Australian FHIRside forum set to boost digital health standards

The Australian Digital Health Agency, in partnership with HL7 Australia, has introduced FHIRside, a new weekly forum aimed at enhancing the adoption and effective use of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards within Australia's healthcare sector.

FHIRside is set to provide healthcare technology professionals with regular opportunities to connect with industry experts, collaborate on implementation strategies, and address real-world challenges associated with health technology.

FHIR is an international standard designed to facilitate the secure exchange of digital health information, a capability viewed as essential for improving patient safety, system quality, and overall efficiency in Australia's healthcare services.

National collaboration

By offering access to FHIR expertise and practical support, the Australian Digital Health Agency hopes to accelerate digital health transformation and encourage the development of more seamless and connected care solutions across the country.

To drive the adoption of FHIR, the Agency is not only establishing initiatives like FHIRside but is also providing further training opportunities to increase sector-wide expertise in healthcare interoperability.

Peter O'Halloran, the Agency's Acting Chief Executive Officer, said he anticipates FHIRside will serve as a valuable platform for participants seeking collaboration, mentorship, and assistance with integration challenges.

"FHIRside will create a vibrant environment for real-time learning, peer mentoring and idea testing," Mr O'Halloran said.

"Whether you're stoking the coals of an implementation challenge, or fanning the flames of new ideas, the new weekly drop-in FHIRside sessions are the ideal setting for collective learning and building connections. This is where inquisitive minds gather, ideas shine brightly, and meaningful progress unfolds."

Each virtual FHIRside session will last an hour and is intended to complement existing online forums, formal standards development initiatives, and training programmes. The sessions are designed to offer a welcoming and supportive space where participants can engage in peer-to-peer learning and explore solutions together.

Improving sector capability

Danielle Pentony, Acting Chief Digital Officer at the Agency, highlighted the broader potential of FHIRside to foster collaboration and support professional development, beyond simply addressing technical difficulties.

"FHIRside fills a gap in the implementation of standards," the Agency's Acting Chief Digital Officer, Danielle Pentony, said. "It's not just about solving technical problems, it's about supporting capability uplift and cultivating a shared ecosystem that strengthens cross-organisational collaboration and supports innovation."

HL7 Australia Chair David Rowlands added that FHIRside is a practical step towards addressing the ongoing challenges of interoperability in healthcare ICT, aligning with the mission of HL7 to improve health data connectivity at a global level.

"FHIRside embodies the spirit of HL7's mission to empower global health data interoperability," Mr Rowlands said.

"By creating a space for real-time collaboration and informal learning, it will strengthen the community and accelerate meaningful implementation of FHIR standards."

The launch of FHIRside supplements the Agency's broader suite of fully funded FHIR training courses, which have recently been updated, with additional resources currently in development. This approach is intended to provide continued support, particularly for those engaging with FHIR for the first time, and to reinforce a skilled healthcare workforce.

The first FHIRside session will be held on 7 October 2025 and will run weekly until December 2025, with sessions resuming in late January 2026. Each session will offer direct, real-time access to FHIR experts, a safe environment for discussing challenges, and opportunities for building cross-organisational relationships.

Participants interested in joining FHIRside can access information through the FHIR training courses webpage or the Agency's LinkedIn page for session updates.