Better information management crucial in digital age
As the aged care sector moves further into the digital age, a better understanding of information management is needed to protect providers’ data, ITAC 2025 speaker Barry Mather tells Australian Ageing Agenda .
As more information is stored digitally the risk of cybersecurity breaches increases, and Anglicare Southern Queensland chief digital officer Barry Mather has told Australian Ageing Agenda that providers need to start assessing their risk exposure.
Mr Mather will discuss futureproofing organisations, essential strategies for information governance and risk management in the digital age at this week’s Innovation Transforming Aged Care conference.
In particular, his focus is on the importance of unstructured information management, the value it can bring, and potential risks providers can be exposed to.
“It’s important that providers learn strategies for risk management in the digital era, particularly in relation to unstructured information management, as cyber risk in electronic information storage is often misunderstood,” Mr Mather told Australian Ageing Agenda.
“It’s not a new risk and with the human often being the weakest link in cybersecurity, it’s critical we’re able to quantify the risk exposure and minimise the impact as much as possible.”
Mr Mather said he hoped to get ITAC delegates to think more about information management in the digital age.
“Significant value can be leveraged by going back to basics of information management, and a look at where the information is stored and how the value can be maximised, and the risk minimised – it’s a win-win scenario if it’s done right,” he said.
Other presentations at the conference include:
- Johan Locke, Australian Multicultural Community Services, on modernising home care operating models with AI and assistive technology
- Daniel Pettman, BaptistCare, on technology integration during growth and change
- Carolyn Bell, Silverchain, on strategic innovation to unite merged organisations
- Dr Nic Woods, Calvary Healthcare, on provider perspectives on building workforce capability
ITAC conference 2025 takes place on 12-13 March at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.
Australian Ageing Agenda is a media partner of the event
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to our premium content or AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
