Aged care providers invest significant resources to capture clinical and person-centred data that demonstrates the quality of their care to consumers and governing bodies. However, beyond mandatory reporting, often this data remains underutilised and fragmented. There is a compelling opportunity for providers to leverage this routinely collected data to increase the quality of care and outcomes for their residents and clients.
Data literacy and maturity have been identified by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2018) and the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy (2024-2029) as important levers to deliver high quality care.
This Flagship Project aims to empower aged care providers with the knowledge and capability to leverage their existing rich data sources to increase quality of care. This project will develop and embed data capabilities among aged care staff by enhancing the use of routinely collected data for pressure injuries and wound care. In the context of residential aged care, this will include the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator for pressure injuries, and in the context of home care this will include routinely collected data related to wound prevention, identification and care.
Participants from selected aged care implementation sites in this Flagship Project will be supported by ARIIA and subject matter experts to identify, leverage and enhance routinely collected data regarding pressure injury and wound prevention, identification, management, and reporting. They will use data-driven insights to identify an opportunity to address a relevant problem and will be supported to develop and implement an evidence-based intervention specific to their implementation site’s context. These interventions intend to reduce both the incidence and severity of pressure injuries and wounds in a variety of aged care settings.
While this project will focus on pressure injuries and wound care, learnings about data management and reporting are intended to be transferable to any other data collected within the organisation.
Participating organisations
Residential aged care home, Adelaide SA
Home and Community Support, Melbourne East region VIC
"We are delighted to be awarded funding for this Aged Care Collaborative Flagship Project.
Leg ulcers are the most common wound type in community care and can seriously impact quality of life for older people. Working with ARIIA experts, this project will develop data capabilities for teams and draw insights from routinely collected data to inform wound prevention, identification and care. We aim to use what we learn from this project to apply in other health areas so we can provide the highest quality care to the community members we see."
Residential aged care facilities, Perth WA
"We are really excited to receive this grant from ARIIA to bring Elderbloom on this transformation to improve skin and wound care outcomes."
Residential aged care facility, St Albans, Melbourne VIC
"Fronditha Care is pleased to participate in ARIIA’s Flagship Project 2: improving data literacy and building data capability across the sector.
We have embarked on a review of our Quality Indicator Program and are excited by the opportunity to work with ARIIA and other colleagues to implement improvements across the entire quality management workflow - from data collection, through to input, reporting and continuous improvement.
We are enthusiastic about the outcomes of the project which involves transitioning to electronic data collection forms, data literacy training, automation of QI reporting and other time-saving efficiencies.
While the focus of the project is to improve pressure injury management, Fronditha Care hopes to apply lessons from this project to improve all quality indicators and bolster capability to drive better outcomes for our elders. We hope the outcomes will contribute to sector-wide improvement in the quality of care received by all older Australians."
Home care region, Sydney and regional NSW
"At Glow Health Care Australia (GHCA), our tagline is 'Bringing wellness to light'. The flagship Project 2 embodies this vision as it aligns with our goal to promote a proactive, holistic approach to client care, while upholding dignity, empathy and respect. Using data, we aim to deliver care that leads to meaningful improvements in the prompt management of pressure wounds and skin tears."
Residential aged care facility, Willow Wood, Melbourne VIC
"We’re pleased to be selected to take part in this flagship project alongside a select group leading the future of aged care, which will help us to turn data into action, and equip our frontline staff with additional skills and confidence.
The project will strengthen our pressure injury prevention strategy and help staff to anticipate risks and intervene earlier to protect those most vulnerable.
This will accelerate Lifeview’s journey towards being more data-informed and support what matters most to us – delivering care that is personal, respectful, and grounded in dignity. This project is not just about improving systems but improving lives."
Residential aged care facility, Scarborough, Perth WA
"Regents Garden Residential Scarborough Condocare is proud to be a partner in the ARIIA Aged Care Collaborative Flagship Project, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. This exciting initiative is equipping our team with advanced knowledge, skills, and confidence to collect and analyse vital data on pressure injuries and wound care.
By translating this expertise into practical, evidence-based strategies, we are taking decisive action to prevent wounds, accelerate healing, and deliver the highest standard of care for our residents.
Our shared vision within the collaborative is clear — to set a new benchmark in wound care across the aged care sector. We are committed to safeguarding the comfort, dignity, and quality of life of every resident, and are delighted to be leading the way in redefining excellence in aged care."
Residential aged care home, Wollongong NSW
"This project is deeply meaningful to our organisation and the residents we care for. At Warrigal, we strive for a world where older people feel known, loved, and connected.
Through this project, we aim to strengthen our wound surveillance practices, improve wound assessment and documentation, and optimise the prevention, treatment, and healing of pressure injuries and other skin integrity concerns. By improving data accuracy and clinical insights, we seek to drive better wound healing outcomes, reduce the incidence and severity of pressure injuries, and support best-practice wound care.
We hope this project will not only enhance clinical decision-making but also ensures that residents and their support networks are actively engaged in the wound care journey, fostering transparency, dignity, and person-centred care."
