NSW Health has formed a new taskforce to guide the use of artifical intelligence (AI) in the public health system.

The taskforce will play an important role in overseeing the creation of an AI Framework to ensure safe and successful use of AI.

This groundbreaking taskforce, comprising 25 members, will include Sally Duncan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer at Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD).

A nursing veteran since 1979, Sally brings a wealth of experience to the taskforce, overseeing digital health services and ensuring nursing and midwifery perspectives are integral to digital health initiatives.

“I am looking forward to ensuring a lens on safety, ethics, privacy, research, workforce development, and meaningful consumer engagement. By implementing AI within a framework that covers all these aspects, we can enhance healthcare delivery, provide time back to our clinicians to focus on care delivery and further improve patient well-being,” she said.

An active participant in AI discourse, Sally co-presented a draft AI position statement at the AIDH (Australasian Institute of Digital Health) AI conference in November 2023. 

“The biggest challenge is to balance the requirement for good governance (ensuring safety, ethics, privacy, research, workforce development, and meaningful consumer engagement) in developing AI within healthcare without stifling AI innovation.”

Sally’s appointment underscores the importance of integrating healthcare expertise into AI initiatives, ensuring a well-rounded and patient-centric approach to the future of public health.