Abt Global

Digital Health Specialist - Australia Fiji Health Program

Posted
19 March 2026 08:33am
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Pacific
Sectors
Health
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Summary

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

  • Short Term Personnel
  • Remote position – working for nominated homebase with occasional travel to Suva, Fiji and potential travel to divisions dependent on needs.
  • Contract for 18 months with inputs managed under Tasking Notes for specified periods  

Platform Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’), is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that contributes to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan. 

The Platform support DFAT to deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:  

  1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
  2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.
  3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

AFHP Overview:

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). 

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are: 

  • Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and
  • Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs). 

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans. 

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation. 

Description

Position Summary:

The Digital Health Specialist will provide strategic, technical, and advisory support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Fiji Health Program (FHP) to advance Fiji’s digital health agenda. The role will support the implementation and ongoing operationalisation of Fiji’s Digital Health Strategy through technical guidance, project management support, business analysis, and coordination across stakeholders.

With core system stabilisation largely achieved, the position will focus on delivering technical leadership for digital health system integration, interoperability, registry development, policy development and future system planning. This includes supporting integrations between PATISPlus, CMRIS (and its replacement), LIS, IIS, Sova Ni Bula, RISPACS, and other priority health information systems, utilising BridgeLink as the national integration engine. The role will also provide technical oversight during the transition from Mirth to BridgeLink.

Additionally, the position will facilitate the establishment of national health registries, support the development of the oncology module within PATISPlus, contribute to scoping for a national health information portal and data warehouse, and lead digital health data standardisation efforts in consultation with the Senior Statistician. The role will also support EMR scoping activities to inform future replacement options for PATISPlus and CMRIS.

The Digital Health Specialist will provide technical oversight and advisory support while working closely with developers and vendors; however, the role will not involve direct software development.
 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide strategic and technical advice to MHMS for the implementation of Fiji’s Digital Health Strategy. This will be achieved through undertaking business analyses, preparation of briefings and technical documents, project management and coordination support, and other activities.
  • Drive digital health system integration and interoperability initiatives, using BridgeLink as the primary integration engine, and oversee the transition from Mirth to BridgeLink.
  • Design, guide, and operationalise national digital health registries, including the Health Worker Registry and Health Facility Registry, by defining system design requirements, data standards, governance models, and integration mechanisms.
  • Lead the technical design and coordination for establishing Cancer Registry and developing the oncology module within PATISPlus, including defining requirements, data elements, workflows, and reporting needs.
  • Analyse, review, and shape EMR scoping and requirements documentation to inform future replacement options for PATISPlus and CMRIS, contributing to requirements specifications and option analyses.
  • Translate clinical and business requirements into technical specifications by working closely with developers, system administrators, product teams, PMU, and vendors, and oversee configuration, testing, and deployment deliverables.
  • Document and define system architecture, data flows, messaging standards, and integration specifications to ensure safe, reliable and scalable interoperability across digital health systems.
    Plan and coordinate implementation of infrastructure, server, and network requirements necessary to enable secure and reliable system integrations.
  • Lead stakeholder engagement and user readiness activities, ensuring effective adoption of integrated digital health workflows, registries, and system enhancements.
  • Provide inputs to Annual Work Plan (AWP), annual reports, and program reporting requirements, ensuring accurate and timely updates related to digital health initiatives.
  • Undertake additional duties as required by the Team Leader and Project Manager (Digital Health) to support the overall advancement of Fiji’s digital health agenda.

Key Deliverables:

  • Technical guidance and documentation supporting the design and implementation of priority digital health system integrations through BridgeLink, including system architecture diagrams, data flow maps, integration specifications, and messaging standards.
  • Transition plan and advisory documentation for the migration from Mirth to BridgeLink, detailing risks, dependencies, sequencing, change impacts, and mitigation strategies.
  • Technical and governance documentation for national digital health registries (Health Worker Registry and Health Facility Registry), including data standards, governance frameworks, system linkages, workflow definitions, and integration requirements.
  • Requirements documentation and technical guidance for establishing a national Cancer Registry and developing the PATISPlus oncology module, including data elements, workflows, integration points, and reporting specifications.
  • Technical inputs and review comments for EMR scoping and system requirements documentation to inform future replacement options for PATISPlus and CMRIS.
  • Scoping and technical recommendation papers for the development of a national health information portal and health data warehouse, including functional requirements, architectural considerations, and implementation options.
  • Digital health policy and data standardisation documents, including draft policies, standards reference documents, terminology/metadata standards, and guidance developed in collaboration with MHMS and the Senior Statistician.
  • Infrastructure, server, and network requirements documentation needed to support secure, scalable, and reliable system integrations, including deployment readiness and configuration requirements.
  • User readiness, adoption, and change management materials, including training guides, onboarding materials, and stakeholder engagement summaries.
  • Testing oversight deliverables, such as testing plans, UAT reports, defect logs, and implementation readiness assessments for integrated systems and modules.
  • Inputs to Annual Work Plans (AWPs), annual reports, and other digital health reporting, providing accurate and timely updates on achievements, risks, and priorities.
  • Progress reports for each in‑country input, detailing activities, outcomes, risks, issues, and recommendations.
  • Additional technical, analytical, or project documentation as required to advance MHMS and FHP digital health priorities.

Key Working Relationships:

  • The Digital Health Specialist will report to and be accountable to the Team Leader (Health) and will be part of AFHP’s Project Management Unit (PMU) supporting MHMS’s digital health reforms.
  • On a day-to-day basis, the Specialist will coordinate closely with the Project Manager (Digital Health).
  • The Specialist will work with the IT and Data Analysis and Management Unit (DAMU) teams within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS)

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications 

  • Post graduate qualifications in computing science, information systems or equivalent. Specific studies in digital health an advantage.
  • Certification or formal training in Mirth, BridgeLink, or other integration/middleware platforms highly desirable.

Experience 

  • At least 10 years’ experience in business and systems analysis for digital and health information systems.
  • Experience providing technical oversight or advisory support for system integration and interoperability, including platforms such as BridgeLink and transition from Mirth.
  • Experience in EMR scoping, digital health strategy implementation, or registry establishment (Health Worker, Health Facility, Cancer/Oncology).
  • Experience supporting change management, stakeholder engagement, and reporting for health information systems. 

Skills and Knowledge 

  • Strong knowledge of PATISPlus and the underlying code used, including the ability to make and implement changes to the source code in test/live environments.
  • Strong analytical capabilities to use and communicate data to improve information systems, reporting and health services.
  • Strong understanding of integration languages (HL7, FHIR), SQL, international classification of diseases (ICD-10), and common data standards and processes. Understanding of the context and constraints of developing countries in the Pacific region.

Personal Attributes:

  • Multi-tasking, good planning skills and highly organised with good time management techniques.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a team and sustain effective communication with the stakeholders.
  • Strong written and oral communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
  • Service-oriented approach, with a commitment to supporting the operational / corporate environment of MHMS and FHP.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.