BRAVE - Flinders research and innovation series

Could an avatar save your life?
Patient education in the digital age

Professor Robyn Clark and guest panellists Justin Wight, Company Director, Monkeystack and co-designer, Joe Garucch, discuss how digital technologies can assist to help patients manage their conditions more easily.

Caring Futures Institute

The Caring Futures Institute is exploring how we apply better care and health outcomes across the lifespan and how we can develop self-care and caring solutions to improve people's quality of life and boost social and economic prosperity.

Explore a caring future

Meet the researchers

Professor Robyn Clark

Theme Lead, Better Care
Caring Futures Institute

Professor Robyn Clark is an internationally recognised senior clinician and researcher. A former Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, Robyn is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (FCNA), a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA), Fellow of the Cardiac Society of Australian and New Zealand (FCSANZ) and a Life Member of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses.

Robyn’s research is focused on heart health with an interest in increasing access to services for heart failure and heart disease patients especially in rural and remote Australia, technology in health delivery and prevention and services for cardiotoxicity after cancer treatment. Her research has contributed to the interactive Fluid Watchers app, which has helped improve Australian’s awareness and action for heart attack symptoms.

Associate Professor Belinda Lange

Theme Lead, Technology
Caring Futures Institute

Associate Professor Belinda Lange has 17 years of experience in the co-design, development, and evaluation of digital health technologies in clinical and community settings, across military and civilian populations. She is one of the pioneers of game-based virtual rehabilitation.

Belinda is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health and Deputy Chair of the Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee. She has been the Chief Investigator on over $4.9 million in external funding for projects that co-designed, developed and clinically evaluated virtual reality tools for healthy aging and neurological rehabilitation. Belinda's work has been recognised in international media appearances and through Best Paper awards at international conferences. She is passionate about partnering with clinicians and consumers to explore how technology can enhance care.

Collaborator

Justin Wight

Co-founder and CEO
Monkeystack

Established in 2004, Monkeystack is an internationally acclaimed, South Australian company that employs over 30 South Australian artists, animators, producers, programmers, developers, and designers.

Throughout his career, Justin has directed and produced award winning animation series, games, films, VR projects, experiential installations, and educational applications. He is dedicated to delivering his clients high quality, fresh, and engaging work, continually striving for new and exciting ways to enhance every project he is involved with. Justin is an accomplished digital media practitioner and an effective production manager. He is particularly passionate about the use of effective digital communication to achieve social and environmentally beneficial outcomes.

Joe Garucch - Co-designer

Caring Futures Institute researchers are co-designing digital innovations and engaging avatars to improve heart health.

Learn more about Joe's story

Flinders Centre for Digital Health

Flinders Digital Health Research Centre is a multidisciplinary research entity, established as a cornerstone in Flinders University’s expansion in the health technology domain.

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Study digital health

Bachelor of Health Sciences (Digital Health)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Digital Health

Study Health Sciences in Australia

Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia’s largest and fastest growing industry and is projected to have the strongest employment growth of any industry through to May 2023

(Australian Jobs 2019)

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Collaborate with us

We are leading a reform agenda where ‘care’ is the focus for aged and disability care sectors, and service providers.

But we cannot do this alone.

We need partners across industry, government and the general public to co-design and develop new approaches and support mechanisms to ensure that quality care is accessible and delivered to all.

Please complete the form below and we will contact you to discuss your ideas to make a caring future a reality. We’ll also keep you informed of Caring Futures Institute news and the cutting edge research projects already underway.

We can make a difference together. Be the change - #CaringFuturesInstitute #caringfutureforall

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