What we know about care work and the organisations that provide it depends on the quality of data produced by care organisations of all types and sizes. Yet the considerable work involved in generating and maintaining this data remains poorly understood.
This gap in understanding has prompted new research into the data practices of care organisations by linguist and AI expert Dr Judith Bishop, and care data researcher Kate Syme-Lamont from La Trobe University's Care Economy Research Institute.
Their report, Data (In)visibility and (Dis)connection in the Care Economy Ecosystem, Some Cross-Ecosystem Observations, provides insights into the strengths, challenges, opportunities and risks associated with current data practices across the care sector.
“Care organisations are an untapped resource to answer questions we have about the care economy,” says Ms Syme-Lamont. “Yet current structural issues and policy settings worsen data discoverability for organisations, funders and policymakers."
“Effective data management is also becoming increasingly important as care organisations look to harness the potential of AI," Dr Bishop adds. “Our research speaks to the tension between the potential of AI and the reality of implementing new technologies within complex and often fragmented data systems.”
Although this challenge extends beyond the care sector, it is particularly important in health, care and social services, where data management must be balanced with the fundamentally human work of providing care.
The research highlights the need for greater investment in accessible, integrated data infrastructure across the care economy. A systemic approach will be needed to help organisations overcome current barriers to effective data management and use.
