Rivernet Health Tech ProtoComp
At the beginning of September, Innovation Central Brisbane was buzzing with creativity and innovation as we hosted our Health Tech Hackathon. With over 60 QUT students participating, the event was an exciting opportunity for these future technologists to tackle real-world challenges in healthcare. Sponsored by Rivernet Communications and supported by our trusted partners at Cisco, the Hackathon focused on how technology can elevate patient experiences and enhance hospital management systems.
Over the course of 48 action-packed hours, nine teams dove headfirst into designing solutions that address inefficiencies within the healthcare sector, from improving patient-centric experiences to optimising bed utilisation and communication across hospital workflows. The event was enriched by the deep industry expertise of guest mentors, including Gideon Street, Scott Kirk, Michael Berndt and Brook Powell from Rivernet, as well as Dr. Jason Browne (Chief Digital Health Officer at RBWH), and Cameron Ballantine (Digital Health Executive), who generously shared their insights and guidance throughout the weekend.
The students’ creativity was truly inspiring, with teams proposing solutions that harness the power of AI, IoT smart wearables, and secure mass communication tools. These innovative approaches aim to address critical pain points within Australia’s healthcare system, especially as the industry faces increasing pressures to improve efficiency and patient care.
At the end of the weekend, four standout teams were selected to move forward into our 10-week ProtoBuild program. During this next phase, they will work closely with our tech and healthcare mentors to develop their concepts into fully-functional digital prototypes. We’re thrilled to see how these ideas will evolve and, ultimately, impact the future of healthcare.
A special thanks goes out to our partners at Rivernet Communications for bringing their wealth of expertise and industry connections to the event, which amplified the students’ learning and development. We’re also deeply grateful to our mentors and everyone involved in making this hackathon a success.
As the ProtoBuild program kicks off, we can’t wait to see how these digital health solutions take shape. Stay tuned for updates and join us for the final showcase, where the teams will present their prototypes. This is just the beginning of their journey to transform healthcare through technology!
