Bio
Dr. Rachel Ambagtsheer is an early career researcher with a key focus on gerontology and public health research. Her PhD on the appropriateness of frailty screening within the Australian general practice context was conferred in 2020. Rachel’s key research interests are the implementation of better frailty identification and management within the health system, older people’s physical health and mental well-being, and the interaction of older people with health services.
I am a research fellow at Edith Cowan University and nurse researcher at Hollywood Private Hospital.
Professor Kaarin Anstey is Director of the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute and a Scientia Professor in the School of Psychology at UNSW. She is also a Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA. Kaarin's research is in the field of healthy aging. She focuses on cognitive ageing, dementia epidemiology, dementia prevention, late-life mental health and older driver safety.
Dr Josefine Antoniades is a research fellow at the National Ageing Research Institute as the project manager of an innovative multi-media project-Moving Pictures-which aims to improve dementia awareness in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities through film making. Her prime research interests include the nexus of culture, mental health and health behaviours, in particular in underserved and vulnerable communities.
Dennis Asante is a PhD candidate- College of Medicine and Public Health, and a research assistant for the Rural and Remote Health SA, Flinders University. Dennis has diverse educational background with teaching and research experience. He holds B.A in Political Studies, and MSc. Public Administration. He has expertise in rural and remote health research; health care policies in low resource settings; and health workforce design and innovation. He is passionate about issues concerning underserved communities and vulnerable population groups. Dennis’ research is focussed on understanding the nuanced ways in which health inequity manifestations impact on health services utilization among older population with multimorbid physical and mental health conditions in rural South Australia. His current project is underpinned by a commitment to improving health outcomes for the ageing population in nonurban communities and his quest to actively support the Ageing in place and the Healthy Ageing policy objectives
A social gerontologist with a long history of service to AAG, most recently as President of the Hunter Chapter in NSW. After her successful career with DVA, she has held roles as Deputy Chair of HNE local health district board, Chair of ANZAC Research Institute board, and other government, university and NFP committees. Felicity holds a Masters in Health Sciences (Gerontology) and a PhD in social gerontology.
I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and PhD Candidate at The University of Queensland, based in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. My doctoral research examines how education, workplace systems, and professional support can better prepare and sustain the new and emerging dietetics workforce to deliver high-quality nutrition care in residential aged care. Alongside my PhD, I work with Metro South Health in Diabetes & Endocrinology Research on the REMODeL project, a digitally enabled model of care supporting type 2 diabetes management through structured self-management support, data capture and visualisation from connected devices, and implementation within routine clinical workflows. My work spans research governance and ethics, stakeholder engagement, implementation planning, and evaluation to support delivery across diverse clinical and community settings. I am committed to rigorous, applied research that strengthens workforce capability, improves service delivery, and supports equitable access to evidence-informed care. My interests include implementation science, co-design, and health services research, with a focus on translating research findings into tools and guidance that are usable in day-to-day clinical and service contexts.
Dr Karly Bartrim is a Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics who is deeply passionate about improving the lives of older people through quality food and nutrition care. Her PhD used multi-methods to explore the dietitian workforce in aged care. As an ECR, she has experience with both mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative methods. Karly has designed, conducted (interviews, focus groups, surveys, observational research and co-design), published her research in high-quality journals and presented at national and international conferences. Her research spans three areas 1) nutrition interventions for healthy ageing and quality of life, 2) aged care systems, models of care, reform, and policy, and 3) dietetic curriculum and workforce. Karly has a background working as a dietitian with older adults in Community and Residential Aged Care and personally assisted loved ones navigating the aged care sector, which provides an informed and impactful approach to her research.
