Ageing Research and Education
The Vice-Chancellor's proposal on the theme of Ageing and Quality of Living was submitted to the National Research Priorities Task Force of the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). This innovative approach to research - a lifespan of maturing and pursuing quality of living - combines ACU National's academics and social science researchers with its student body. It addresses the challenge to study the biology of ageing and the sociology of hope.
Preliminary work is under way in Ageing Research and Education. ACU National's research mission is to investigate attitudes to positive and productive ageing - from productive maturation in adulthood to positive ageing in senior years. Positive ageing is not about how to live longer, nor about how to avoid growing old. It is about enhancing one's quality of living. Productive ageing aims to deliver tangible improvements to the lives of mature individuals for life skills, from personal health and development; life long learning; financial security to healthy living, including primary care and lifestyle modification.
Key factors of the research focus on:
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Maintenance of a healthy adult population
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Finding technological solutions to assist adults in healthy living especially those "at risk"; and
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Lifelong learning and the physical/social engagement of the maturing person
Cross-institutional and inter-sectoral partnerships are sought to fulfil research commitments. Innovations are developed to build a research facility dedicated specifically to discovering new ways of detecting, preventing and treating age-related attitudes and conditions specifically targeted to quality of living. Research activities aim to significantly change the way people experience maturing into adulthood by creating a healthier future for adult citizens, their family and the generations to come.
A possible outcome of this initiative might be a Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE).
Interactive feedback and research
For further information on this project please contact Monika Bhatia, Flagships Project Officer, on m.bhatia@mary.acu.edu.au or phone (612) 9701 4095, facsimile (612) 9701 4385
