Livable bathrooms for older people: designing out dependence in activities of daily living. This project aims to establish the design fundamentals needed for the development of more flexible, innovative and safer bathroom fixtures and domestic bathroom environments for older Australians. It provides an understanding of bathroom features and characteristics that function well for older persons and those that diminish their wellbeing.
Facilitating active ageing in residential aged care: strategies, opportunities and future directions. Australia is undergoing a critical demographic transition: the population is ageing. By 2031, the number of older Australians requiring residential aged care will increase 63 per cent, to 1.4 million. This in-depth semi-longitudinal project will explore daily life in aged care through photography, enhancing the experience for current and future residents.
Sino-Australian neurogenetics initiative. This project will undertake large population studies to identify genes that are associated with motor neuron disease, schizophrenia and intracranial haemorrhage. The project will determine genetic markers, aid development of diagnostic tools and identify new therapeutic targets for these common heritable neurological diseases.
Integrated depression management: a trial of a new model of care in a low vision rehabilitation setting. The project will integrate depression management into Vision Australia services and evaluate the impact of this new model of care. We anticipate that this new approach will lead to sustained improvements in clients’ quality of life.
Machine Learning for Fracture Risk Assessment from Simple Radiography. This project aims to develop a novel, reliable, low-cost system to detect poor bone health and assess fracture risk to help to prevent and manage osteoporosis-related fractures. Currently, osteoporosis-related fractures cost our health system millions of dollars annually and costs are increasing with our ageing population. Early detection of poor bone health will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures and ease this ....Machine Learning for Fracture Risk Assessment from Simple Radiography. This project aims to develop a novel, reliable, low-cost system to detect poor bone health and assess fracture risk to help to prevent and manage osteoporosis-related fractures. Currently, osteoporosis-related fractures cost our health system millions of dollars annually and costs are increasing with our ageing population. Early detection of poor bone health will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures and ease this burden. Current methods include unreliable, crude clinical and visual guides that suggest osteoporosis screening. The project plans to develop a novel system by applying machine learning algorithms to radiology data which is commonly captured for diagnosing other conditions.Read moreRead less
Designing a Holistic Model of Advice to Improve Retirement Planning. We aim to improve retirement planning through the design and application of a new model integrating financial advice with career and health planning to optimise financial and psychological outcomes. We will test a multidisciplinary, holistic model of advice combining specialist knowledge in careers, health, and finances. Expected outcomes of the project include evaluating the use of a broader range of experts during retirement ....Designing a Holistic Model of Advice to Improve Retirement Planning. We aim to improve retirement planning through the design and application of a new model integrating financial advice with career and health planning to optimise financial and psychological outcomes. We will test a multidisciplinary, holistic model of advice combining specialist knowledge in careers, health, and finances. Expected outcomes of the project include evaluating the use of a broader range of experts during retirement planning and developing a model for the future training and development of financial advisers.By optimising the timing of workplace exit, we aim to decrease reliance on pensions and encourage earlier and on-going engagement in the retirement planning process. This will provide significant social and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
The development and evaluation of a new therapy for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in hospitals. The technology used in this project will enable products to be developed from the Australian dairy industry which may safely provide protection and treatment for diarrhoea acquired in hospitals for which there are few effective options. The product will be cost effective and can be used as a public health tool to control outbreaks in those most susceptible to severe disease.
Improving aged care with memory conversations. This project aims to investigate conversational techniques known as "elaborative reminiscing" as a tool for aged care staff to practice relationship-based care in their day-to-day interactions with older clients. The project expects to generate new knowledge about which specific techniques increase reminiscing during routine care, and how these tools have ongoing benefits for aged care clients. Expected outcomes include an evidence-based training pr ....Improving aged care with memory conversations. This project aims to investigate conversational techniques known as "elaborative reminiscing" as a tool for aged care staff to practice relationship-based care in their day-to-day interactions with older clients. The project expects to generate new knowledge about which specific techniques increase reminiscing during routine care, and how these tools have ongoing benefits for aged care clients. Expected outcomes include an evidence-based training program and improved understanding of facilitators and barriers to meeting aged care clients' social needs. This should provide significant benefits by improving wellbeing of clients in aged care, reducing hospitalisations, and enabling aged care providers to meet new industry standards.Read moreRead less
The relationship between rural living and wellness: what services and supports do older people need? Population ageing is having a significant impact in rural Australia, increasing the demand for community and health services. This project builds on international research to explore how best to meet the diverse needs of older people living in Australia’s rural communities.
A progressive study of user and sensor models for monitoring and assisting elderly people, focusing on the visually impaired. This research will contribute to the well-being of our ageing population by extending their independence, and hence their ability to remain safely in their homes. This will benefit them, their carers and the rest of society. The synergy between user modelling, language technology and sensor networks, grounded in psychological findings, will yield high quality, novel scien ....A progressive study of user and sensor models for monitoring and assisting elderly people, focusing on the visually impaired. This research will contribute to the well-being of our ageing population by extending their independence, and hence their ability to remain safely in their homes. This will benefit them, their carers and the rest of society. The synergy between user modelling, language technology and sensor networks, grounded in psychological findings, will yield high quality, novel scientific advances. The deployed prototypes will provide proof of concept of an application that improves our daily living, creating commercialisation opportunities.Read moreRead less