Background
The Australasian Centre on Ageing (ACA) is one of the six core research centres of the Institute for Social Science Research. The Centre was established in 2001 at The University of Queensland (UQ) under the leadership of Foundation Director Professor Helen Bartlett and with the support of the Seniors Interests Branch in Queensland's Department of Families, the Vice-Chancellor's Strategic funds, and the Faculties of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Health Sciences. This initiative is consistent with UQ’s goal of addressing important social problems with world-class research. The Centre highlights UQ’s burgeoning research strengths in areas of contemporary social relevance.
As the first Centre of its kind in Australia, The Centre integrates and focuses research expertise in human ageing from across the university and links it with government and community priorities, to form a world class international centre of research excellence. A key goal is promote evidence-based policy and practice for Australia’s older population by working closely with policy-makers, providers and practitioners.
The Centre acts as catalyst and coordinator for the multidisciplinary study of ageing, in collaboration with researchers from many different disciplines (e.g. psychiatry, physiotherapy, social work). It also acts as the information hub for research and training throughout the University and provides an umbrella for ageing research that ranges from the social and economic to the molecular and biological changes that occur in an ageing population.
Mission
The mission of the ACA is to enhance the lives of older people through quality research, education and policy analysis. The Centre integrates and focuses research expertise in human ageing from across the university and links it with government and community priorities, to form a world class international centre of research excellence. This involves reaching out to public and private professional and service organisations in ageing charged with creating, influencing, or implementing policy.