Earlier this month, we joined colleagues from across government at the Queensland Government Innovation Showcase, part of Government Innovation Week. The theme “Next-Gen Government: Digital, AI & the Future – Built on Trust” set the stage for conversations about how services are designed, how technology is used, and how people are supported.
CSDS sent a diverse team of communication specialists, product designers, instructional designers, developers, online learning specialists, and researchers. It was a day full of big ideas, many of which echoed the priorities in our CSDS28 Strategy (2024–2028).
Main takeaways
1. Listen before building
Queensland is a very diverse state, and no two communities are the same. Local solutions for local problems are what matter. Some of the best work gets done when we collaborate.
Cheryl Scanlon – A/Commissioner, Queensland Police
At CSDS, community takes many forms. It includes the clinicians who train in our simulation spaces, the educators who guide them, the statewide networks we support, Hospital and Health Services, and our Pocket Centre Network. It also includes our university, industry, and government partners.
Our community is also made up of students who work alongside our research team, simulated patients who bring authenticity to training, and the patients and families whose experiences inspire compassionate care. And of course, it’s our staff, the people behind the scenes who keep CSDS running and evolving every day.
When we design or adapt programs, listening to these communities ensures what we deliver is practical, meaningful, and grounded in reality. It’s easy to assume what is needed, but asking, involving, and co-designing always leads to better outcomes.
2. Break down silos
If you structure your organisation to work in a siloed way, people will work that way.
Rachel Vagg – Auditor-General, Queensland Audit Office
Collaboration doesn’t happen by chance; it has to be designed and encouraged. Maintaining and growing partnerships is central to our strategy, we could fill another blog post listing the many collaborators and partners who make our work possible, but the point is simple: innovation in healthcare education relies on strong, connected relationships.
The discussions also reinforced that teamwork matters not only across organisations but within them. Sometimes a breakthrough idea comes from someone outside your immediate group, offering a fresh perspective that helps everything click into place. The message was clear; partnerships and collaboration are what make innovation possible.
3. AI, data, and digital trust
AI was another strong theme. Jodi Hallas, A/Deputy Director-General, Clinical Planning and Service Strategy, Queensland Health, spoke about projects in early stroke detection, radiology support, and skin cancer screening and described the approach as one of “caution and deep respect in regard to clinical care.”
We also heard virtually from Estonia’s Chief Data Officer, Ott Velsberg, who explained how trust and interoperability have been central to their digital transformation. Their success has come not just from technology, but from building systems that are transparent, interoperable and respectful of people’s data. Users trust the system because it consistently works for them.
For CSDS the lesson is clear: the technology alone does not create change, trust does. If we think about healthcare education, the focus should be on ensuring that learners trust the platforms we design just as much as patients trust the clinicians who care for them. Innovation in this space must always be ethical, transparent, and human-centred.
4. Support the workforce
The showcase also highlighted that innovation is about supporting people as much as technology. Ideas like reducing administrative burden and making space for wellbeing resonated strongly. At CSDS, we see the same need in education: when clinicians and educators are supported with the right resources, structures, and environments, they can focus on what matters most – delivering safe, effective care.
Closing thoughts
The showcase gave us plenty to reflect on and offered a reassurance that the direction we’ve set in CSDS28 is the right one. By focusing on resources and support, optimising delivery, strengthening partnerships, and valuing our workforce, we can turn big ideas into practical improvements for healthcare workers and the communities they serve.
Innovation in healthcare isn’t about chasing the newest technology. It’s about people, trust, and connection. The Queensland Government Innovation Showcase was a reminder of that and we’re proud to be part of Queensland’s journey toward a future where innovation is ethical, connected, and centred on communities it serves.
