This month’s newsletter shares our latest Annual Report, more highlights from the 4th Ageing Forum, and stories on Ginigai’s fire sensor and Dr Kai Wu’s wireless sensing research.

Lucy Brogden AM, Director at Australian Unity, has urged a fundamental rethink of how Australia approaches ageing, care and technology, warning at the NSSN’s 4th Ageing Forum that the current system remains fragmented and out of step with the realities of older Australians and their families.

Australia is making strong progress toward a digitally connected healthcare system, with the Australian Digital Health Agency’s Sandra Cook telling the NSSN’s 4th Ageing Forum the five-year National Digital Health Strategy aims to link data across the entire health-care ecosystem.

The CEO of Ginigai has shared how an innovative UNSW-born fire detection sensor has grown into a rapidly commercialising safety-technology startup whose system is now poised to be used on top shipping vessels.

Australia is on the brink of a care crisis, with governments and communities unprepared for the surge in Australians aged over 80 who need aged care in the coming decade, health services academic and clinician Professor Kathy Eagar AM has told the NSSN’s 4th Ageing Forum. 

The NSSN is now accepting applications to support innovative, collaborative research projects that respond to the NSSN Priority Themes of Human Health, Environment & AgTech, Natural Hazards, Net Zero and Smart Places.

This month’s Sensor covers the launch of the 2026 NSSN Grand Challenge Fund, expert insights on Australia’s ageing challenge, and sensing innovations from bushfire tech to a robot that raps.

The NSW Rural Fire Service heard 26 innovative pitches featuring the latest technologies to predict, prevent and respond to bushfires at the NSSN’s recent Bushfire Research Pitch Day.

Meet Keirzo, a robot that raps, listens and learns from humans, built by Macquarie University Honary Research Fellow Dr Richard Savery to explore connection, not replacement. It’s a glimpse into the future of creativity and how humans and machines make music together.

An NSSN funded study has revealed when and where forest fuels are at their driest, offering fresh insights to improve bushfire risk assessment and prescribed burn planning across Australia.

This Ageing edition of The Sensor previews the 4th NSSN Ageing Forum and features thought pieces on technology and care, plus Australian sensing innovations in sonar, self-sensing concrete, and OLED-based quantum sensors

UBIQUT is a pre-seed UNSW spin-out developing OLED-based quantum sensors that are cheaper, more robust and scalable—unlocking new opportunities in defence, minerals exploration and healthcare.