Digital Literacy in Aged Care

1. Executive Summary

The Australian aged care sector is undergoing its most significant digital and regulatory transformation in decades. New national frameworks including the Aged Care Digital Strategy (2024), GPMS, Support at Home reforms, AN-ACC, and mandatory Quality Indicators require providers to adopt modern systems and maintain accurate, timely digital reporting.

At the heart of this digital shift lies a critical capability: digital literacy.

Digital literacy is no longer optional. It directly impacts:

• The accuracy of clinical care documentation

• Funding integrity under AN-ACC

• Compliance with DOHAC, ADHA, and Privacy Act requirements

• Resident safety and quality of life

• Workforce efficiency, wellbeing, and retention

• The provider’s ability to adopt modern digital systems

  
  

This white paper defines digital literacy for the aged care sector, outlines its strategic importance, identifies capability gaps, and provides a structured, multi-year roadmap for providers to uplift workforce capability and meet national digital and reporting expectations.

2. Sector Context

2.1 The Changing Digital Landscape in Aged Care

Aged care providers are facing unprecedented regulatory and technological change:

• Mandatory digital reporting to GPMS and DEX

• Electronic care minutes tracking

• Digital Quality Indicators & Star Ratings

• Increased cybersecurity requirements (IRAP, NIST CSF, Aged Care IT Security Guidelines)

• Move to digital care management systems and electronic medication administration