New collaboration could see improved outcomes for older Australians

An exciting new collaboration has been announced between aged care peak body Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) with the sole purpose of advancing the understanding and experience of ageing in Australia.

Posted April 3rd 2018

by Alexandra Stopford

<p>ACSA is collaborating with the Australian Association of Gerontology to give older Australians better outcomes (Source: Shutterstock)</p> — ACSA is collaborating with the Australian Association of Gerontology to give older Australians better outcomes (Source: Shutterstock)

This partnership approach was formed through the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which opens up the sharing of organisational knowledge and expertise to support evidence-informed approaches to improving aged care practice.

In a practical sense the MoU means that AAG and ACSA will:

Co-operate on projects focussed on ageing, aged care and dementia
Collaborate on forums, conferences, workshops and other meetings
Co-develop education materials and fact sheets

ACSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Sparrow says the peak body is looking forward to working alongside an organisation that works to improve the experience of ageing through connecting research, policy and practice, and has a range of members who are researchers, educators, aged care and health practitioners and other experts in ageing.

“We see AAG as a natural partner in our efforts to improve the lives of older Australians,” Ms Sparrow says.

“Going forward we will be co-operating with AAG on projects focussing on ageing, aged care and dementia.”

AAG CEO James Beckford Saunders echoes the sentiment shared by ACSA and Ms Sparrow.

“Both parties have a desire to collaborate in areas of mutual benefit and recognise that they have similar visions, goals and activities connecting stakeholders and facilitating collaboration to improve the experience of ageing,” Mr Beckford Saunders says.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with Australia’s best gerontologists and those who deliver aged care services on the ground on research and projects that improve outcomes for all older Australians.”