How AI is evolving in Queensland’s public sector
The FST Future of Queensland Government Summit 2025 highlighted a pivotal moment for Australian public services.
With voices from across health, education, environment, and administration, the summit revealed a strong appetite to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and ensure ethical oversight.
Based on roundtable insights captured during the day and aligned with national AI strategies and use cases, this article explores how AI is evolving in Queensland’s public sector — and what’s needed to move from experimentation to real impact.
Health sector: From back-office to bedside innovation
AI in Australian healthcare remains in early stages but shows promise. From waitlist audits and discharge summary translations to forecasting surgery dates and ambulance pre-positioning, AI is being used to support operational workflows. Yet, clinical applications are still underutilised, with many organisations not yet integrating AI into patient-facing services.
Local pilot projects are attempting to bridge this gap. AI-enabled decision-support tools are being trialled in cancer diagnostics and predictive health modelling, while state health departments explore AI for improving hospital scheduling and patient management systems.
Takeaway
Australian healthcare providers are well-positioned to scale AI, especially in areas like emergency care and diagnostics, but progress depends on robust governance and data-sharing protocols between jurisdictions.
Environment: A natural ally for predictive AI
Australia’s unique biodiversity and climate challenges make it a ripe candidate for AI in environmental management. Our audience insights — from yellow crazy ant infestation prediction to bushfire behaviour analysis— reflect a growing interest in using AI for ecological forecasting and compliance monitoring.
These uses are reinforced by projects like Digital Earth Australia, which employs AI and satellite imagery to track land use, vegetation, and coastal erosion. Similarly, the CSIRO’s Spark platform supports real-time bushfire simulation using AI and physics-based modelling, already assisting several fire agencies nationwide.
Takeaway
There’s an emerging ecosystem of AI tools supporting environmental resilience, but more investment is needed to integrate these solutions across agencies and states.
Education: Responsible AI in the classroom and beyond
Australia’s primary and higher education sector is adopting AI cautiously and conscientiously. From Microsoft Copilot used to teach AI ethics, to automated ticket triage and special needs assessment, there’s a dual focus on enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring responsible AI use in teaching practices.
The Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools, launched in 2023 by the Australian Department of Education, sets guidelines for the safe and ethical use of tools like ChatGPT in classrooms. The Queensland Department of Education begun exploring AI to personalise learning and support teachers with administrative burdens back in 2023, with a trial across 10 state schools. Following which, the department is currently working in partnership with schools to provide guidance and develop resources to support the operationalisation of the Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools.
Takeaway
Ethical implementation is the linchpin of AI in education. Australia is setting standards to ensure AI use enhances — not replaces — teaching quality and student wellbeing.
Government Administration: Toward a smarter bureaucracy
From Qchat’s anomaly detection to open data collaboration across Queensland agencies, AI is gaining traction in service delivery and internal government operations. However, legacy systems, inconsistent data standards, and varying levels of digital maturity across departments remain significant barriers.
The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and the National framework for the assurance of AI in government provide blueprints for responsible and transparent AI use in public administration. These frameworks emphasise ethical considerations, explainability, and citizen engagement — crucial elements for maintaining public trust.
Takeaway
While AI pilots in administration show promise, scaling requires systemic investment in digital infrastructure, data interoperability, and workforce capability building.
Key challenges
While Australia is laying a solid foundation for AI adoption, our audience insights and broader local research highlight several shared challenges that persist across the public sector.
Many agencies are still operating with immature AI strategies, lacking clear roadmaps or a structured approach to prioritising use cases. This is compounded by a shortage of skilled AI professionals, particularly in regional areas where recruitment and retention are more difficult. Additionally, limited cross-sector collaboration continues to hinder progress, with knowledge often siloed between key areas such as health, education, environment, and broader government functions.
Our strategic recommendations
Develop AI strategies at agency level
Tailor AI initiatives to each department’s unique service goals and capabilities.
Launch scalable pilot projects
Use short-term projects to demonstrate AI’s value and inform larger rollouts.
Build governance and training programs
Leverage existing frameworks (e.g. DTA and National Framework for AI Assurance) to create internal training and oversight bodies.
Foster collaboration between agencies
Establish inter-agency working groups to share lessons, data, and successful applications.
Emphasise ethical and inclusive AI
Ensure AI tools respect Indigenous data sovereignty, privacy laws, and anti-discrimination principles.
Australia’s Moment for AI Leadership
AI in the Australian public sector is evolving from experimental pilots to practical tools that can improve lives, protect the environment, and modernise bureaucracy. The FST 2025 insights show that while many departments are still in early stages, the appetite for innovation is strong.
With structured strategies, ethical oversight, and inter-agency collaboration, Australia is in a strong position to deliver public good through AI — responsibly, inclusively, and at scale.
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