About

What are Design Working Groups?

Design Working Groups (DWGs) are defined purpose-driven groups with authority to approve proposed designs for digital solutions within the Department of Health. Membership includes people selected for their professional expertise or lived experience to guide the design of digital solutions across the Tasmanian health system.

DWGs are a new and enduring way of designing digital health solutions for Tasmania.

The Digital Solution Design Governance Framework has defined the use of DWGs in the development of all new digital solutions for the Department of Health, and they are a permanent part of how we design safe, effective and people-centred digital tools.

DWG members work together to:

  • approve the acceptability of proposed designs for digital solutions deployed within the department
  • review and assist with the development of initiatives and proposals for new or improved digital solutions
  • provide advice and practical recommendations about digital changes
  • document the reasoning behind digital design decisions
  • consider clinical, technical and consumer perspectives
  • collaborate to identify risks, opportunities and areas for improvement

DWGs ensure the digital tools we design are safe, easy to use and genuinely meet the needs of health staff and the Tasmanian community.

“Design Working Groups bring clinicians, consumers and technical experts together to make safe, effective and people‑centred digital design decisions.”

Why are there different types of Design Working Groups?

The scope of each DWG is not defined based on a specific program, project or solution scope. The scope is defined based on broader business capability (e.g. medication management, outpatient care). In a modern healthcare system, business capabilities are tightly coupled and therefore if there is overlapping scope between DWGs this is deliberate.

The DWGs have been broken into three types reflecting whether the business capability they represent applies to all, many or specific workflows.

  1. System DWGs
    These groups are responsible for designs and principles that apply across all workflows, clinical settings, functions, specialties and users across the entire digital health ecosystem. These groups make decisions that influence the foundation of all digital solutions.

  2. Workflow DWGs
    These functionally focused working groups are delegated to make design decisions for workflows used by many—but not all—user groups across the system. These DWGs focus on processes experienced broadly but not universally, ensuring consistency and usability.

  3. Speciality DWGs
    These groups will be created when needed to design solutions specific to a particular service, specialty, or clinical unit. These groups ensure that highly specialised workflows or needs are accurately reflected in the design.

Across the Design Hub each category of DWG is easily identifiable by a distinct icon colour for clear visual identification.

How do I apply?

First enrol to become a member of the Design Community.

Once you're a Design Community member, you can register your interest in a DWG and get directly involved in the digital transformation.

▶ Register today