Applications Open For innovAGEING Challenge Competition
innovAGEING, Australia’s innovation network for age services, has announced Australia’s first ever innovAGEING Challenge—a national aged services hackathon—and applications are now open.
“We’re excited to be working with our Foundation Partners, KPMG and the Commonwealth Bank, to deliver this initiative,’ says, Merlin Kong, Head of innovAGEING.
The competition is open to teams of 3 to 4 people interested in making an impact in the age services industry and is comprised of three elements. The first is a curriculum component delivered online with KPMG starting on 30 May, and is open to 20 teams who will pitch their ideas to compete in the hackathon. From this, 10 teams will be selected for an ideation session and hackathon on 20-21 June. The first, second, and third place winners will receive a cash prize, and have access to the Commonwealth Bank’s mini-incubator program with the possibility of pitching to prospective investors.
In Australia, innovators and start-ups need to collaborate with institutional and incumbent organisations in order to scale-up and grow. We understand this at innovAGEING, and the Challenge will give participants access to the knowledge, networks, and innovation labs of an international professional services firm in KPMG, and one of Australia’s largest listed companies in the Commonwealth Bank.
“Combine this with innovAGEING’s links to the age services industry, the resource and network access for participants is unprecedented,” says Mr Kong.
Nicki Doyle, Partner for Health, Ageing, and Human Services at KPMG says: “KPMG is delighted to be supporting the Challenge, and the opportunity to support the development of innovative solutions in the aged care industry. The solutions developed have the potential to enhance the quality of care and support and enhancing outcomes for older Australians.”
Belinda Hegarty, National Head of Healthcare at the Commonwealth Bank says: “Our latest Healthcare Insights Report highlighted innovation in the aged care industry is imperative. Providers must challenge the status quo as they respond to reform challenges, market opportunities, new technologies, and changing consumer expectations. “While we have seen innovation within the sector steadily increase over the last three years, it is critical we continue to look at ways to foster and drive this. We are very excited to be supporting innovAGEING and helping develop inspiring, industry-led ideas.”
“This is first and foremost an ideas-driven hackathon for those who want to make a change in the age services industry. Participants do not have to know how to program as KPMG will provide the necessary technology expertise for the teams if needed,” says Mr Kong.
For more information and to register, please visit here.
For more information:
David O’Sullivan, Leading Age Services Australia, E: davido@lasa.asn.au, Ph: 0427 138 024
