Brainstorming, bright ideas and bold plans: RACGP Hackathon begins

The 2026 RACGP Hackathon has kicked off in Sydney to an enthusiastic reception, with teams ready to be ‘challenged’ and ‘surprised’ at what they can achieve as they vie for a win.
 
Over three inspiring days, seven teams will embark on ‘a journey of innovation’, with GPs bringing their bright ideas to the table alongside tech experts and entrepreneurs as they work to rapidly create a solution to a primary care challenge.
 
This year’s Hackathon welcomes 51 participants, with mentors, subject matter experts and facilitators on hand to support groups as they brainstorm and refine their ideas.
 
Speaking to the crowd during the opening address on Friday, RACGP Specific Interests – Digital Health and Innovation Chair Dr Sean Stevens promised an exciting few days ahead.
 
‘We are about to get hacking,’ he said. ‘You’ll be challenged, you’ll be stretched and I genuinely hope you will surprise yourselves.’
 
Dr Stevens described general practice as being at a turning point, and while there are definite challenges, ‘the tools we have available to us – AI, data, digital platforms – have never been more powerful’.
 
‘The RACGP sits with you at the centre of that intersection and today we are going to not just explore these problems, we’re going to solve them, and we’re going to build the solutions,’ he said.
 
‘Over the next three days your teams will identify these real problems, faced by real patients and real clinicians. You’ll prototype real solutions and that’s extraordinary – it matters.’
 
The enthusiasm was high as participants filed into the breakout rooms ready to collaborate, brainstorm and rapidly develop solutions, before presenting their outcomes on Sunday to the Hackathon judging panel.
 
Taking on the difficult task of judging this year is RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, Vice President Dr Ramya Raman, GP and founder of Healthengine Dr Marcus Tan, and Deputy Secretary of the Federal Health Department’s Health Resourcing Group Penny Shakespeare.

RACGP CEO Georgina van de Water, RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, Amazon Web Services Healthcare Industry Lead Dr Jill Freyne, and RACGP Specific Interests – Digital Health and Innovation Chair Dr Sean Stevens.
 
While there will be a winner, the biggest reward won’t be the top prize but the experience and skills participants will take back to their practices, professional networks and communities.
 
And that’s exactly what Mornington GP registrar Dr Louis-Philippe Delaugere, hopes to do.
 
He says taking part in the Hackathon is a great way to build on his strong interest in technology and how it can enhance healthcare.
 
‘It’s been a great so far – it’s really fun,’ Dr Delaugere told newsGP.
 
‘I feel like it’s been positive and focussed on solutions, whereas in the work environment, you go in and you’re immediately faced with problems you have to deal with, which is part of the job, but the focus here is about “how can you make it better?”
 
‘When you’re at work it’s almost like you’re sitting in the driver’s seat focussed on where you need to go and you don’t have time to look up at the details about what’s coming up on the dashboard.’
 
This event, he says, gives participants an opportunity to explore the bigger picture.
 
Also in his team is a participant that made the lengthiest journey to the Hackathon all the way from Canada – Dr Johanna Bonilla, who works as a Chief Medical Information Officer.
 
Dr Bonilla said that when she first explored what the Hackathon was all about, she thought it looked ‘amazing’ and was keen to take part – particularly given the RACGP was involved.
 
‘I have a high admiration for the healthcare system in Australia – we are similar and different [when compared] with Canada, so I just wanted to get to know more, and being here with the GPs, I am certainly learning more,’ she told newsGP.
 
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