Local Voices in Ageing: Research, Policy, and Practice brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community members to explore key and emerging issues in ageing in Western Australia. This one-day event will showcase research on Aboriginal health and ageing, aged care workforce development, and the lived experiences of older people. With presentations from leading experts and early career researchers, and a panel of sector thought leaders, the program highlights local research with national and global significance. Topics include culture and care, digital innovation, end-of-life preparation, and building connected communities. Join us to connect, reflect, and be inspired by the diverse voices shaping ageing futures across our state.

• Learn from innovative local research bridging health, ageing, and community inclusion.
• Hear from a panel of experts on the role of key organisations and how we can strengthen local collaboration.
• Connect with academics, practitioners, and leaders working to reimagine ageing with dignity, equity, and purpose.
  
  

This is a hybrid event - please continue to register via this page
if you want to attend online

The online version will be delivered via Zoom and you will receive a link to join
once you have registered here
We are not yet sure whether there will be a recording made available subsequently


If you want to register for the face-to-face option please use the link below

Follow this link to register for face-to-face attendance

Hear from our speakers and expert panellists:


Caleb rivers
Master by Research Student
University of Western Australia
Caleb Rivers is a Kija, Gooniyandi, Wongi and Yamatji man with a background in Medical Science. Prior to commencing his Masters by Research he worked as a research officer at The University of Western Australia’s Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health.  Caleb is interested in the application of Indigenous data sovereignty and improving the health and wellbeing as Elders age. He hopes to combine these passions to deliver tangible outcomes for older Indigenous peoples.

Dr Athira Rohit
Research Fellow
University of Western Australia
Dr Athira Rohit is a public health researcher, specialising in qualitative methodologies. She has a PhD in Health Science (Optometry) and a Master of Public Health degree and have worked as a qualitative health researcher across several population health projects in the Northern Territory and currently in Western Australia. Her key area of interest is in Aboriginal health. Athira currently works as a Research Fellow with the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, Aboriginal Ageing Well Research team. 


Lyn Yappo
Project Officer
University of Western Australia Medical School
Lyn Yappo is an Aboriginal Health Practitioner who joined the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in 2021 as a Project Officer. She has led the Perth Dementia Prevention and Risk Management Program, focusing on enhancing cognitive health assessments and dementia care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Ms Yappo continues to contribute her expertise in Aboriginal health, ageing well, and research dissemination through her work with the Aboriginal Ageing Well Research team at UWA.


Baldwin Kwan
Project Officer
Silverchain
Baldwin is an early-career clinician-researcher (physiotherapist) with experience in the hospital and aged care sector. He is currently working as an in-home aged care physiotherapist in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia, and a project officer with the Research and Innovation team at Silverchain, a leading national in-home health and aged care provider. He is undertaking research in technology use within in-home aged care, and neurosurgical physiotherapy. Baldwin has a strong interest in improving the care of older Australians through evidence-based practice.
https://au.linkedin.com/in/baldwin-k
https://au.linkedin.com/company/silver-chain
https://www.facebook.com/silverchaingroup/


Prof Claire Donnellan
Adjunct Professor Claire Donnellan, Trinity College Dublin
Founder and Director, New Generation Ageing
Claire is a Chartered Health Psychologist and a Registered General Nurse with qualifications in Psychology, Medical Gerontology, and Advanced Neuroimaging. Scientific interests include effects of vascular ageing and neurodegeneration on cognitive, emotional, and behavioural health of older adults. Served leadership positions with Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Canberra and Edith Cowan University. Is founder and director of New Generation Ageing (Newgenage) Consultancy and Principal Investigator for interdisciplinary research projects in brain health and gerontology in UK, Ireland, Bahrain, and Australia.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-donnellan-827266123

Dr Rosemary Saunders
Associate Professor, Centre for Research in Aged Care
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Edith Cowan University
Rosemary’s research over the past ten years has focussed on improving care for older adults (frailty, pain assessment and management for people with cognitive impairment, and end-of-life care).   Her research has included development of a nurse led volunteer support model for older adults, and implementation and evaluation of a technology driven app for pain assessment. Rosemary’s research is underpinned by strong national collaboration with nursing, medical, allied health researchers and consumers, with strong evidence of the implementation of evidence-based findings.

Sachini Thennakoon
PhD candidate, RN
Edith Cowan University
Sachini is a registered nurse and a PhD candidate at Edith Cowan University in Australia. With a strong background in aged care, Sachini is passionate about initiatives that support the workforce development of registered nurses working in aged care. Her doctoral research focuses on developing a structured career framework to enhance career pathways and improve gerontological nursing competencies for registered nurses. Beyond her research and clinical roles, Sachini serves as a United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Peace Ambassador, promoting global health and peacebuilding initiatives.
www.linkedin.com/in/sachini-thennakoon-17a1851b6

A/Prof Elissa Burton
Curtin University
Elissa is an Associate Professor at Curtin University and she also works part-time at Brightwater as their Harken-Brightwater Fellow. Elissa’s research focuses on helping older adults to live independently at home for as long as they choose, through healthy living strategies. Much of Elissa’s work has been with older adults who receive home care services, reablement or restorative care, promoting physical activity and preventing falls. She is a Fellow of the Australasian Association of Gerontology (AAG) and a current AAG Board Member.


