innovAGEING National Challenge returns for 2022

innovAGEING, Australia’s network for aged services, is inviting innovators interested in making an impact on aged services to apply for its second national challenge — a national aged services hackathon, to be held on 24 and 25 October.

“The competition is open to teams of two to four people interested in developing ideas aimed at making an impact in the aged services industry. This year’s innovAGEING National Challenge is themed Rethinking Aged Care Workforce,” said Merlin Kong, Head of innovAGEING.

Kong said up to 10 teams are invited to apply to take part in the two-day competition which includes ideation and business plan canvas workshops as well as an industry experts panel discussion, and culminates in a hackathon where participants receive first-hand guidance to develop their concept.

“Following the success of the 2019 event, we’re excited to be working once again with our Foundation Partners, Commonwealth Bank and KPMG Australia, to deliver this fantastic event,” Kong said.

The first-, second- and third-place winners will receive a cash prize, and will have access to Commonwealth Bank and KPMG Australia innovation expertise over the two-day event to help develop their business ideas and create a prototype.

“To succeed in Australia, innovators and startups need to collaborate with institutional and incumbent organisations in order to scale-up and grow,” Kong said.

Nicki Doyle, Partner for Health, Ageing, and Human Services at KPMG said, “The solutions developed have the potential to enhance the quality of care and support and [enhance] outcomes for older Australians.”

Kong said the last innovAGEING National Challenge saw some incredible ideas and solutions, with one team developing their idea into a real business and winning an innovAGEING National Award in 2021.

Image caption: iStockphoto.com/Sitthiphong