New Partnerships: Promoting development in outback towns through voluntary programs for Grey Nomads. Older retired Australians who undertake extensive independent travel through outback regions of Australia may potentially bring economic, human and social capital to areas of extreme isolation and disadvantage by engaging in volunteer programs of short to medium duration. Such programs would enable the sharing of information, and skills between locals and visitors and enable the development of lo ....New Partnerships: Promoting development in outback towns through voluntary programs for Grey Nomads. Older retired Australians who undertake extensive independent travel through outback regions of Australia may potentially bring economic, human and social capital to areas of extreme isolation and disadvantage by engaging in volunteer programs of short to medium duration. Such programs would enable the sharing of information, and skills between locals and visitors and enable the development of local facilities and services. Engagement in such programs may also potentially enhance the grey nomad experience, contributing to a healthy productive ageing lifestyle. Read moreRead less
The Heart of Health Care: Advancing Emotional Well-being, Engagement and Performance in Hospitals. This research will improve our understanding of the drivers of effective health care delivery and will identify practical ways to improve the well-being, performance, retention and engagement of health care professionals and improve patient care, satisfaction and safety. In light of significant staffing shortages of health care professionals, the knowledge created will have substantial benefits in ....The Heart of Health Care: Advancing Emotional Well-being, Engagement and Performance in Hospitals. This research will improve our understanding of the drivers of effective health care delivery and will identify practical ways to improve the well-being, performance, retention and engagement of health care professionals and improve patient care, satisfaction and safety. In light of significant staffing shortages of health care professionals, the knowledge created will have substantial benefits in developing more effective models of quality care. In addition this research will enable health care professionals to build holistic, adaptable and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care in order to ensure a sustainable health care system for the future.Read moreRead less
Improving asthma device use: Innovative models for inter-professional practice. This project falls within the goals of National Priority 2: promoting and maintaining good health. This project has the potential to affect every individual accessing health care in the Australia. Through its approach to and focus on improving the use of asthma medications this project will impact on: the quality use of medicines and health outcomes for patients. Through its focus on health professional relationships ....Improving asthma device use: Innovative models for inter-professional practice. This project falls within the goals of National Priority 2: promoting and maintaining good health. This project has the potential to affect every individual accessing health care in the Australia. Through its approach to and focus on improving the use of asthma medications this project will impact on: the quality use of medicines and health outcomes for patients. Through its focus on health professional relationships and interdisciplinary approach to community health care it will result in: improved interprofessional relationships and a model of collaboration which has the potential to be implemented on a broad scale in the community.Read moreRead less
Central nervous system cytokines and morphine analgesia. Morphine remains the drug of choice for the management of moderate-to-severe pain, however its clinical effectiveness is compromised by the fact that morphine's analgesic (pain reducing) efficacy becomes less effective the more it is administered.. This project will examine how analgesic tolerance develops from a completely new approach: Namely, how stimulation of the immune system within the central nervous system is a crucial factor in t ....Central nervous system cytokines and morphine analgesia. Morphine remains the drug of choice for the management of moderate-to-severe pain, however its clinical effectiveness is compromised by the fact that morphine's analgesic (pain reducing) efficacy becomes less effective the more it is administered.. This project will examine how analgesic tolerance develops from a completely new approach: Namely, how stimulation of the immune system within the central nervous system is a crucial factor in the development of tolerance. Modulation of analgesia by the immune system has not been systematically studied and provides a potentially fertile ground for the development of new techniques in the management of clinical pain.Read moreRead less
From patient-centred to family-centred care: A new conceptual framework and doctor training to involve family caregivers in cancer consultations. Cancer has an enormous impact on patients and families. Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting patients and participating in treatment decision-making. Yet there are no guidelines or training to optimise family caregivers' involvement in health care, and current practice is poor. This project aims to develop the first Conceptual Framewor ....From patient-centred to family-centred care: A new conceptual framework and doctor training to involve family caregivers in cancer consultations. Cancer has an enormous impact on patients and families. Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting patients and participating in treatment decision-making. Yet there are no guidelines or training to optimise family caregivers' involvement in health care, and current practice is poor. This project aims to develop the first Conceptual Framework and Strategies Document for involving family caregivers in communication and decision-making within cancer consultations and to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a novel doctor-patient-family (triadic) intervention for oncologists. By extending patient-centred to family-centred care, this project may transform the field of clinical communication.Read moreRead less