Research Development
Policy Colloquia

The Network will host an annual policy colloquium to facilitate interchange between research, policy and practice. The first of these events was held on 4 & 5 July 2006 in Canberra in collaboration with the Building Ageing Research Capacity (BARC) initiative.

The BARC “Policy and Practice on Ageing: Informed by Evidence” Colloquium was attended by over 120 researchers, policymakers, care providers and representatives of other ageing constituencies. The first day focused on links between research and policy and included keynote addresses from Mr Andrew Podger and Network Member Professor Peter Saunders. Professors Helen Bartlett and Sue Richardson from the Network participated in a panel discussion entitled “Policy-relevant research and evidence-based policy: getting the alchemy right” and Professor Hal Kendig presented an overview of the Network objectives and directions and set the scene for Day 2 of the colloquium. A summary of Day 1 will be provided when available.

• A copy of the Colloquium program is available here
• Peter Saunders Keynote Address is available here
• Hal Kendig’s presentation slides and transcript are available here

Day 2 focused on the Network and a discussion of possible future directions. Four workshops were held in the morning on research development and communication processes and a further four workshops were held in the afternoon relating to the Network Theme Areas. The workshops were well attended and generated vigorous discussion. Summaries of the workshops will be sent to participants and loaded on the Network website and participants will be invited to opt in to working groups to further develop the ideas discussed in the workshops. The directions identified in these discussions will be taken further in state and national meetings.

The background papers and summaries for each of the workshops are provided below:

Morning sessions - Research development and communication processes

Topic	Background paper	Workshop Summary
• Consumer-led research	Available here	Available here
• Dissemination and translation	Available here	Available here
• Consultants in Aged Care Research	Available here	Available here
• Collaborative research with industry	Available here	Available here

Afternoon sessions - Research Theme Areas

Topic	Background paper	Workshop Summary
• Productivity and Economic Security	Available here	Available here
• Independent Living & Social Participation	Available here	Available here
• Healthy Ageing	Available here	Available here
• Population Research Strategies	Available here	Available here