Infosys to transform Australian government's welfare system software

Bengaluru-based information technology services firm Infosys has been selected by the Australian government to transform the entitlement calculation engine of its welfare system.

The welfare system, run by the federal government's agency called Services Australia, will see Infosys digitise the welfare entitlements. The transformation will help the agency quickly implement policy changes without disrupting services, the company said in a statement.

According to Infosys, the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation (WPIT) programme will replace a significant portion of Centrelink’s 30-year-old platform.

The company did not disclose the financial details of the deal. 

“This deal will create a flexible welfare service delivery system for the future to better meet the needs of the Australian community," said Andrew Groth, senior vice president and regional head of Australia and New Zealand.

Infosys has been working in Australia for over two decades with a 5,500 strong workforce in the country. 

During phase 1 of the agreement, Infosys will create a 'proof of design' and is expected to complete mid-2020. Subject to further approval, phase 2 of the project will encompass the building, implementation, and support for the new project, led by its expanding technical team in Canberra.

According to Services Australia, this will be one of the largest social welfare information and communication technology (ICT) system transformations in the world. 

The deal will also see Infosys establishing as a physical space in the Canberra office to enable Services Australia and its policy partners to collaborate and develop ways to improve decision making and speed up time to market for policy implementation, the statement said.