05 June 2018 - What are the possibilities of genomics and precision medicine for preventative health and improved health care? How are health cities evolving internationally and what role can they play in improving community health and our health system?

These questions were amongst some of the thought-provoking areas delved into and discussed at the second bi-annual Shifting Health by Design Symposium held on 5 June 2018.

Shifting Health by Design was launched in 2016 and is pioneered by Health City Springfield Central, facilitated by Aurecon, in partnership with Mater Misericordiae, Aveo and Springfield City Group.

“We were absolutely delighted to be a driving partner for this innovative event and want it to be a beacon for big thinkers in health and wellness,” said Maha Sinnathamby. Chairman of Springfield City Group, the creators behind Greater Springfield’s 52ha Health City project.

This year’s symposium continued to explore the possibility of a better health system, and Aurecon’s global health service expert Susie Pearn co-facilitated the day. The symposium aimed to progress further the objective started with Shifting Health 2016 to provoke innovative thinking to shift health from illness towards wellness, co-create our future health paradigm and help move towards a consumer-centred approach.

Ms Pearn brings a diverse perspective to health, having led management roles in the planning and delivery of numerous health infrastructure projects, alongside an advisory skillset and asset management background. She has particular interest in the convergence of health services, infrastructure and technology and how this can help shift to a new health paradigm that is far more efficient, integrated and preventative.

“I was delighted to have been asked again to facilitate Shifting Health by Design. A full-house attended the day, which shows the appetite for considering new ideas,” Ms Pearn said.

Four key topics were presented throughout the symposium, with each followed by a stimulating panel discussion with a range of diverse and thought-provoking panel members, including Aurecon’s Global Lead, Digital Advisory, Jacob Lindsay.

This was an interactive symposium, with the audience enabled through technology to contribute their ideas and thought provocations for what our future health system could look like.

The expectation is that the symposium will result in further thinking and ideas that may be explored as part of the Shifting Health by Design series through community engagement, population health studies, think tanks, research and innovation. The outcomes will be shared with attendees and participation from the community and others will be welcomed.

The symposium was attended by industry, government, research, academia, health and digital leaders along with students and the community. Presentation topics included genomics and precision health care, the Mater’s clinical services review and the recent winning masterplan of Health City Springfield Central.

Attendees joined the conversation on Twitter at #shiftinghealth2018 and explored the possibility of a better health system: