Discussion Paper
Embedding Adaptive Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure in Australia’s Digital Health Future
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Abstract
Australia’s digital health program stands at a turning point. Whilst two decades of investment have established solid foundations, its continued success depends less on technology and more on leadership.
Combined with a health system that is constantly challenged. The capacity pressures, funding constraints, and workforce shortages regularly collide with constant digital and data innovation. These conditions are the new norm which are reshaping and testing the limits of an existing complex system. To move to the next level of reform, different leadership approaches are essential.
This discussion paper presents the results of a LinkedIn survey across the digital health professional network. The findings confirm that leadership competency - at the system, organisational and individual levels - determines whether changes are adopted across the healthcare ecosystem.
Adaptive leadership is much more than a personal trait. It is no longer optional. It is the strategic infrastructure and critical competency for Australia’s digital health future.
Click here to download the full discussion paper.
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Strategic Call to Action
This discussion paper advances a clear proposition: Adaptive leadership must now be embedded as strategic infrastructure and invested in as an essential competency for Australia’s digital health future.
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Acknowledgements, Disclosures and Limitations
Daniel would like to thank all those people who supported the review of this paper. All the comments, perspectives and 1:1 conversations helped improve the quality of the final positioning. This paper is stronger because of this collective contribution.
No personally identifiable information was quoted in this paper. Microsoft Copilot was used to support proofreading during the review of the paper. All suggestions were manual refinements. This paper did not receive any funding nor was it written on behalf of any organisation. The Author is an independent advisor, coach, and mentor across the digital health agenda.
This is a discussion paper, and not an academic paper. A systematic review of published literature was not conducted. It extended to a desktop review of articles, blogs, and literature to support the findings and insights presented in this paper. It is not an exhaustive account of the origins and applications of adaptive leadership theory, concepts, and frameworks.
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