Leah Bisiani MHlthSc/DipBus/RN1/Dementia and Aged Care Consultant/Clinical Advisory/Learning & Development “Uplifting Dementia”: http://shimmeringspirit.wix.com/uplifting-dementia Leah Bisiani is a highly skilled Registered Nurse Division 1/MHlthSc/DipBus/Dementia and Aged Care consultant, with more than 35 years’ experience in aged /dementia care. Self-development has been a priority, and Leah has simultaneously undertaken and completed considerable qualifications and management/corporate employment within the aged care industry, establishing a knowledge and experience base placing her at the forefront of the industry. Leah has a passionate dedication towards Best Practice and consistently utilizes her progressive approaches to obtain the highest possible quality of life for people living with dementia. Her work aims at redefining and rethinking dementia, whilst embracing a more expansive view of the person who lives with a diagnosis of dementia, through the provision of care based on remaining assets, rehabilitative support for acquired cognitive disabilities, and a unified voice of advocacy that upholds individual autonomy. This, her primary area of expertise, has focused on excellence, and enabling models of care that are responsive to the specific needs of people living with dementia. Leah has successfully demonstrated how reconsidering the medical paradigm and creating environments in which persons living with dementia continue to thrive, facilitates continuation of life based on recognition of self, and the valuing of individual uniqueness. Leah won both the 2010/11 Lend Lease ‘Australian’, and ‘Global’, Award for “Excellence in Innovation” for her person-centred models of care, designed for people living with dementia within residential aged care. These awards recognised Leah’s contribution to the aged care sector and specifically to the lives of those living with dementia. Leah distributes and publishes her evidence-based studies, and papers, within the medical field, aged care sector and community, and in 2011, her thesis, “Doll therapy: A therapeutic means to meet past attachment needs – a case study approach”, was published by Sage Publications. She now continues to write key documents and articles for significant dementia journals and various medical organisations/websites globally. Leah’s ground-breaking and highly effective work, and increased profile, has inevitably resulted in numerous, ongoing invitations over the years to lecture at leading national and global conferences. As her proficiency expanded and her reputation as an innovator was acknowledged, Leah commenced working predominantly in consulting, clinical advisory, research, education/learning, and development. Having now developed herself as a leader in the field, Leah strives to continue inspiring aged care services and local communities to create meaningful, shared experiences that transform dementia understanding and expand compassion. Leah’s life’s work and vision effectually transforms cultures and philosophies of care, providing a powerful voice that confronts current practice, forges an approach that removes all forms of segregation by acknowledging everyone has the right to “Freedom of Expression”, and consequently upholds the human rights of all people living with dementia. Her pioneering revelations have enabled people living with dementia to attain maximised and enriched lifestyles, and furthermore, successfully empowered, and motivated humanity to embrace her dreams of change. As per the words of Ghandi, Leah believes: “Be the C
Professor Irene Blackberry is the John Richards Chair and Director of the Care Economy Research Institute at La Trobe University. Professor Blackberry is a health services and implementation science researcher of complex multifactorial care. She has over 20 years of research experience across the care economy in Australia and abroad, predominantly in healthcare, aged care and informal care sectors. Her research examines access to care and models of care that are innovative, effective and sustainable, building skills in individuals and greater capacity of the whole-of-community to support people from diverse background and rural communities. Most recently she focuses on addressing care crisis by breaking down the siloing of care sectors. She is the leading force behind Australian’s Care Economy research including developing an industry-led research partnership program on Care Economy, establishing the Care Economy Collaborative Network and becoming the Inaugural Director of Australia’s first Care Economy Research Institute at La Trobe University. Irene is the Past President of Australian Association of Gerontology Victoria, member of the NHMRC Council and Principal Committees 2021-2024 Triennium, on the editorial board of several international journals and expert advisors to government and not-for-profit organisations. She has attracted over $70M in competitive research funding and published 150 reports and journal articles. She holds a bachelor’s degree and PhD in Medicine and a postgraduate study in Program and Economic Evaluation.
I am a Social Work practitioner working with older people through Casework in an Interim Care setting. I am part of the Queensland Health support program that offers transition options after hospitalisation. I am passionate about developing outcomes for older people that are rights driven. Through the skills obtained while working as a Elder Abuse practitioner I support older people in making decisions framed around their wishes.
Barbara is an Associate Professor in Social Work and teaching and research academic in the School of Allied Health at Curtin University. Barbara's research interests have a particular focus on ageing and disability issues (including aged and disability care and caregiving), elder abuse, advocacy, and service and social policy responses to these issues. She has conducted a number of research projects in these areas over the past 25 years, in partnership with both government and non-government organisations in Western Australia, Queensland, and nationally.
Chief Executive Officer – AAG & AAG Research Trust Executive Officer – IAGG Asia/Oceania Region & ILC Australia Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person Settler Fiji Indian, New Zealander Living and working on Bunurong country in the Kulin Nation
Associate Professor Marguerite Bramble is past President of AAG and Chair of the AAG Board from 2020 to 2022. Marguerite has recently officially retired from Charles Sturt University and will continue as a senior Academic and leader in ageing research in an adjunct position. An AAG member and committee member across Tasmania, Queensland and NSW, involvement has included leading hot topic events, coordinating the NSW Rural Conference 2018 and contributing to national working groups. As an author and peer reviewer for the Australasian Journal of Ageing her expertise provides leverage in translating aged care policy and governance to practice. Prior to her academic career her corporate experience as a manager and consultant ranged from graduating as a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors to board membership and serving on a number of senior management committees linked to boards in both private and public sectors.
“cognit” to find: cognition, cognitive health, cognitive decline “physio” to find: physiotherapy, physiotherapist “caregiv” to find: caregiver, caregiving, caregiver support “nurs” to find: nurse, nursing, gerontological nursing, nurse practitioner “psych” to find: psychology, psychiatry, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychogeriatric, psychosocial, psychotropic “econ” to find: economics, economy, economist, economic evaluation