Mercy Health helps shape ethical AI governance across Australia

Mercy Health Chief Information Officer Dr Paul Jurman has been appointed to the Australian Catholic University (ACU) AI Council as an External AI Expert, as an Adjunct Professor of Practice at ACU, and as the inaugural Chair of Catholic Health Australia’s AI Community of Practice in recognition of his leadership in the ethical governance of artificial intelligence.

These appointments reflect a growing demand for expertise in AI ethics, AI governance, and responsible adoption and build on Mercy Health’s leadership in ethical AI governance, including its endorsement of the internationally recognised Rome Call for AI Ethics as the first Australian health and aged care provider to do so.

Launched by The Vatican and global technology partners, the Rome Call promotes transparency, accountability, inclusion and respect for human dignity in the development and use of artificial intelligence. Mercy Health has since developed a practical governance framework to help organisations apply those principles in practice.

The organisation’s work also aligns with the direction outlined by Pope Leo XIV in his May 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which calls on organisations to ensure emerging technologies serve humanity, protect human dignity and advance the common good. The encyclical places particular emphasis on ethical governance, accountability and responsible innovation as AI adoption accelerates globally, reinforcing the principles that underpin Mercy Health’s approach.

“While many organisations are focused on how quickly artificial intelligence can be adopted, our focus has been on how it can be implemented ethically and responsibly,” Dr Jurman said.

“Trust sits at the heart of healthcare and aged care. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, organisations must be able to demonstrate that they are using AI ethically and responsibly.”

Mercy Health is a CHA Member