About the Ageing Research Group
The University of Canberra’s Ageing Research Group brings together researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, whose interests and activities coincide through a shared focus on ageing research as it relates to health and wellbeing: living to age well and ageing to live well. In keeping with the University of Canberra focus on research which makes a difference to society, our research targets the evidence base underpinning practices, programs and policies that affect older people, whether they live in their own homes, with family, in residential care or elsewhere.
Our research collaborations include the disciplinary areas of epidemiology, nursing, economics, social science, public health, policy analysis, dietetics, food and nutrition science, physiotherapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, optometry, psychology, and exercise science. Our collaborations are local, regional, national and international with partnerships involving other universities, local and federal government, national institutions, health and aged care services and technology industries.
The Ageing Research Group is an Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Collaborating Research Centre.
Our core areas of activity are:
- aged care
- chronic disease and chronic disease management
- dementia
- digital health and assistive technology
- health services and older people
- healthy ageing and preventive health
- mental health and social wellbeing
- nursing and allied health
- nutrition and physical activity
See our projects for more details about our work.
News and Media
- 18 November 2023: Groundbreaking program proves effective in enhancing dementia care in Canberra. Dione David. RiotACT
- 15 October 2023: UC study shows VR technology has positive impact on aged care residents’ wellbeing, Emma LaRouche, RiotACT
- 20 September 2023: Grads 2023 - Brenda Conroy. UNCOVER. University of Canberra.
- 15 September 2023: 2023 Sarah Cope Award and Lecture: UC student dedicated to dementia care. News. University of Canberra
- 21 August 2023: ARIIA Round 5 grant for positive ageing and care in Australia: Concentric Health Services, University of Canberra, Estia Health, and Macquarie University - allied health reablement program for health and wellbeing optimisation in both the community and residential aged care facilities. ARIIA News
- 27 July 2023: A pilot program for helping people with dementia continue to live at home has seen promising results from its initial work. WIN News Canberra Facebook.
- 26 July 2023: SPICE extends quality of life for Canberrans with dementia Nick Fuller. Canberra Weekly
- 26 June 2023: ARIIA Round 4 grant for positive ageing in Australia: University of Canberra, Riverview Residence Collie Inc, Humanetix Pty Ltd and Customer Feedback Systems Australasia Pty Ltd - project to enhance the quality of care through a digital alert staff feedback system. ARIIA News
- 6 June 2023: UC and university partners awarded $2.1 million Commonwealth tender to boost nursing workforce in aged care. News. University of Canberra.
- 17 March 2023: New MRFF grant - Enhancing allied health services for people with dementia in residential aged care: an integrated transdisciplinary model
- 01 March 2023: 2021-2022 SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre Annual Report
- 23 February 2023: UC study shows on-site pharmacists in residential aged care facilities improve medicine management. News. University of Canberra
- 08 February 2023: "I'm just not clever enough to study"- PhD candidate Elizabeth Low has proven herself wrong, with five testamurs and counting. Students in Focus. University of Canberra
- November 2022: New post-diagnostic support program in the ACT - SPICE
- 10 October 2022: UC collaboration forms new alliance for nurses dedicated to the care of older people. News. University of Canberra.
- 26 July 2022: Advocates' choice for research Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Dementia Advocates' Award 2022.
- 29 June 2022: Making End-Of-Life Care more inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ Community. UNCOVER. University of Canberra.
- 29 April 2022: Diane Gibson & Kasia Bail: Hope for Aged Care. Policy Forum Pod ANU Crawford School.
- 18 March 2022: Kasia Bail, Bernice Ridley & Diane Gibson: Reinvesting nurse time in the quality of resident care - digital efficiency might be the answer Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, April- June 2022
- August 2021: Lindsay Bevege, Kasia Bail & Diane Gibson: Improving the quality of healthcare? Not wasting clinicians time would help. The Health Advocate, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
- 11 June 2021: Diane Gibson and Nicholas Biddle: Caring for Older Australians. Policy Forum Pod ANU Crawford School.
- 07 June 2021: Kasia Bail & Diane Gibson: Aged care: put your data where the care is. Medical Journal of Australia Insight+
- 03 May 2021: Kasia Bail and the RANCARE Consortium Missed Nursing Care: A Short Video.
- May 2021: Kasia Bail, Bernice Ridley & Diane Gibson: More quality, more efficiency: Co-designed system increases person focus in aged care. Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Newsletter May 2021 Issue 2. Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
- 09 March 2021: Diane Gibson & Kasia Bail: The Gab with Grattan: Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Events
- 8 December 2023: Michael Verde Memory Bridge - Dementia Without L, hosted by Community Home Australia at the University of Canberra, use the event link above to see event details and register.
- 8 November 2023: Reinvigorating aged care - listening to the voice of nursing students, GANA and AAG online event
- 15 September 2023: 'Taking aged care research and practice to the world', Dr Rodney Jilek - in honour of Dr Sarah Cope's inspiring legacy 2023 Caring for Older People Excellence (COPE) Memorial Lecture & Award.
- 24 August 2023: Communities of Practice. see: GANA August Virtual Event videos
- 17 July 2023: You can't be what you can't see - Using a structured clinical placement program
to attract registered nurses to aged care webinar (recording) presented by the Australian Association of Gerontology in collaboration with the University of Canberra, Edith Cowan University, the University of Wollongong & Curtin University. - 11 July 2023: Prof Kasia Bail Hot, smelly, sore and confused: Creating systems to enable nurses to be close enough to older patients to prevent and treat complications in hospital, Australian Hartford Consortium of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Webinar recording.
- 22 June 2023: Foregrounding Dignity & Kindness in Residential Aged Care Mr Luis Cordero & Dr Rodney Jilek presented by the Australian Association of Gerontology ACT Division and the University of Canberra Ageing Research Group.
- 15 May 2023: GANA - 'Conversations with our Gerontological Nursing Future Leaders: Inspiring Ripples in Everyday Practice' & launch of Communities of Practice, see: GANA May event videos.
- 23 February 2023: Gerontological Nursing Competencies (GNCs) Aged Care Transition to Practice Program (ACTTP) information session (via Zoom).
- 13 December 2022: GANA End-of-Year Event: Advanced Practice in Gerontological Nursing.
- 6 October 2022: Launch Gerontological Alliance of Nurses Australia (GANA), see: GANA launch event videos
- 15 July 2022: 2022 Sarah Cope Award and lecture: UC student transforming care of the elderly
Opportunities
Invitation to participate in a new 12-week therapeutic program for ACT residents living with dementia and carers - Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care & Engagement (SPICE). To express your interest email: UCHSPICE@act.gov.au or contact Dr Nathan D'Cunha on 02 6206 8585 for more information. See also SPICE.
If you are interested in being involved in our research, volunteering, employment or HDR opportunities please contact us.
Short courses
The Ageing Research Group runs a short course Food, Lifestyle and Healthy Ageing in response to demand. This course is aimed at a broad audience including (but not limited to) older people and their families looking for advice on how to age healthily and healthcare professionals working in aged care or with older adults. To register your interest in this course contact us.
Contact us
Email: agegroupadmin@canberra.edu.au
X: @UCAgeing