From Concept to Care: How Austin Hospital Implements Smart Technologies

Post-Event Overview

On Friday, 21 November 2025, members and industry partners gathered at Austin Hospital for an immersive site tour focused on innovation, technology integration, and real-world lessons learnt from adopting advanced systems in a major healthcare facility. The morning provided a rare opportunity to see cutting-edge technologies operating in a live hospital environment, supported by insights from the engineers, suppliers, and facility managers who work with them every day.

A Morning of Learning, Innovation, and Collaboration

The theme for the event — Lessons Learnt with the Implementation of New Technologies — set the tone for a highly informative and engaging experience. Over the past several years, Austin Health has been steadily upgrading its infrastructure with intelligent, data-driven systems designed to improve efficiency, reliability, and patient safety. This tour showcased how those innovations have performed in practice, highlighting what worked, what was learned, and how teams have adapted along the way.

Attendees found the format of the event to be excellent. It was particularly valuable to hear directly from Austin Hospital about the challenges they face and how their partnership with Ventia supports effective management of these issues. Supplier presentations were engaging, insightful, and tied seamlessly into the guided tour, helping attendees understand both the technical and operational context of each system. Networking opportunities were well-received, with everyone actively engaged in discussions and sharing experiences.

Technology in Focus

Participants were then guided through a series of installations, each offering unique insights into engineering advancements within a hospital setting:

• IoT Sensors (Installed 2020)

These intelligent sensors monitor vibration trends and instantaneous acceleration at various frequencies, providing early detection of equipment wear. Attendees learned how this data has supported predictive maintenance strategies, reduced downtime, and extended asset life.

• Busch Vacuum Solutions’ Otto System

This IoT-enabled vacuum pump system delivers real-time performance data, allowing facilities teams to detect issues before they escalate. Demonstrations highlighted how the technology enhances operational resilience through predictive alerts and ongoing monitoring.

• BeaconMedaes Medical Air Compressor

With advanced filtering and drying skids, this system ensures a continuous supply of clean, reliable medical air — a cornerstone of hospital safety. Attendees gained insights into system redundancy, quality assurance, and performance tracking.

• Smardt Air-Cooled Chiller

Engineered for energy efficiency, the new chiller integrates intelligent monitoring that enhances reliability and reduces operating costs. Participants observed how real-time diagnostics and optimisation tools have improved day-to-day performance.

Suppliers were on-site throughout the tour, offering firsthand demonstrations and answering questions about installation, integration, and ongoing maintenance — a highlight for many attendees. Special thanks to the Austin Hospital suppliers for providing lunch and to Pablo from Ventia for facilitating the event.

Resources & Follow-Up

For those who attended — and for those who were unable to join us but would like to review the material — we are happy to share a copy of the presentation slides.

Please email ihea.members@ihea.org.au and we will arrange access for you.

End-of-Year Celebration Invitation

The VIC TAS Committee would also like to extend an open invitation to all members and partners to join us for our end-of-year celebration.

Please see the link below for full details of this event — a wonderful opportunity to connect, share, and celebrate with fellow industry members.

Register to attend Christmas Celebration

Looking Ahead

Finally, we encourage other hospitals to showcase their collaborative initiatives and innovative projects. Other VIC Health groups have expressed interest in participating in similar events, and we hope this inspires other institutions to share their successes and learnings with the wider community.

Thank You

Thank you again to everyone who attended the Austin Hospital site tour. Your engagement and enthusiasm helped make the morning a great success. We look forward to seeing many of you again this Wednesday at Bourke Street Greens for our next gathering.