The challenge

Emergency departments are under increasing pressure, with overcrowding becoming one of the biggest challenges facing the NSW health system. Doctors and nurses often need to make complex decisions about the most appropriate care for each patient, all while working under significant time pressure. Better tools to support these decisions could help patients receive the right care sooner, while improving patient flow and easing pressure on busy emergency departments.

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The research

Researchers at the RPA Green Light Institute have developed The Sydney Triage to Admission Risk Tool with Artificial Intelligence (START-AI), a world-first Australian artificial intelligence tool designed to help clinicians predict whether a patient is likely to require hospital admission or can be safely discharged. Building on more than a decade of research, START-AI combines advanced artificial intelligence with clinician expertise to analyse routinely collected health information and provide real-time decision support at the bedside. 

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Rather than replacing clinical judgement, START-AI is designed to support clinicians by providing additional information to help them make faster, more informed decisions. The research team is now working with NSW Health, emergency departments across metropolitan and regional NSW, and digital health leaders to implement and evaluate START-AI in real-world clinical settings.

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The role of philanthropy

Funding from Hearts & Minds has helped strengthen the research capability, innovation infrastructure and collaborative partnerships needed to develop and evaluate innovative approaches to emergency care. This support has enabled the RPA Green Light Institute to generate the evidence, research publications and translational expertise required to advance START-AI from an innovative research concept towards real-world implementation across the NSW health system.

Looking ahead

The original Sydney Triage to Admission Risk Tool has already been integrated into NSW Health's Patient Flow Portal, demonstrating how Australian research can be successfully translated into everyday clinical practice. By building on this foundation, START-AI has the potential to improve the accuracy of admission decisions, reduce emergency department delays and help more patients receive timely, appropriate care.

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If successfully implemented, the project could establish NSW as a global leader in AI-enabled emergency care while creating a framework for the safe introduction of artificial intelligence into public hospitals, improving care for thousands of patients each year.

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Funding support from Hearts & Minds, as nominated by Regal Funds Management. This content was last updated in July 2026. For further information, visit RPA Green Light Institute for Emergency Care.