Health's data modernisation on GCP reaches $32.8m

The federal Department of Health & Aged Care’s data modernisation has gone up a gear, with $13 million in contracts signed in recent months, taking the total project spend up to $32.8 million.

The department announced in early 2024 that it would stand up a new enterprise data and analytics platform using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services.

iTnews can now reveal the department has engaged four companies on the delivery and data migration work: Accenture, Deloitte, NTT and Google themselves.

This provides the first real view of the department’s investment into its data and analytics modernisation, with spend so far just shy of $33 million.

The contracts run through mostly to mid-2027.

Of the partners involved in the program of work, Google themselves provided only some training around the platform back in 2024, worth about $150,000.

GCP consumption is booked through the arrangement with NTT. In May this year, the department made a $5.3 million amendment to this arrangement, taking its total value up to $9.7 million.

Accenture, similarly, recently benefitted from a nearly $7.7 million amendment at the start of July, which took the total value of its contracted work up to $17.1 million.

“Accenture supports the overall program goals with program management services, cloud-based engineering and architecture skills, and agile delivery capability,” a Health spokesperson told iTnews.

It's less clear what role Deloitte plays in the program, but its contribution is now worth $2.6 million, up from $424,000 when it was first brought in.

There is no suggestion by iTnews that the program budget is in any way problematic. 

Simply, owing to the number of partners involved, it has until now been challenging to get a sense of how the program is being delivered, as well as a ballpark figure for the total budget.

“The department has been modernising its data and analytics platform over several years, replacing legacy big data capabilities and establishing a modern architecture based on Google Cloud Platform,” the spokesperson said.

“The department engaged several suppliers … at different stages of that journey to provide specialist expertise, augment internal capability and support delivery of approved program outcomes.

“Any contract variations were undertaken to support project delivery requirements and continuity of critical services.”