Innovation

An Australian social enterprise just won global Innovation of the Year for building immersive travel experiences inside aged care homes.

mecwacare has deployed 22 humanoid companion robots across its homes, signalling a shift toward technology-led approaches to loneliness, dementia care and resident experience.

Australian experts urge caution over AI promises to ‘fix’ aged care. Extensive review into “agetech” companies and marketing message finds troubling results.

Government policy has consequences, aged care expert Hal Swerissen says, current state of sector has been thirty years in the making. Solutions need government humility to listen to solutions from those that have done the time on the ground.

Harbison is a provider proving innovation can have powerfully beneficial impacts for seniors, staff and sector. With their Motiview cycling program they’ve seen cost-effective lifts in health, mood and reputation. They want other providers to benefit too.

AlayaCare will unveil AlayaFlow, its new Agentic AI workflow platform, at Better Outcomes 2026 in Sydney. Designed for aged care and disability providers across Australia and New Zealand, AlayaFlow automates administrative tasks such as vacant visit scheduling, visit verification and care plan recommendations, with early adopters reporting up to 20% reductions in documentation time.

Meals on Wheels NSW is launching a two-day Futures Lab to help its 130-service network navigate aged care reform, explore new funding models and examine how robotics and AI could support sustainable community-based care.

South Australian study finds germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light technology to be a viable and integral step in safeguarding seniors against influenza spread, contraction and illness.

The launch of ChatGPT Health sharpens the spotlight on how AI is already being used across aged care and healthcare. While purpose-built tools promise safeguards, ungoverned use of public AI platforms is exposing providers to serious privacy, clinical and governance risks that boards and executives can no longer ignore.

Australia’s rising life expectancy is reshaping the future of aged care. As longevity and healthy ageing extend, providers will need to rethink care models, workforce design and the role of wellness, technology and independence across later life.