The group has started the implementation at its main administration center in Sydney with plans to extend it to eight residential care villages across the state.

The group's chief technology consultant Bruce Coller said the site will be upgraded from a PABX to IP later this financial year and eventually provide IP services across the residential care group.

"At the moment the nurse call systems are on a traditional stand-alone network and we want to get those facilities to an IP platform," Coller said.

"The duress systems are on Cisco wireless and we want to allow the carers in residential sites to move around accessing online data and be able to input information if need be.

"We will be connecting all sites and we are looking at providing independent living unit clients with broadband and IP telephony when the upgrade is complete, but a lot will depend on client demand.