ARC-NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well, 2004-2009 - State Network Hub

The ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well has been funded to facilitate inter-disciplinary research on key issues related to informing decision-making in planning for an ageing Australia. It aims to enhance the scale and focus of research activity related to ageing, stimulate innovation and support researchers to connect with others. Four thematic areas have been defined (Productivity and Economic Security; Independent Living and Social Participation; Healthy Ageing; and Population Research Strategies). More detailed information is available at www.ageingwell.edu.au. Professor Boldy is a member of the Management Committee of the Network, co-convenor of the Independent Living & Social Participation theme area and convenor of the WA State Hub.

The broad aim of Network State Hubs is to facilitate information exchange and collaborative research proposal development at a State level. Following an invitation to register their interest in the Network sent to all academics at each of the five WA universities (and a number of independent research groups), a WA Network 'Symposium on Ageing Research' was held in September 2005. In order to further foster the networking and collaboration stimulated by this Symposium, a follow-up 'Workshop on Ageing Research' was held in October 2006. This workshop focused particularly on the Independent Living and Social Participation theme area. Based on contributions and feedback from the first symposium, a number of specific researchers were invited to participate, together with representatives from the areas of policy, providers and organisations representing older people.

A major aim of the Workshop was the formation of collaborative research groups to address identified broad research questions aimed at developing specific research proposals. A range of topics/areas were explored and the most promising for such a group to pursue, which emerged from the workshop discussions, were:

• The meaning of 'place' and its relationship to independence
• Determinants of social isolation and how to increase social participation/ connectedness.

Funding via the Network for workshops to bring together researchers from different disciplines and locales in order to generate and/or progress innovative research ideas, is currently being explored, particularly related to the first topic area above.