Respecting Data, Strengthening Care: Integrating Digital Solutions for Remote Animal Health at RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2026.
AMRRIC’s Head of Innovation & Strategy, Dr Bonny Cumming, recently presented at the 2026 RSPCA Australia Animal Welfare Seminar, themed Animal Welfare in the Digital Age.
The presentation, Respecting Data, Strengthening Care: Integrating Digital Solutions for Remote Animal Health, explored how digital tools can support animal health and welfare outcomes in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities when they are carefully tailored to context.
Remote communities often face significant barriers to accessing veterinary services, including geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and workforce constraints. Digital tools can help address some of these challenges by strengthening communication, supporting education and training, and improving access to information and services between on-ground visits.
The session highlighted several ways AMRRIC currently uses digital tools within its programs, including:
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health promotion resources such as animations, music videos, digital lesson plans and social media content
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remote training delivered via videoconferencing and self-directed online modules
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remote veterinary advice and triage support
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the AMRRIC App, which enables offline animal health data capture to support community-led planning and service delivery.
A central focus of the presentation was the set of principles that guide AMRRIC’s approach to digital development. These ensure that technology strengthens service delivery rather than replacing it. The principles are:
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No survey without service – ensuring that data collection activities provide immediate benefit to communities and animals.
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Accessibility – designing tools that are usable in low-connectivity environments and accessible to a wide range of users.
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Indigenous Data Sovereignty and cultural safety – ensuring that data governance respects Indigenous rights, cultural context and community leadership.
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Remote-rugged design – creating systems that are practical and reliable in remote operating environments.
The presentation emphasised that digital tools are most effective when embedded within strong relationships, local workforce capacity and on-ground veterinary services. When designed in this way, technology can strengthen planning, support community-led decision-making and improve the continuity of animal health programs.
A recording of the presentation is available below as part of the RSPCA Australia Animal Welfare Seminar series.
For enquiries about the AMRRIC App or AMRRIC’s digital animal health resources, please contact info@amrric.org.
