Infosys to digitise Australia's welfare entitlements

Services Australia has contracted Infosys to digitise the delivery of welfare entitlements as part of the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation (WPIT) program.

Under the agreement, India’s Infosys will transform the entitlement calculation engine for Australia’s welfare system with a solution that uses US-based Pegasystems’ Pega platform.

The revamp will allow Services Australia to more quickly implement policy changes without disrupting services, and will deliver operational cost savings.

The phase 1 agreement covers Infosys creating a proof of design for the project. This stage is expected to be complete in mid-2020.

The second phase is subject to further approval, and will encompass the build, implementation and support for the new engine.

“A robust, responsive and agile welfare entitlements system is crucial for all Australians, particularly those in need, so Infosys is tremendously proud to support Services Australia on such a transformational project that underpins the Australian community and broader economy,” Infosys SVP and Region Head for Australia and New Zealand Andrew Groth said.

“Infosys’s 20-year history of supporting Australian organisations to improve customer-centric service delivery and become agile and digital at scale is well aligned to WPIT’s strategic objectives.”

According to Services Australia, the revamp of Australia’s welfare system will be one of the world’s largest social welfare ICT system transformations.

The WIPT program will involve replacing a significant portion of Centrelink’s existing 30-year-old platform.

It will be designed to provide citizens with faster, more connected digital services, while providing staff with a modern ICT platform and positioning the department to meet future government policy needs.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ayakono