obligations, and system-wide compliance expectations.

Technology teams supporting healthcare are not simply managing digital records—they are stewards of public trust.

The Privacy Act 1988 and the My Health Records Act 2012 impose clear responsibilities around data sovereignty, consent, and transparency.

The Australian Digital Health Agency maintains national standards for interoperability, access controls, and cybersecurity.

Accreditation frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001 and IRAP (Information Security Registered Assessors Program) are becoming mandatory in procurement processes.

Choosing the wrong cloud partner is not just a technical oversight. It becomes a compliance issue, a reputational risk, and an ethical liability.

Choosing the Right Cloud Partner for Healthcare in Australia

For healthcare leaders, selecting a cloud partner in healthcare is no longer a purely operational decision—it is a strategic one.

At a minimum, ensure your cloud solution offers:

Data residency within Australia

IRAP-assessed infrastructure

Proven interoperability with national digital health systems

Capacity to support AI and machine learning workloads

Transparent security protocols, SLAs, and audit trails

Above all, choose a partner who understands that in this sector, the goal is not disruption. The goal is safe, sustainable, patient-focused innovation.

Final Thought

If you’re leading technology in a healthcare organisation, the question is no longer whether cloud and AI should be adopted.

The real question is: are we building the kind of infrastructure that can support the next decade of health innovation?

Because in the end, this is not just about platforms and data. It is about empowering clinicians. It is about faster, more informed decisions. And ultimately, it is about improving lives—quietly, securely, and intelligently in the background.

Let’s build that future—thoughtfully, together.

Resources

1. MBS Telehealth Post-Implementation Review Final Report
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/mbs-review-advisory-committee-telehealth-post-implementation-review-final-report.pdf

2. Patient Experiences in Australia
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-services/patient-experiences/latest-release

3. Australia Telehealth Market Report 2025–2034
https://www.expertmarketresearch.com.au/reports/australia-telehealth-market

4. Privacy Act 1988
https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-legislation/privacy-act-1988

5. My Health Records Act 2012
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2012A00184

6. IRAP – Information Security Registered Assessors Program
https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/programs/irap

7. ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security Management
https://www.iso.org/isoiec-27001-information-security.html

8. FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)
https://www.hl7.org/fhir/

9. Real-Time AI for Patient Deterioration Prediction

Source: National Library of Medicine (PubMed)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37150397/

10. AI Chatbots in Australian Healthcare

Source: University of Melbourne, Pursuit
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-promise-and-peril-of-ai-chatbots-in-healthcare

11. Computer Vision in Radiology (SA Medical Imaging)

Source: Adelaide Now (News Corp Australia)
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/artificial-intelligence-advising-on-xray-diagnoses-in-sa-medical-imaging/news-story/ae20cc4c30320354069d586ca1d23846

SaaS and AI: The Future of Cloud Computing 2025

I found this draft I wrote this at the end of 2024 and had planned to publish, however time and events conspired against me. I think this is still valid and somewhat insightful – just bear in mind it was six months ago…

Thank you 2024, that’s a wrap! Over the year we’ve seen the switch from AI experimentation to development of some real use cases. A lot of development to incorporate AI into products. No doubt there will be more of this next year. For now the highlights of 2024 show us an evolution of the cloud computing model and the big players’ AI strategy execution.

The Cloud’s Favorite Child (SaaS)

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) dominates the cloud conversation, with its market projected to reach $250 billion by 2025. Businesses are flocking to SaaS solutions like it’s a free buffet—who can resist the promise of streamlined operations and improved productivity? However, this rapid adoption isn’t without its quirks.

Challenges Ahead:

Integration Issues: With so many SaaS tools in play, companies will find themselves in a digital juggling act. Finding a way for these tools to communicate effectively will be key—after all, nobody wants their marketing software arguing with their finance app.
Security Concerns: As businesses embrace more SaaS solutions, the risk of cyber threats increases. It’s like inviting a raccoon into your pantry; it might seem cute until you realize it’s rummaging through your snacks.
Complex Pricing Models: The days of straightforward pricing are fading. Expect to see more usage-based models that could make budgeting as tricky as solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded.

AI: The New Cloud Powerhouse

While SaaS is busy taking center stage, the big players—Microsoft, Amazon, and Google—are building foundational AI services that promise to revolutionize cloud computing. By 2025, AI will no longer be just an add-on; it will be the brain behind many cloud operations.

Key Trends to Watch:

AI-Powered Solutions: Expect AI to optimize everything from resource allocation to threat detection. It’s like having a personal assistant who not only organizes your calendar but also predicts when you’ll need an extra cup of coffee.
Edge Computing Integration: As IoT devices proliferate, edge computing will become essential for reducing latency and enhancing performance. This means data processing happens closer to where it’s generated—ideal for real-time applications like autonomous vehicles.
Multi-Cloud Strategies: Companies will increasingly adopt multi-cloud environments to avoid vendor lock-in and enhance flexibility. It’s akin to dating multiple partners until you find “the one”—except here, you can have your cake and eat it too.

The Road Ahead: What 2025 Holds

AI Everywhere: Prepare for AI to be embedded in every aspect of cloud services, transforming how businesses operate and making processes smoother than a well-rehearsed punchline.
Hybrid Cloud Solutions: These will gain traction as organizations seek to blend public and private clouds for enhanced security and flexibility. Think of it as having the best of both worlds—like enjoying pizza while on a diet (in moderation, of course).
Focus on Security: With increasing threats, businesses will prioritize robust security measures in their cloud strategies. After all, nobody wants their sensitive data exposed like a poorly timed joke at a comedy show.
Sustainability Initiatives: As environmental concerns grow, expect cloud providers to ramp up efforts toward greener solutions. It’s time for tech giants to show they can be eco-friendly without sacrificing performance.

As we step into 2025, the cloud landscape promises to be dynamic and full of opportunities. Embracing these changes will be crucial for businesses looking to thrive in this ever-evolving digital world.