The national Council will advise St Vincent's – one of Australia’s largest health and aged care organisations, with 12 public and private hospitals and 25 aged care facilities – on how to identify, evaluate and scale AI technologies that improve patient care and clinician wellbeing aligned with the organisation’s mission, values and commitment to compassionate care.  

Drawing on St Vincent's unique presence across public and private hospitals, aged care, research, home and virtual care, the Council will lead a people-centric approach to AI adoption and governance at a time of rapid technological change in healthcare.  

St Vincent's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Chris Robinson, said the new Council – which will meet in Melbourne today and Friday, facilitated by Jonathan Ruane, a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management – reflected St Vincent’s determination to lead thoughtful and clinically-driven AI adoption through its 30,000 people rather than simply respond to technological change.  

"Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform healthcare, but only if it is implemented in ways that strengthen, rather than diminish, the human relationships at the heart of care," Dr Robinson said. 

"The purpose of the St Vincent’s AI Clinical Council is to bring together clinical expertise, operational experience and community perspectives to help identify where AI can make the greatest difference for patients, residents and staff." 

Dr Robinson said St Vincent's national footprint provided an opportunity to understand both the openings and risks associated with AI across the continuum of care.  

"Because we operate across hospitals, aged care, research and care in the home, we are exposed to a wide range of patient needs, clinical environments, and levels of digital maturity. That gives us a unique perspective on how AI can be used safely, responsibly and equitably across the health system for the benefit of people – both who are cared for by the system and who work in the system." 

The establishment of the Council supports St Vincent's broader ambition to deliver half of its services in the home or through digital channels by 2030, a goal the organisation believes will require the application of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.  

The Council will not replace existing clinical, governance or approval processes. Instead, it will help ensure decisions about AI are informed by frontline clinical expertise, operational realities, and the voices of patients and residents.  

Dr Robinson said the St Vincent's approach would be guided by a simple principle: ‘human care first; AI where it helps.’  

"Healthcare is fundamentally a human relationship. No technology can hold a frightened patient's hand, comfort a family in distress, or sit beside someone approaching the end of their life. 

"Technology must always remain in service of the clinician-patient and carer-resident relationship.  

“It’s why we’ve also written to the Prime Minister encouraging him to make sure that health and aged care has a seat at the table in devising the Australian Standards for AI use.  

"As AI becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to help shape the conversation nationally. Our focus is not just on what AI can do, but on how it can support human dignity, equity, trust and better health outcomes." 

Media contact: Paul Andrews 0409 665 495