St Vincent’s will deliver half of all care in-home or online by 2030

St Vincent’s Health Australia has announced it will deliver half of all its services online or directly within patients’ homes by 2030.

The ambitious strategic target is in response to growing demographic and financial challenges with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes.

As one of the largest non-profit healthcare providers in the country, St Vincent’s said the organisation is determined to “lead from the front” during what has been described the current “once-in-a-generation transition” for Australia’s health and aged care system.

“St Vincent’s is building Australia’s largest virtual and home care system," CEO Chris Blake said.

“Our ambition is that within five years, St Vincent’s clinicians and support workers will be delivering half of our total care in people’s homes – including nursing homes – either face-to-face or virtually.”

This includes comprehensive hospital-level care, from pre-admission through to recovery.

St Vincent’s currently has around two million patient and resident interactions annually across its two major public health networks in Sydney and Melbourne, 10 private hospitals, and 25 aged care facilities spanning Queensland, NSW, and Victoria.

By making this transition, the organisation believes it will be able to add an additional one million virtual patient interactions by 2030.

“Bringing care directly to people in their homes will enhance recovery, improve outcomes, and take pressure off the health system, giving our hospitals capacity to do more,” Mr Blake said.

St Vincent’s plans to develop a central ‘command centre’ model within the next 12 to 18 months. This centre will enable a virtual care team to engage in round-the-clock observation and tracking of patient data, through the use of wearable devices and other monitoring technologies.

The transition will be underpinned by advances in technology, with St Vincent's saying it has potential to address a number of pressing issue in aged care. This include: meeting shifting patient expectations; alleviating pressures on the hospital system; rising costs; an ageing population; growing rates of chronic illness; and overwhelmed services.

A significant component of this digital transformation is the new Medicare Mental Health Check In service, which St Vincent’s has been chosen by the Commonwealth Government to design and deliver.

Launching on 1 January 2026, this free digital mental health platform aims to improve access for any Australian seeking support, regardless of their location, particularly benefiting those in rural and regional areas who struggle accessing face-to-face services.

The Medicare Mental Health Check In will target individuals experiencing stress, distress, or anxiety, offering access to programs and qualified mental health practitioners. It will provide free digital mental health care, including self-guided proven digital tools to improve mental wellbeing, and access to practitioners via telehealth, SMS, and chat.

The service will be rolled out in stages, with some digital resources available from January 2026, followed by access to telehealth and online therapy delivered by trained practitioners beginning from March. By 2029, it is expected to help over 150,000 people each year.

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said the government is committed to delivering accessible mental health care for everyone.

“The Albanese Government wants everyone to be able to access the mental health care they need, without cost and referral wait times being a barrier,” Minister Butler said.

“Medicare Mental Health Check In will help people early before their problems get worse and they need more intensive clinical care.
 
“Through our network of Medicare Mental Health Centres, Headspace youth mental health centres and other specialised free services, we are making sure Australians can get the right care for their needs.”

St Vincent’s brings considerable experience to this initiative, having operated its own highly regarded digital mental health service, THIS WAY UP, for over two decades.

THIS WAY UP is Australia’s most popular digital mental health treatment service, supporting over 37,000 registered clinicians and 300,000 help seekers.

Mr Blake described the new Medicare Mental Health Check In as a potential “gamechanger” for mental health care in Australia, building on St Vincent’s strong clinical track record.
 
“We look forward to bringing our depth of experience – along with our strong clinical track record – to making sure that Medicare Mental Health Check In becomes a key service for Australians needing mental health support,” he said.

As care shifts towards home and virtual settings, St Vincent’s anticipates a change in the role of its hospitals.

Over time, they will evolve into ‘hubs’ for specialised care, cutting-edge research, and training. They will support care delivery everywhere – in people’s homes, aged care facilities, or via mobile devices – becoming central to connecting care throughout the community.

St Vincent's said the changes will led to a more efficient, person-centred system that can reach more people and address unmet needs. This will ensure that those who currently don't have access to frontline health services, including the most disadvantaged, encounter fewer barriers.