In Season 1, we introduced Sparked and explored the big-picture challenges of digital health standards in Australia and around the world.

Now, in Season 2, we’re diving deeper—spotlighting sectors like aged care, nursing, and allied health, and unpacking what interoperability beyond FHIR really means.

Join us as we explore how better data standards can transform care, one connection at a time.

FHIR alone isn’t enough to revolutionise Australia’s digital health landscape. In this episode, we explore how interoperability depends on the alignment of multiple standards—including OpenEHR and SNOMED. Our expert guests unpack what makes Patient Summaries work, how terminology supports data exchange, and why Sparked’s approach is catching global attention.

Guests: Grahame Grieve, Rachel Dunscombe, Rory Davidson

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What does Sparked mean for private specialists and patients across every stage of life? From paediatrics to geriatrics, this episode explores how standards can break down silos and improve patient care across the full lifespan. Our guests reflect on why they champion Sparked and what success looks like from the clinic to the cloud.

Guests: Michael Strachan, Dr Sanka Amadoru, Dr Kim Drever

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Allied health professionals are critical to patient outcomes—but are they included in the interoperability conversation? This episode dives into the opportunities and challenges of bringing allied health into the fold, and why better data exchange could revolutionise shared care, treatment plans, and patient-centred outcomes.

Guests: Bronwyn Morris-Donovan, Kath Feeley

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Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, yet digital systems haven’t always worked for them. In this episode, we hear how Sparked is helping the nursing workforce shape national standards that reflect real clinical needs. From SNOMED terminology to startup innovation, this is a conversation about equity, influence, and the future of nursing.

Guests: Janette Gogler, Zara Lord, Karen Booth

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How do we bring aged care into the digital health ecosystem? Our guests discuss the specific challenges of the sector—from legacy systems to data gaps—and why alignment with broader healthcare standards is critical. Hear about real-world implementation, upcoming reforms, and how Sparked is helping aged care take the next step forward.

Guests: Annette Schmiede, Sarah Evans, Dr Adrian Gilliland

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Two years on—what has Sparked achieved and where to from here? In this forward-looking finale, senior leaders reflect on the program’s success, how it aligns with national strategies like the Digital Health Blueprint, and what implementation means for systems, workforce, and the future of healthcare in Australia.

Guests: Simon Cleverly, Amanda Cattermole, David Hansen, David Rowlands

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Why Sparked, and why now? Brett Sutton kicks off the Sparked podcast with a bang, diving into the world of standards and Sparked’s place in it. He is joined by Daniel McCabe from the Department of Health and Aged Care, who describes his vision for an Australia where health standards have been adopted. They discuss why the Australian Government is investing in standards and how Sparked represents a unique approach to standards and policy development.

This episode features Daniel McCabe, First Assistant Secretary – Medicare Benefits and Digital Health, Department of Health and Aged Care.

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The one and only ‘father of FHIR’, Graham Grieve, lights up Episode 2 of the Sparked podcast. He breaks down what makes FHIR unique amidst the range of global standards. Brett is also joined by the Australian Digital Health Agency’s Peter O’Halloran. They explore how the Sparked FHIR accelerator is blazing a trail in the international standards landscape and helping to position Australia as a global leader.

This episode features Grahame Grieve, HL7 Australia’s FHIR Product Director, and Peter O’Halloran, Chief Digital Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency.

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This episode explores how increasing the adoption of health standards in Australia will improve patient outcomes. Experienced clinicians join Brett to discuss how improving interoperability benefits both patients and clinicians. They share their personal experiences with the Sparked program and give their perspective on how clinicians can add fuel to the Sparked fire.

This episode features Dr Chris Moy, GP and ex Vice-President of the Australian Medical Association, and Dr Rob Hosking, general practitioner and obstetrician.

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Sparked is gaining huge momentum in industry and Brett is joined by interoperability experts to find out why. The guests provide an industry perspective on the challenges and benefits of implementing an accelerator and adopting standards.

This episode features Elizabeth Koff, Managing Director of Telstra Health, Danielle Bancroft, Chief Product Officer at Best Practice Software, Non-Executive Director at Halo Connect and Co-Chair at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and Kaye Hocking, Chief Product Officer at Alcidian.

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