Developing a collaborative approach to ageing well in the community. This project is located within an identified national research priority that of Ageing Well, Ageing Productively. It is also consistent with the goals of the ARC NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well. While much of the Australian policy debate has previously focused on the negative implications associated with population ageing, it is essential to explore how older people and local communities can age well. The benefit of this ....Developing a collaborative approach to ageing well in the community. This project is located within an identified national research priority that of Ageing Well, Ageing Productively. It is also consistent with the goals of the ARC NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well. While much of the Australian policy debate has previously focused on the negative implications associated with population ageing, it is essential to explore how older people and local communities can age well. The benefit of this project is that it helps translate national policy directives / goals by offering a framework for action at the local level. Further benefit will derive from the project by enhancing options for community engagement of older people.Read moreRead less
Work, Love and Play: Understanding resilience in same-sex parented families. This research will provide information about the experiences of same-sex parented families in accessing health and community services in Australia and New Zealand. This will inform policy development aimed at improving access to services and reducing discrimination for same-sex attracted people and other minority groups. Additionally the research will increase knowledge about the impact of limited social or community su ....Work, Love and Play: Understanding resilience in same-sex parented families. This research will provide information about the experiences of same-sex parented families in accessing health and community services in Australia and New Zealand. This will inform policy development aimed at improving access to services and reducing discrimination for same-sex attracted people and other minority groups. Additionally the research will increase knowledge about the impact of limited social or community support on the health and wellbeing of families. Families are a key unit in society, and supporting strong and healthy families - in all their forms - is an important part of supporting the overall economic and social and physical wellbeing of society (National Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health).Read moreRead less
The Wellbeing of Communities: Cultural Activities, Social Health and Community Sustainability. This project will examine the full impact of cultural activities such as arts events, festivals and commemorations on the sustainability of communities. Most contemporary evaluation of community activities tends to assess single events out of context. By contrast, this project will comparatively examine specific communities in depth, and across multiple activities. The project will generate a broad emp ....The Wellbeing of Communities: Cultural Activities, Social Health and Community Sustainability. This project will examine the full impact of cultural activities such as arts events, festivals and commemorations on the sustainability of communities. Most contemporary evaluation of community activities tends to assess single events out of context. By contrast, this project will comparatively examine specific communities in depth, and across multiple activities. The project will generate a broad empirical foundation, hitherto unavailable, for developing an analytical understanding of the relationship between community building and individual wellbeing. It will develop a model for understanding the real effects of cultural practices, enabling governments and funding bodies to assess how best to support communities.Read moreRead less
An evaluation of concerns, self-perceived needs, and supportive interventions, for informal cancer carers: A comparative study of female and male carers. Informal cancer carers experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and unmet support needs, with women carers at higher risk than men. However, little is known about the factors underlying this gender difference, and existing support services have not specifically targeted the needs of female and male cancer carers. This study will explore t ....An evaluation of concerns, self-perceived needs, and supportive interventions, for informal cancer carers: A comparative study of female and male carers. Informal cancer carers experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and unmet support needs, with women carers at higher risk than men. However, little is known about the factors underlying this gender difference, and existing support services have not specifically targeted the needs of female and male cancer carers. This study will explore the concerns, self-perceived needs, and psychological wellbeing of informal cancer carers living in New South Wales, comparing the experiences of female and male carers, at different stages of the care-giving journey. Based on these findings, a program of targeted supportive interventions will be developed, and then systematically evaluated within a controlled trial.Read moreRead less
Sociocultural risk factors for medication usage in the home: Perspectives of individuals of non-English speaking backgrounds, carers and service providers. This project will examine the sociocultural risk factors and service needs involving medication use in people of non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The aims are to develop and evaluate a risk assessment tool for use in different health care settings, to test the tool's ability to predict future presentations to the emergency department ....Sociocultural risk factors for medication usage in the home: Perspectives of individuals of non-English speaking backgrounds, carers and service providers. This project will examine the sociocultural risk factors and service needs involving medication use in people of non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The aims are to develop and evaluate a risk assessment tool for use in different health care settings, to test the tool's ability to predict future presentations to the emergency department for adverse medication events, and to develop best practice guidelines. The Industry Partner, St. Vincent's Health, is extremely committed to incorporating the innovative initiatives of the project into the current programs of the organisation to further improve health, sociocultural and economic outcomes for people of NESB. Read moreRead less
Determinants of successful community transition for individuals with acquired brain injury and their families. Transition home following acquired brain injury (ABI) is a critical phase in which individuals and families are vulnerable. Unsuccessful transitions are characterised by events such as financial crisis, family breakdown, loss of work, social isolation, and institutionalisation. ABI does not discriminate, but there is a higher rate in Indigenous, rural and remote communities and amongst ....Determinants of successful community transition for individuals with acquired brain injury and their families. Transition home following acquired brain injury (ABI) is a critical phase in which individuals and families are vulnerable. Unsuccessful transitions are characterised by events such as financial crisis, family breakdown, loss of work, social isolation, and institutionalisation. ABI does not discriminate, but there is a higher rate in Indigenous, rural and remote communities and amongst younger people. The societal impact of ABI includes loss of income and livelihood, health and welfare dependence, and long-term accommodation support. Research into the determinants of successful transition will alleviate the personal, social and economic burden of ABI and inform policy and program priorities for appropriate Australian Government bodies.Read moreRead less
Assessing risk factors and service needs for homelessness: Perspectives of homeless people and health service providers. This study will examine the risk factors and service needs for homelessness from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. The aims are to develop and evaluate a risk assessment tool for use in the emergency department and upon discharge; to test the tool for its ability to predict the possibility of future hospital admission and the types of patients who would benefit from r ....Assessing risk factors and service needs for homelessness: Perspectives of homeless people and health service providers. This study will examine the risk factors and service needs for homelessness from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. The aims are to develop and evaluate a risk assessment tool for use in the emergency department and upon discharge; to test the tool for its ability to predict the possibility of future hospital admission and the types of patients who would benefit from referrals; and to develop best practice guidelines. This innovative study, which seeks to implement and evaluate a collaborative approach in the provision of treatment, will contribute to ensuring a high standard of care for individuals experiencing homelessness.Read moreRead less
Reducing health inequities and social exclusion: improved theory, understanding and policies. This research will provide knowledge to help understanding of why some groups are less healthy and less included in the mainstream of society than others. Research evidence indicates that reducing differences in health status & making more citizens included in the activities of society has overall health benefits & is good for economic development. The program will provide Australian and other governmen ....Reducing health inequities and social exclusion: improved theory, understanding and policies. This research will provide knowledge to help understanding of why some groups are less healthy and less included in the mainstream of society than others. Research evidence indicates that reducing differences in health status & making more citizens included in the activities of society has overall health benefits & is good for economic development. The program will provide Australian and other governments with much improved evidence about what works, what does not work in terms of improving population health and so enable better decisions about which public programs to invest in. Thus the research conducted under this program will inform ways in which Australian and overseas populations can achieve long and more productive livesRead moreRead less