The key players in ageing research in Queensland are coming together to discuss their latest findings and the future of ageing research at Customs House today(April 27).
This symposium, the first of the Queensland events for the ARC-NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well, will be hosted by The University of Queensland’s Australasian Centre on Ageing.
The day will highlight the innovative approaches being employed by Queensland researchers in order to meet the challenges of an ageing population.
Presentations will cover aged and community care, active ageing, cognition, cross-cultural issues, financial and workplace issues, education, technology, the built environment, injury prevention and biomolecular approaches.
Professor Helen Bartlett, Convenor of the Queensland node of the Network, said with the Australian population ageing rapidly there will be an increase in the number of people with chronic disease and disability.
“This will place an increasing demand on the already over-stretched general practitioners of Australia,” Professor Bartlett said.
“The day promises to not only illustrate the depth and breadth of current research on ageing taking place in Queensland, but also to provide a forum for researchers to develop new collaborations that support the future research agenda into ageing well.”
One of the speakers at the symposium will be Associate Professor Geoff Mitchell from the School of Medicine at UQ, who is investigating alternatives to the traditional GP based fee for service model.
These include new models of care delivered by other health professionals such as nurses.
Dr Mitchell is investigating the appropriateness and efficacy of such alternatives and determining when, and under what circumstances, they are best suited.
“This research has the potential to ensure that not only are we cared for in a timely and appropriate manner, but that our health resources are utilised to maximum effect,” Professor Bartlett said.
Media: Professor Helen Bartlett (3346 9080).
