Digital Skills for Health - Rapid Upskilling Pilot
RMIT-Grampians Health-Cisco Skills Solutions Partnership
The Challenge
It is a time of huge digital transformation in the health sector, where technology is being adopted and advanced at an unprecedented rate, and workforces are examining how to rapidly upskill employees’ digital capabilities. Artificial Intelligence, extended reality, digital twins, 3D-printing, autonomous robots, and more are all finally moving to the point where their long-promised potential can be realised. But this potential hinges on underlying digital infrastructure, secure data collection, and critically, having the right skills available.
Bridging this skills gap requires a nuanced approach that considers the unique needs of a range of worker roles.
The Partnership
RMIT’s Health Transformation Lab and College of Vocational Education, in partnership with Grampians Health and the Cisco Networking Academy, together with stimulus from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), piloted a program to rapidly upskill health sector workers, addressing the digital skills gap. The pilot leveraged existing Cisco Networking Academy curriculum and findings of the annual Health x Digital Transformation report, delivered in collaboration with the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN) Health Alliance.
The Solution
The program piloted 5 micro-credential courses, delivered to 365 learners, over 3 rolling intakes. Courses ranged from 11-32 hours of self-paced learning, and incorporated in-person touch points, through weekly drop-in sessions with subject matter experts, and on-site masterclasses. Content was contextualised specifically for Grampians Health, delivering curriculum to IT staff as well as frontline clinical workers, covering foundations in digital health and emerging tech, to specialised courses in AI & cyber security. This was informed by a staff needs assessment survey of ~570 potential learners, from IT, clinical and administrative positions. This collaborative model draws on an iterative process of co-designed shortform training, with industry and government, to meet local workforce needs through practical, applied learning.
Recognition & Impact
- DJSIR highlighted this pilot in many of their materials, including their case study citations and communication regarding the next round of SSP pilots.
- Nous Group featured the pilot as a case study for Austrade to promote Australia’s skilling capabilities across Asia Pacific.
- Health Transformation Lab was invited to showcase the pilot as part ofCisco’s “Skilling Australia” Press panel at Cisco Live, 2024
- Grampians Health presented the pilot at both the Digital Health Fest 2025 and Victorian Health CIO forum.
- Minister Colin Brooks and Juliana Addison MP, Member for Wendouree visited Grampians Health’s Ballarat Base Hospital in April to learn about the pilot and collaboration.
Project Highlights
- 93% of participants expressed the amount of study required for each of the courses was “just right”.
- 86% of participants reported high levels of satisfaction with course’s content, with Introduction to Digital Health, Emerging Technologies in Healthcare, and AI and Data Management courses achieving satisfaction levels of 90% or higher.
- 77% of all participants felt the course met their training needs.
- 76% of all participants indicated they could apply the learning directly to their roles.
- 91% of all participants felt that Grampians Health would benefit from them participating in their respective courses.
- Workforce productivity: GH reported 15-60min per week productivity uplift amongst staff.
Contact Person & Details
- Nithya Solomon, Director, Health Transformation Lab, RMIT University nithya.solomon@rmit.edu.au