HammondCare has unveiled Hammond Innovations, a new initiative designed to rapidly turn smart ideas into practical solutions for older Australians living with dementia, palliative and complex care needs.
Announced by CEO Andrew Thorburn at the Ageing Australia National Conference 2025 today (Wednesday 1 October), Hammond Innovations will bring together the expertise of the Dementia Centre, the Centre for Positive Ageing and the Palliative Care Centre under the leadership of Dr Anna Barker, an experienced health innovator and researcher.
Dr Barker told The Weekly SOURCE the initiative will reject slow, academic-only models in favour of provider-led, technology-inspired innovation.
“We want to deliver what matters most – happier, healthier days for older Australians with more nights on their own pillows. For care practitioners, we want more hands held and fewer pens pushed,” she said.
At the heart of the new venture is the IDEA Hub (Insight, Design, Evidence and Action) – described as an “engine room” to crowdsource frontline problems, co-design solutions with staff, families and consumers, and scale what works. Early priorities include reducing administrative burden with AI transcription tools, using sensors and smart devices to detect early changes in health, and creating safer, digitally enabled homes and care settings.
Andrew, who has repositioned HammondCare to focus on complex care since taking the helm last year, said Hammond Innovations continues the organisation’s pioneering legacy that began in 1932.
With dementia cases set to double by 2050, and aged care operators already struggling to support residents with specialised needs, he believes HammondCare has both a duty and an opportunity to lead.
“The sector is full of pilots that never scale,” added Dr Barker. “Our goal is to embed solutions quickly and at scale – and work with others to make that happen.”
