Development of a Residential Aged Care Research Network

Objectives

To bring together representatives from aged care to codesign a Residential Aged Care Research Network (RACReN), originally focused on the Mornington Peninsula and then developing Australia-wide.

Did you know?

Collaborative research networks offer a solution to the current fragmentation of residential aged care policy and practice by bringing together all stakeholders to identify evidence to practice gaps, codesign research and translate knowledge into practice.

About the research

Developed in partnership with aged care partners and stakeholders, RACReN provides two-way engagement between researchers and people involved in the residential aged care sector to address some of the greatest

challenges facing our ageing communities.

  • A collaborative network of aged care providers, workers, residents and friends and family of older people receiving aged care.
  • Connected& with likeminded networks like ENRICH UK.

Beginning as a pilot project in 2021 and focused initially on the Mornington Peninsula area, the outstanding success of the project across 2022-23 led to the development of an Australia-wide initiative and further funding.

In late 2023, the Residential Aged Care Research Network (RACReN) became a strategic initiative of the National Centre for Healthy Ageing.

Adopting a co-design approach, members of the network contribute setting research priorities to direct ongoing research efforts.

The network aims to inform the next generation of aged care research, co-designed with industry to deliver real-world solutions to address some of the greatest challenges facing our ageing communities.

Intended impact/research outcome

Among the key research outcomes are:

  • A membership of more than 250 individual and 14 organisational members nationally (2024).

Environment scan and scoping:

  • A scoping review identifying best practice to create and maintain multi-stakeholder aged care research networks (in review)
  • A survey identifying cross-sector research priorities (results coming soon!)

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Project team

Research Lead

RACReN Project Officer

  • Mariah Valdehueza

RACReN Research Fellow

  • Sandra Hakim

Chief Investigators (Pilot project)

Timeframe

Ongoing