Prof Anne-Marie Hill
Senior Principal Research Fellow
University of Western Australia
Professor Anne-Marie Hill is Senior Principal Research Fellow in the School of Allied Health. Anne-Marie is a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists and is an APA titled Gerontological physiotherapist (awarded by the Australian Physiotherapy Association 2007), recognising her expert knowledge in Physiotherapy in Geriatrics. She has over 30 years clinical experience working with older people to improve their health and well-being.


Prof Loretta Baldessar
Professor of Anthropology & Sociology
Edith Cowan University
In her current role, Professor Baldassar leads a new research group in the School of Arts and Humanities at ECU, the Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab. Her team is leading research in social care across the life-course, contributing social science perspectives and methodologies to the creative and caring professions. This approach is targeted at the development of a social care research agenda for the aged care sector to facilitate collaborative communities of care that extend people’s support networks at every age, with a particular focus on Social and Cultural Care, Diverse and Migrant Communities Music and Arts Engagement, and Digital Ageing and Inclusion.


Bianca Marson Whait
WA Seniors Peak Manager
Advocare
Bianca is the new WA Seniors Peak Manager, which provides a collective voice and elevates the perspectives of older Western Australians to ensure they are supported, connected, and heard across a range of issues impacting our ageing population. She has extensive experience in community and stakeholder engagement, education and awareness raising initiatives. Bianca has a particular interest in preventative and responsive measures against the abuse and mistreatment of older people, as well as shifting our shared narratives around ageing.


Sue Fielding
Director Inclusion
Department of Communities
Sue is an accomplished leader in the community services and government sectors, known for collaboratively designing community initiatives and leading cross-sector partnerships. Her leadership has been recognised with awards for excellence across multiple sectors.
In her current role, Sue is responsible for leading the WA Strategy to Respond to the Abuse of Older People and An Age-friendly WA: State Seniors Strategy. She is passionate about initiatives that promote positive ageing, age-friendly communities and ending the abuse and mistreatment of older people.

Pauline Phiri
PhD Candidate
Edith Cowan University
Pauline Phiri is a PhD candidate in the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University in WA. Pauline’s research focuses on immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa residing in WA and their post-retirement preparations. 
Pauline also holds an MBA and has accrued extensive experience in the financial services industry. She is embarking on research aimed at exploring the future wellbeing of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and how they navigate growing old in this country they now call home.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-phiri-5a89506b/

Dr Graham Ferguson
Senior Lecturer
Curtin University
Dr. Graham Ferguson is an academic at Curtin University who leads a team seeking to reveal the lived experience of ageing consumers and exploring innovative ways to enhance quality of life. Since 2018, we have listened to people’s stories including their evaluation of the services they receive. Our aim is to use this information to reveal ways to empower unheard consumers and help them to derive more value. This knowledge sets the platform for us to work with technology providers, service providers, older consumers & families, advocacy groups, local authorities and government to co-design innovative solutions the meet the needs of these unheard consumers.
www.linkedin.com/in/unheard-consumer-research-team


Dr Gertrude Phiri
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Edith Cowan University
Dr. Gertrude Phiri is a sessional academic and an early carer researcher at Edith Cowan University in WA. Dr Phiri’s nursing career started in hospital settings in Zambia as a Registered Nurse, later moving to an HIV/AIDS focused Non-Governmental Organisation, following training in counselling skills. As part of the training team, she trained and supported home-based care volunteers and managed a hospice which provided respite for family carers. In Australia, she worked in Aged Care as a senior nurse, mentoring junior nurses in clinical practice. Her PhD research was informed by her interest in palliative and end-of-life care for the migrant population in Australia. However, her research interests are in palliative and end-of-life care across cultures. Dr Phiri is keen to work with industry and other researchers to contribute to the provision of culturally appropriate care, by understanding the nuances behind CaLD migrants’ low utilisation of palliative and end-of-life care services in Australia. She has also done some work with industry on recognising signs of imminent death to guide clinical staff when to call upon family or significant others to accompany the dying where appropriate.
@GertrudePhiri19
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gertrude-phiri-60593729

Dr Chiara Naseri
Senior Adjunct Research Fellow
University of Western Australia, School of Allied Health, WA Centre for Health and Ageing
Dr Naseri is a research physiotherapist who completed her PhD in 2020, a keen grass-roots health-service developer collaborating to reduce age-related functional decline and improve older peoples’ experience of ageing. She is a Fellow of the AAG, and recipient of the 2022 Hal Kendig AAG Research Trust Development Award to investigate what influence older people to join community hubs and engage in healthy ageing activities. She is a Clinical Specialist in Falls Prevention at St John of God HealthCare.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiara-mig-naseri99

Table of events