Introduction

Ageing is one of the most significant changes facing Australia. At age 60 years, most Australians have retired from paid work yet women can expect another 25 years of life and men another 20 years. The massive baby boom cohort is already in middle age, where they are setting economic, health, and family ‘trajectories’ that will profoundly change the size and character of the older population over coming decades. Ageing experiences vary considerably between social groups and individuals and it is essential that Australia embraces the opportunities as well as meets the challenges of ageing. There is great scope to reduce the negative effects of biological decline through individual action supported by economic, social and physical environments. Confrontation of negative attitudes towards ageing is fundamental to positive, informed actions by Australian society and individuals.

The ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well sits squarely in the National Research Priority area of 'Ageing Well, Ageing Productively'. It will generate the innovative, multidisciplinary approaches necessary to understand ageing people, relations between age groups, and the economic, social, and policy contexts that shape ageing experiences. With emphases on excellence and the future, the Network will link outstanding researchers from many disciplines, nurture developing researchers, relate social to health researchers, strengthen international collaboration, and involve and inform end-point users.

The Network will work to generate research knowledge underpinning national goals articulated in the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia, the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering, and Innovations Council report Promoting Healthy Ageing in Australia, the Framework for an Australian Ageing Research Agenda, the Stocktake of Australian Ageing Research and Policy Initiatives and the national Building Ageing Research Capacities (BARC) program.

The ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well has been funded by the Australian Government as part of their Research Networks Program. Funding is provided through the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and management accountability for the grant is through the ARC.

To view a copy of the original proposal, click here. For more information on the Australian Research Council Research Network Program, click here.