Aim and Objectives

The ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well aims to increase the scale, focus, and capacity of Australian research to inform national efforts to respond constructively to an ageing society.

The more specific objectives of the Network are to:

• Lead and facilitate collaboration in multidisciplinary, ambitious research projects that significantly advance knowledge in high priority topics for actions addressing an ageing Australia.
• Provide a focal point for Australian involvement in international research of excellence on ageing, including Australian contributions to international knowledge and the involvement of international research leaders in Australian ageing studies
• Build capacities and quality in multidisciplinary studies on ageing through developing and mentoring new scholars, and by linking, supporting and inspiring established researchers to step outside their normal intellectual range to collaborate in new and sometimes risky ways.
• Promote efficiencies among researchers in making best use of existing data, expertise, funding, and other information and resources.
• Involve key constituencies (community, government, and industry) with researchers in the two-way development of ageing research agendas and application of findings in practice and policy and dissemination to the public.

Special effort is required to achieve these objectives. Ageing researchers typically work as individuals in Australian universities that are organised primarily by disciplines and professions. The institutional organisation of research contrasts with the bio-psycho-social dimensions of ageing that need to be understood at the individual and population levels. Further barriers need to be overcome in the artificial separation of researchers from government, industry, and community groups.